Injector check

[rhoogkamp]

Can anyone clue me in on the correct process for a dealer to check to determine if there is an injector problem? I just had the oil changed and I am watching the levels very closely.



I am planning a 16,000 mile trip from Syracuse NY through Canada to Vancouver Island and then back through US. I want to try to resolve my poor mileage problem prior to leaving. I am still averaging (hand calculated) 8. 8 pulling 16,000 lb. 5 er and 12. 8 on highway unloaded. I plan to go back to dealer again and would like some hints on what I should be talking about. I do feel from reading other posts that this is abnormally low.

 

[Bob4x4]

Before getting to crazy try running the mopar/crc diesel treatment at 4 times the normal dosage

 

[sag2]

The CRC is called "Diesel Fuel Therapy" and is now available in a Mopar bottle. The CRC should be available at most larger Napa stores.

 

[rhoogkamp]

Injectors

Thanks, I will give it a try. I get a little concerned when I think of approximately $7000. 00 in fuel to do a 16,000 mile trip. last rip between towing and just site seeing with truck empty came up with 9. 1 average, but that was with mostly towing miles.



Does this lubricate and clean the injectors to hopefully stop any leaks?

 

[wyosteve]

Probably not what you want to hear, but I don't think your mileage figures are that much off base. I helped my neighbor move some things yesterday. There were 3 of us in the 'train'. My 2012 pulling his 36 ft. toyhauler that probably weighed 14k. His nephew with an 08 4500 pulling gooseneck flatbed w/ big Bobcat skidsteer w/ implements and neighbor driving my old 04. 5 pulling gooseneck flatbed with 20' 'Sea Can' weighing about 16k. Granted we had 35 mph winds much of the way, but avgs. towing were from 7. 4 to 10. 5 (the 10. 5 was me). Unloaded city/hwy. 50/50 mileage for me runs right around 13. 5 and I don't have a DRW. Just my . 02.

 

[HBarlow]

Probably not what you want to hear, but I don't think your mileage figures are that much off base. I helped my neighbor move some things yesterday. There were 3 of us in the 'train'. My 2012 pulling his 36 ft. toyhauler that probably weighed 14k. His nephew with an 08 4500 pulling gooseneck flatbed w/ big Bobcat skidsteer w/ implements and neighbor driving my old 04. 5 pulling gooseneck flatbed with 20' 'Sea Can' weighing about 16k. Granted we had 35 mph winds much of the way, but avgs. towing were from 7. 4 to 10. 5 (the 10. 5 was me). Unloaded city/hwy. 50/50 mileage for me runs right around 13. 5 and I don't have a DRW. Just my . 02.

I agree. I didn't respond to the op's initial statement about poor fuel mileage because I knew someone would immediately show up and claim his truck gets 20 mpg towing and 25 mpg unloaded highway cruise.

 

[rscurtis]

My signature truck has achieved those numbers, but under ideal circumstances. Empty requires no traffic and no headwinds. The towing episode was a 5X12 U-Haul trailer with a Gravely tractor, with a total weight of 3500-4000#. This is hand calculated, of course. The OHD usually cheats by about 10%.

 

[mfurrh55]

Yep, i had a friend telling me he was getting 19 towing and i was standing beside him once when he was filling up, needless to say he was getting about 9 mpg. , when he saw me calculating he shut the pump off real quick, Monte

 

[SPucillo]

rhoogkamp,
You didn't mention your towing speed or weather conditions? If your going fast and/or against the wind you can kiss you tank of fuel good bye! In addition the profile of you trailer makes a bid difference. Do you have one of those stand up bed areas in the front?
I can get 12mpg towing a low profile 35ft 5th with no wind and flat desert area, H&S mini set Mild/timing 2 but, I drive 55mph in 5th gear.

I recently installed a new MPG tune and on my last trip to the desert (not towing) and averaged 18mpg including going through the mountains at 70mph. I started at 500ft elevation to 4150ft then back down to -20ft, with many 6% grades. On the way home I did 17. 1mpg against the wind. Not to shabby if you ask me!
I can't wait to test my new tune with a trailer.

It is important to note you can't do this with just a tuner. The folks that make tuners for "Off Road Use" are not going to risk advertising a MPG tune.
You have to buy one... . or PM me.

 

[Hoefler]

Can anyone clue me in on the correct process for a dealer to check to determine if there is an injector problem? I just had the oil changed and I am watching the levels very closely.

I am planning a 16,000 mile trip from Syracuse NY through Canada to Vancouver Island and then back through US. I want to try to resolve my poor mileage problem prior to leaving. I am still averaging (hand calculated) 8. 8 pulling 16,000 lb. 5 er and 12. 8 on highway unloaded. I plan to go back to dealer again and would like some hints on what I should be talking about. I do feel from reading other posts that this is abnormally low.

Your numbers are not out of line at all, especially for a new truck. I pull a 40' 16,000 pound fifthwheel as well. The best I have ever had was 9. 6 mpg towing the beast. My worst, east bound on I40 from the western edge of Oklahoma coming home. 40 MPH head wind, 50 mph was all I could reasonably manage, 6. 8 mpg. Not a fun day. I usually can get in the 12-13 range running empty. I don't know what you are comparing to, but the 4th Gen trucks won't see the numbers from the past. The 2013's are suppose to get better numbers, only time will tell.

 

[HBarlow]

Original Poster,

Although I don't think there is anything wrong with your truck there is a way for a Ram dealer to check injector performance. If you want to spend the money ask the shop to perform a cylinder contribution test. A trained and skilled Cummins tech (but not a parts changer) can hook your truck up to the shop computer and run the test. Each injector is killed one at a time to measure that cylinder's contribution to overall engine performance. A computer generated printout of the result will be produced. It will cost you about 1 1/2 hours of shop labor.

 

[rhoogkamp]

I really appreciate all of the comments. I can live with the towing mileage, but from other posts I was reading it seemed some members were getting 15-16. 5 MPG when running empty with a comparable truck- off course there may be slight differences. .

I usually tow around 65-72 and my truck is stock tires, 235/80/17, 4:10 gears and I do have a large Taylor wing that helps with deflecting the air on my 40' Pinnacle 5er.

My last trip south I did hit some very clam days with almost no wind and at best I could get 9. 5. Going from Pan Handle to New Orleans and then down to Corpus Christy I hit some good head winds and I was down to 7. 8 on a tank (about 40 mph winds).

I am not ready to do anything with performance mods; I want to keep warranty as I only have 11,806 miles on the truck and I have extended 100,00 BTB warranty.

I would love to see the unloaded mileage be at least 15 or better, but from these posts I guess the old days of the 5. 9 highway mileage is gone. I was very disappointed when we would go site seeing empty, flat ground, no winds and driving 55-60 that I could not get better than12. 9 MPG

Makes me wish I had keep my 2006 Volvo 780 and made a hauler out of that, the mileage was better and I had 500 HP.

 

[SPucillo]

Towing at that speed, 9. 5 is about right.
12. 9 empty is not so good. My truck stock would do 14. 5mpg on the fwy at 65mph.

Hey, is that taylor wing on you truck when you are empty??

 

[RonD]

I have the same truck, except mine is a 2 WD, I tow about 10 mph less than you do and weigh 1500-2000 pounds less, I am getting 70 mph highway empty a little over 16, towing 10. 3 to 10. 6 as a good average, I have had the 8. 8 mpg with bad head winds, if the fuel cost is an issue, try slowing down a little, the big hog on fuel is the wind resistance, then the weight, it may save you a few bucks.

I really appreciate all of the comments. I can live with the towing mileage, but from other posts I was reading it seemed some members were getting 15-16. 5 MPG when running empty with a comparable truck- off course there may be slight differences. .

I usually tow around 65-72 and my truck is stock tires, 235/80/17, 4:10 gears and I do have a large Taylor wing that helps with deflecting the air on my 40' Pinnacle 5er.

My last trip south I did hit some very clam days with almost no wind and at best I could get 9. 5. Going from Pan Handle to New Orleans and then down to Corpus Christy I hit some good head winds and I was down to 7. 8 on a tank (about 40 mph winds).

I am not ready to do anything with performance mods; I want to keep warranty as I only have 11,806 miles on the truck and I have extended 100,00 BTB warranty.

I would love to see the unloaded mileage be at least 15 or better, but from these posts I guess the old days of the 5. 9 highway mileage is gone. I was very disappointed when we would go site seeing empty, flat ground, no winds and driving 55-60 that I could not get better than12. 9 MPG

Makes me wish I had keep my 2006 Volvo 780 and made a hauler out of that, the mileage was better and I had 500 HP.

 

[alex55]

All The trucks having different millage because it will be different in ideal circumstances like millage will increase if you did not find traffic on the road and no high wind so it will increase but usually it will give 9 to 10 that is average ratio.