Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lots of questions about the Cummins

[jwc9]

First off I was a Dodge Cummins owner 9 years ago. My first one was a new 98 then had a 2000 and a 2001. I have had many Ford diesels and currently am on my 3rd v-10 ford. I would like to find a 2500 Dodge Cummins around a 02-03-or04. What year did the more quite version come out? All of mine was very loud. This is just so I know what I am looking at in an ad. I do not care which I get just would like to know before I go look. Also What was the first year of the 6pd. My 2000 was a 5spd and I liked it. What was the last year for the 3. 55 gears? I would rather have that for the fuel economy as all mine would hit at least 20. I never had a powerstroke that could get over 16. Oh and all three of the dodges I had was club cab duallys. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[PKozlowski]

Mine is an 01, 6 speed, HO and it's noisey(love it).

I "think" it was the 02's or 03's that were more quiet.

 

[AFoulk]

03 is when the "quiet" common rial cummins came out and the body style changed. I have a 02 H. 0. /6spd. and luv the noise. If you have no preference sound wise, I would go with the newer style truck, they ride and handle much better. I'd go with an 04. 5, thats when the 325hp model came out. I test drove one of those with a 6spd, and man do they run! I think when the new style trucks came out, the highest gear ratio you could get was a 3. 73. And I think 05 was when they switched over to the newer 6spd.

 

[hummincummins2]

yes the 03's were when the newer quieter ones came out, like my dads.

 

[jwc9]

I also have been reading that around 04 the fuel mileage dropped it seems. Is this correct? This is the biggest reason I want to go back to the cummins because of the fuel mileage. Thanks

 

[DCreed]

the old p-pump trucks were the best for miles ,oddly enough the lust for power/emissions has dropped the mileage over generations. mine gets 16. 5 all day ,i do NOT baby it! i also hear there are more efficient injectors and cams to put them in the 20 mpg range w/even more power!!

 

[Tinman]

94 to 98. 5: 12 valve mechanical p pump, loud, maybe best engine ever made.



98. 5 to '02: 24 valve, electromechanical VP pump, weak electric fuel pump that is subject to failure (which kills the VP), loudest engine ever made:-laf



'03 to '04: common rail, quiet, new body style (much nicer truck), 2 injection events, no catalatic converter



'04. 5 to '07. 5: common rail, quieter, 3 infection events, cat. , same truck (some minor changed in 06 to interior and programing ('06 and up is CAN BUS). Original programming had relatively poor mileage. Reflashes brought mileage back up to par and subsequent years have OK mileage.



'07. 5 and up: 6. 7 litre, quieter still, more emission junk that I can think of, same truck.

 

[Grizzly]

03 And I think 05 was when they switched over to the newer 6spd.

My 05. 0 has the NV5600 6 speed. The new G56 came out on the 05. 5.

 

[AKaiser]

My 05. 0 has the NV5600 6 speed. The new G56 came out on the 05. 5.

Yes, somewhere around late Feb 05 they went to the MB G56. It lost some of the top speed, due to a . 79 OD ratio, and you can't get 4. 10s with it for that reason (you wouldn't need them). It's a German medium duty truck transmission. I happen to like it, as it's smooth shifting, but it has it's peculiarities like anything, mostly due to a dual mass flywheel (aka the DMF).

 

[Grizzly]

Yes, somewhere around late Feb 05 they went to the MB G56. It lost some of the top speed, due to a . 79 OD ratio, and you can't get 4. 10s with it for that reason (you wouldn't need them). It's a German medium duty truck transmission. I happen to like it, as it's smooth shifting, but it has it's peculiarities like anything, mostly due to a dual mass flywheel (aka the DMF).

They had a problem with the G56 when they first came out where they were leaking oil. For a short time you couldn't get one until they figured out how to fix the problem, which resulted in a recall. I'm hearing more positive things about the G56 then I am the NV5600, but then again, some of us still like the big cast iron NV5600.

 

[AFoulk]

Yeah, I test drove a truck with the G56 when I was truck shopping and it was already leaking from case. And the truck only had 17,000miles on it!

 

[jwc9]

Thanks too all!