New 2018 with no gauges

[athomson]

With a 2002 3500 getting on in years and mileage, I was surprised back in November that 4th generation trucks could no longer be ordered. I knew I should have payed closer attention to the TDR news! I found a Chassis Cab that was nearly identical to what I would have ordered - regular cab, 6 speed stick, tradesman level cab and hardly any options. Just right for delivering hay and pulling a gooseneck. Since new, in-stock trucks with these specs. are few and far between, I bought it from Summit Chrysler of Brattleboro, Vermont. Very nice dealership! Once the truck was delivered, I noticed that the only gauges other than the speedo and tachometer were the fuel and DEF gauges. Forty grand and not even a temp gauge! Not happy. At any rate, I have been trying to decipher all of the products that are available that use the OBDII port. I really only need a volt meter, engine temp gauge and an oil pressure gauge. This will always be a stock truck and I have no need to monitor the multitude of parameters that so many units advertise. I thought that an EDGE unit would be good but it doesn't look like it monitors oil pressure. Any suggestions?

 

[Wayne M.]

Congrats! Please post a picture after it’s been christened!
Are you sure you can’t look at some readings in the center of the dash via the steering wheel buttons?
There are many products out there. Make sure to pick one that allows you to watch/ monitor the exhaust aftertreatment system. Be sure also to educate yourself on this system as well. Good luck!

 

[EZeis]

Dash has all the info you need. Coolant temp, oil temp, oil pressure, trans temp. Even tire pressures and idle and drive engine hours. Also has volts, boost pressure, exhaust brake braking HP. All kinds of goodies.

Earl

 

[Newsa]

There is no oil pressure sensor or oil temp sensor. Both appear to be calculated through an algorithm based on other data it does collect. Surprising to most of us first time owners that Cummins would cut costs on the oil pressure sensor.

 

[EZeis]

Gotta be at least an oil pressure switch. My coworkers engine in his 05 got fuel in the oil and notified him the oil pressure was low. Otherwise he didn't know anything was wrong.

If it's a calculated reading, it looks real. Different cold than hot and idle vs above idle. So they did their homework on the fake reading to make it look real. My 07 even read different after an oil change. The fake reading knew the engine was hot but the oil cold as the pressure was higher. But never checked it for an oil pressure switch or pressure sending unit. Nor have I checked my 2018.


Earl

 

[Newsa]

Gotta be at least an oil pressure switch. My coworkers engine in his 05 got fuel in the oil and notified him the oil pressure was low. Otherwise he didn't know anything was wrong.

If it's a calculated reading, it looks real. Different cold than hot and idle vs above idle. So they did their homework on the fake reading to make it look real. My 07 even read different after an oil change. The fake reading knew the engine was hot but the oil cold as the pressure was higher. But never checked it for an oil pressure switch or pressure sending unit. Nor have I checked my 2018.


Earl

Yeah there is a switch. But you will have a false reading until the pressure drops near 6 psi

 

[athomson]

Boy - What an education I received. I must have spent an hour looking through the owner's manual when I received the truck and I was wondering what the buttons on the left side of the steering wheel were for. I knew they were for an information system but I don't think I saw many illustrations. The other challenge is that so many of the features described in the book are labeled "if equipped". At any rate, I still question why Dodge can't equip every truck with analog gauges that you can read without scrolling through a menu. Even the "gauge summary" readout doesn't include the electrical system. Many thanks to all who replied to this posting. I appreciate all of your comments and your willingness to share thoughts.

Alex T.

 

[sag2]

What cluster does your truck have? Can you post a photo?

 

[Ozymandias]

At any rate, I still question why Dodge can't equip every truck with analog gauges that you can read without scrolling through a menu. Even the "gauge summary" readout doesn't include the electrical system. Many thanks to all who replied to this posting. I appreciate all of your comments and your willingness to share thoughts.

Alex T.

Well, it is also the case that these gauges are not needed anymore, the truck itself is monitoring everything and if anything is out of normal range it will tell it to you and go into limp mode if needed to protect himself from damage.
So, why should Ram spend money for something that is just for the entertainment of a few drivers.

In real life, the more gauges the less the driver will notice them over time.
The best invention from the manufacturers have been the DING-DING when a gauge goes out of normal range.

Even a European Class8 has no more then 2 Gauges and an EVIC, gone are the Times of 10 Gauges.

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The US Version on the other hand is still loaded with gauges.

#ad

 

[Wayne M.]

Ozy is right. About 10 years ago, the HD trucks started putting information in a display on the dash controlled by switches in the wheel or signal stalk. However it’s nice to know that in the big truck world, you can still get a traditional dash in a premium truck. Wouldn’t it be nice if Ram made that an option for us?

 

[athomson]

Interesting. I'm guessing that the trucking industry may have found that with a smaller pool of mechanically able and interested drivers that ultimately there are fewer things such as engine failures with the power-down, limp-home or shut down in the event of oil pressure loss. I'm sure that there are many other examples of automatic shut downs that have saved trucks from self-demolition. At the same time, I maintain that scrolling through endless menus with tiny buttons on the steering wheel just to see if your truck is starting to overheat on long hills makes no sense. Another issue that I think is still relevant is that changes in engine parameters can pinpoint maintenance issues for mechanics. Think of deteriorating oil pressure over time, lowered battery voltage when accessories are used and unusual engine temps. On our two trucks and 8 farm tractors, issues such as leaking fuel pumps, slipping fan belts, bug & seed plugged radiators and faulty thermostats have been found in this manner. I do understand that data logging can be very helpful when looking at long term trends but that requires an intentional, hands-on activity rather than casual monitoring

In response to SAG2, the only rotary gauges on the instrument panel besides the speedometer and tachometer are for the fuel level and DEF level. And, that's another issue - how many different dashboard variations do we need. I think there's something wrong when the operator's manual is too large (536 pages) to be printed as a glove box book. Then we also have the 220 page diesel supplement, plus the 316 page tire supplement, plus the 41 page radio supplement.

I'm somewhat new to the forum routine so thanks for your patience. Thanks for listening, everyone!

Alex T.

1990 W250 diesel 5 speed - now a parts truck
2002 3500 diesel 6 speed - platform dump - our hay truck
2005 2500 diesel 6 speed - pick-up
2018 3500 diesel 6 speed - awaiting a platform dump body

 

[Wayne M.]

Alex, welcome to the forum!
Regarding shutdown systems in off road equipment, vocational and over the road (OTR) trucks, shutdown systems have been around for more than 40 years. The most famous system probably was the Kysor system. It was an add on option for any machine, and monitored whatever system you wanted to add a sender to. If that sender opened or closed, it would sound a bell and cut the engine in about a minute.
The first integrated shutdown system, to my knowledge was Detroit Diesel’s DDEC engine management. It was on par with GM’s technology that was in passenger cars in the early ‘80’s, and would log faults and provide engine protection.
Aside from federally mandated derates (to protect the earth) there still isn’t anything like this on trucks smaller than class 5, aside from possibly extreme engine temp.
Regarding the tree massacre in the glove box, it’s all about covering their tails, and liability.

 

[athomson]

I have not heard of the Kysor system but I'm guessing that Murphy gauges provided similar protection, with their adjustable limit contacts. I know those were popular on irrigation engines and other engines operating in the wild.

Alex T.

 

[TCDiesel]

Information and knowledge are everything in the engine world, Now you can disregard engine info, but thinking that parameters set by the maker are a protection LMBO, is like calling the fire dept after the fire is flaming. Gauges allow the owner from allowing the fire to start. Plus any commander center will display the the code or warning, without the need to stress over the worst case scenario.

 

[Wayne M.]

I have not heard of the Kysor system but I'm guessing that Murphy gauges provided similar protection, with their adjustable limit contacts. I know those were popular on irrigation engines and other engines operating in the wild.

Alex T.

YES!!!!
I forgot about the Murphy Switch- Gauge, and I still see them today.
That’s probably the first protection system ever.
They’re still in business making electronic devices as well as the ‘ol switch gauges.