New owner of an 06 megacab. What do I need to know"?

[Royk]

After my 02 was totaled in an ice storm last winter, I bought on 06 mega-cab w/o doing any research (I needed a truck ASAP). All I knew was it was the last year before the emissions nonsense went into effect. It has a 6-speed manual transmission. What are common issues with this truck I should be aware of? Are the BHAF part numbers the same as they were for my 02? What kind of mileage are other mega-cab owners getting? Mine seems poor compared to my 02 quad-cab and I heard it's common specifically to mega-cabs.

Roy

 

[GrantP]

I bought an 06 mega cab this past summer and retired my '97. The '97 always returned around 17 mpg, last fill up on the '06 was 14.5 hand calculated (overhead said 15.5). Both trucks on 35" tires.

 

[goodguys75]

mine just hit 80,000 miles...and problem free....except for a leaking steering pump....just drive it and do regular maintenance...

 

[AnOldBiker]

Had mine since March '06.I agree, do standard maintenance, I recommend at least an oil by-pass if nothing else. If you want the BHAF, your going to need to make all brackets and shields. Seems there is less room that the older models for this, but can be done. I only average 16.5 to 17.5 when all city and depends on load, from most times 18 to 20.5 highway with light loads. Seems with the 05 - 06's, they love the highway and not so much city. When I have her on runs more than 500 miles, she gets the higher side of the mpg's. There is a ton of extras you can buy for her so watch the wallet.

 

[goodguys75]

why an oil bypass???

 

[seafish]

It is in your truck's and wallet's vital interest to add at least one, and maybe even two more fuel filtration stages in order to protect the very expensive HPCR injection system on your new truck.

Here is a GREAT link by a TDR memebr on how to do it best, though there are other ways of achieving the same goal--

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...-Micron-and-a-Fuel-Water-Sep&highlight=micron

 

[AnOldBiker]

After reading a lot of the '04.5 to '06 owners and their problems, I noticed one thing, the accumulation of soot in the oil over time. It seems the older engines didn't build the amount of soot as the mentioned engines. All vehicles build debris in the oil from normal wear and is cleaned up by the filter, to a point, thus protecting the engine. But the mentioned years seem to accumulate soot more. The by-pass system doesn't totally remove this, but cleans more of it better. And in the so call old days, the bp-pass system was stock on diesel engines until the manufactures decided it was more economical to sell it without. (an old friend sold Peterbilts for over 35 years proved this to me). The by-pass only takes maximum of 10% of the total flow and filters it cleaning debris AND soot better than the stock filter. This lessens the trash in the oil extending the chemicals needed to maintain proper lubricant of the engine parts. After all, oil doesn't go bad, the chemicals within it goes bad and will effect the engine parts. It doesn't matter if it's a store bought unit or a homemade unit, it will clean the engine oil better extending the engine life. Just decide on a good by-pass filter for it.

I also agree with SEAFISH, with a F/W pre filter and a quality final filter, you will save your injectors and it support system. Saving BIG bucks later on.

There are people that use 2 stroke smokeless oil added to your fuel to lubercate the fuel system since the EPA remove it. Sulfur indirectly lubercated the lift and injector pumps, but with the introduction of ULSD, older truck lost this licitly. Adding 1 oz per gallon diesel for the '03 and prior, and at least 1/2 oz for the '04 to '06 helps this. (nothing for '07 and on, they are designed for ULSD). Adding 1 oz per gal for the '04 to '06 does not hurt these truck. (strange gift using this, the engine seems to run quieter)

 

[AMink]

Ball joints will wear just like other Rams, the HVAC doors can break, the tach can crap out requiring a whole new cluster (never fixed mine), the multi function stalk (turn signal) goes haywire causing turn signals to act funny. There is a recall for that. Mileage is decent though not as good as my 97. Power, however, is much better. I use NAPA gold filters with no problems and pour in some power service when I think about it. My steering box leaks but not bad enough to worry about. Overall very pleased.

 

[AEdelheit]

FYI the tach issues can be repaired without replacing the cluster

 

[AMink]

FYI the tach issues can be repaired without replacing the cluster

That's good to know. How do you do it? I kind of recall something about a bad solder.

 

[Motorhead]

I second seafish on dual filtration of the fuel system. You will find that the G56 in your '06 is geared pretty low in 6th. One good thing is that if you want to, you can TALL tires on it and re-calibrate your speedometer through the OB2 port. The '06 is the first year with the TIPM electrical system. Total Integrated Power Management. No more load relays and a lot less fuses. Major downfall is having to go to the dealer if you "Trip" an electrical circuit. Be EXTRA careful with the 7 pin trailer plug. Plugging in a trailer with a shorted out light circuit will trip the circuit or wosre yet, burn out the TIPM module, LOTS of $$$$$. I went from a second gen truck to my '07, 5.9, G56 quad Cab an I really love it.
The A/C in the Mega Cabs is a little weak for the back seat area. ENJOY your NEW truck!

 

[MLee]

I read on a site some where that if you change the fuse to the trailers wiring turn signal from the 15 amp to a 10 amp that this will help to save the TIPM. This is a dealer reset and it is expensive to do. My neighbor had his done, 85 skins to hook it up.

 

[AnOldBiker]

I read on a site some where that if you change the fuse to the trailers wiring turn signal from the 15 amp to a 10 amp that this will help to save the TIPM. This is a dealer reset and it is expensive to do. My neighbor had his done, 85 skins to hook it up.

Thanks MLEE for this, I didn't know and will look very much into this. I try doing everything NOT to visit my dealer if possible,

 

[AH64ID]

Congrats on your upgrade, even if you didn't want to.

Don't worry about a BHAF, the OEM box is nearly impossible to beat below 450-500 rwhp. It's sealed, flows plenty of air with the OEM 4" filter, and doesn't ingest hot underhood air which will decrease power. The only way to beat it is to add a 3" Home Depot cold air intake to the bottom of it.

I 2nd, or more, the need for additional fuel filtration. It's inadequate in stock trim. At a minimum run a Baldwin PF7977, and never use NAPA or Wix.

 

[AnOldBiker]

..... At a minimum run a Baldwin PF7977, and never use NAPA or Wix.....

I've looked up the PF7977 in the Baldwin website and they never stated the micron information for this filter.
What is the specs for this ?

Wix's makes the Napa filters so they are the same.
Why not theirs ?

 

[AH64ID]

The min spec is 7um per Dodge, and 5um from Bosch. The OEM IS 7um, the Baldwin is 5um, and the Wix is 8um, all at the same standard.

 

[seafish]

The Baldwin PF7977 at 5 Mic is the best filter for the oem system that you can get and does NOT cost very much and is a direct fit. There is NO reason not to use it and a few thousand dollars worth of reasons (think fuel injectors) to use it and to add even MORE filtration, down to 2 micron, like Bosch recommends for the HPCR sytem that is in our Dodge trucks.

 

[AH64ID]

It's too bad Fleetguard hasn't announced a NanoNet for the 03-07 canister, I guess they are all out of warranty so who cares.

 

[AnOldBiker]

I won't argue this, but when reviewing the manufactures websites, I not finding the specs stated by everyone in many forums.
So deciding is hard since there's nothing in manufactures websites verifying.
Not that I think anyone is giving false info, but looking for documentation.
Wouldn't you ?

 

[AH64ID]

Baldwin and Fleetguard take phone calls to obtain actual data, but Wix posts their's and so does Dodge as far as spec.

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2006/14-007-06.htm

The TSB is specific to trucks built after 03/07/06, but that is a warranty thing and nothing else. All 5.9 trucks 03+ are subject to 23.6K psi and NEED the same filtration. 04.5-07 5.9's run identical parts and tuning, they need the filtration. 03-04's also have OEM tables up to 23.6K psi and need the filtration just as much.

What I believe you are finding is a lack of specs, not specs that differ. If I am wrong please show me the data and I will research it.