Noisy cummins

[RMarkey]

I've read and read on here about the various problems with injectors and such, but can't decide if I'm just paranoid or something. My truck has been getting louder and louder and I just keep telling myself it must be normal. Lately other people have been noticing it also, so I know I'm not just crazy. If it were a gasser I'd say it is like a rod knock but quiter. And it cackles like crazy right before it shifts. Am I looking at a injector going out or just a typical cummins around 12k? Someone else said "ohh, it's just your fuel pump. " I'm not to sure about that though. I'd stop @ the dealership and ask them, just to get a feel for them way they react, not to get their actual answer, to see if it might be something more serious, but I have the edge on and I know how that'll go.



Any ideas?

 

[RPotter]

Mine's totally stock, and just turned 22K, and it is also getting noiser. I think it's just the nature of the beast, however, still more quiet by far than the older ones. Seems to be running good, still fair mileage and performance, so I just drive the hell out of it. Unless someone else has some different ideas, I think it's normal. But, again, this is my first diesel, so just my opinion, humble as it is.

 

[MMead]

I had the exact same paranoia since I turned over 10,000 miles and it started with the knocking sound. I took it to have the injector kill test done and everything was normal. I now have 25k miles and it is louder than ever and vibrates the truck just a little more than when new, but I think this is just part of owning a Cummins. Now that I feel like I'm not causing any damage to the engine I can enjoy the sound!

 

[JCleary]

I have 31k on the clock, and it's definitely louder than at 10k. I think what I'm hearing is valve train noise. Maybe I need an adjustment?

 

[tae73]

My 03 is louder than the day I bought mine also. I just hope if something is going to go wrong it does it soon. I have 53,000 miles on mine, it really started to get louder around 15,000. Still gets the same mileage as the day I bought it.

 

[GHanna]

If it sounds like "pinging" in a gas engine it's probably injectors. I had two replaced at 15,000 miles and all was well---- for a while. Two more replaced at 20,000 and all is well (for a while?). The first time around, the dealership wanted to tear into the engine. I said hold off on that idea and told them I'd heard about injector problems on the TDR site. They didn't believe it and I had to take the truck to a Cummins dealership to verify, at $95. 00 an hour! When I returned to the Dodge dealer with my expensive diagnosis they finally did a cylinder contibution test and replaced the faulty injectors.

 

[DavidC]

No offense but I think I will stick with my mechanical injectors and Real Trucks Rattle T-shirt. Some things are just meant to be mechanical.



Dave

 

[GHanna]

No offense but I think I will stick with my mechanical injectors and Real Trucks Rattle T-shirt. Some things are just meant to be mechanical.



Dave

No offense taken, I think you might be on to something!

 

[1Tufdsl]

GHanna,



Did you have any other signs with the faulty injectors like poor mileage, smoke, etc. ?



Karl

 

[1Tufdsl]

Mine's totally stock, and just turned 22K, and it is also getting noiser. I think it's just the nature of the beast, however, still more quiet by far than the older ones. Seems to be running good, still fair mileage and performance, so I just drive the hell out of it. Unless someone else has some different ideas, I think it's normal. But, again, this is my first diesel, so just my opinion, humble as it is.

I have to agree with RPotter. Everyone I know with a 3rd gen say's the samething. But hey, it's still quiter than my neighbors brand new Ford PS. I can hear his inside my house but my neighbors didn't even know mine was a diesel until we were talking about it the other night and I've lived there for 4 months!



Karl

 

[GHanna]

GHanna,



Did you have any other signs with the faulty injectors like poor mileage, smoke, etc. ?



Karl

Interestingly, no. Just as the second pair were beginning to make themselves heard we took a long trip. Fuel mileage was good and no smoke. Now that I think of it, it wasn't very long before the second go around with replacement. Maybe the last two in a couple of thou?

 

[67guzzler]

No offense but I think I will stick with my mechanical injectors and Real Trucks Rattle T-shirt. Some things are just meant to be mechanical.



Dave

That's the same thing that people said when gasoline cars went to fuel injection. Once they became reliable, the manufacturers could drop all the power robbing smog devices and muscle returned.



I think that the untapped potential power that electronic / computerized fuel management systems can provide diesels is still great. There may be some hiccups along the way, but I think it's worth it.



And yes -- I too loved my 1996 and 1997 12V trucks. They were "Real" sounding trucks. But this truck will kick their behinds!

 

[robert4570]

Is there any pattern with regards to the 3 GEN trucks and the "knocking/injector" problems some are reporting ?

I dont see a pattern with stock or modified , i suspected fuel boxes were at fault for some of the failures .

Just wondering if maybe higher fuel pressures are the cause due to mods or a HPCR design flaw.

Any comments .

 

[RMarkey]

Well it's good to hear that this is pretty common, and bad to hear that there were no mpg drop or smoke, no good indicators. My truck always got about 11. 7mpg anyway and about 13. 7 with the new tires. And the thing smokes like a chimney everytime I start it cold, morning and evening. But it doesn't seem to be getting any worse. I don't mind the noise if it's ok.



Question, If the injectors are faulty with no indication, will it damage anything to continue running them? Is their not enough fuel, too much, or just delayed or something else when they are faulty, or is it random?

 

[FJfonda]

27K On mine and much louder than new. I did have a bad #6 injector but that was a minor addition to the noise. Do a search here and you will find the consensus is: The cam gears are wearing and you are hearing the gear "slap".

The light throttle "cackle" is normal and slightly more evident after the MPG/whitesmoke on startup reflash.