Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Towing Power

[GQuigley]

I have a 2001-1/2 2500 24 valve CTD Ram with 212000 miles. I tow a 30' 5th wheel fine on level ground but on those 6% grades I have trouble. Someone recommended Banks Big Hoss tuner as a fix but some of Banks products are either good, bad or just neutral so I kind of scratch me head. I live in California and Sacramento is kind of neurotic on anything you add to your truck so I'm limited on what I can do for adding more power for climbing those hills. I have a Smarty that I bought before they became illegal but when running it at level 5 or more there is a lot of smoke. Just looking for some suggestions that I could do and at 77 I'm no longer a hot-rodder but....... Any suggestion?
Gary

 

[phantomusa]

I have a smarty on my 2002 only time i get smoke is when i floor it before the turbo spools up and I'm running the smarty on top level
Sorry bout you living in CA the smog Nazis are every where personally I would never live in a state like that I like my freedom

 

[GQuigley]

Kind of curious at what level do you run at with normal driving and have you done anything to your engine.

 

[phantomusa]

My smarty has the catcher software update I currenty run level 8 with no engine mods and at this level my fuel economy has gone from 18.7 to 20.3 mpg but most of my driving is highways

 

[NIsaacs]

GQ, what do you consider problems towing on grades? Most Smarty's are very adjustable, you should be able to tone down the smoke unless you have a turbo /boost problem. Is the boost fooler installed? What transmission, tire size and rear axle gears?

With my '01, with Juice set on #2 (60 hp) and RV injectors I can pull 19k up 7% in 5th at 55 no problem, boost is around 28/30 psi. I also have my smoke setting on the lowest level so I get very little smoke. I have a 6spd, 3.55 gears and 285/75x16 tires.

Nick

 

[phantomusa]

Smartys have built in boost fooler a smarty 03 is only good for max 35 horsepower boost on a stock motor
I'm sure the OP is worried about California Smog Nazis seeing black smoke rollin out his tailpipe
I couldn't live in a controlling state like California but some people have to and more power to them

 

[GQuigley]

I have a DTT auto trans, Dana 80 4:10 rear end, mild increase on injectors just a little bigger than stock, and my mechanic installed a mild turbo when he said the stock was mediocre at the best but that was about 12 years ago. My Smarty is the original with no adjustments among the first ones out just for the 24 valve engine and I was one of the first ones in So. Cal.
I don't know if they have new software to make it more like the ones that came out in '03 but I wouldn't know how to adjust it if they did. One time when in Nevada I set it as high as I could (9) when towing and had to back off when I easily went over 80 and realized I was passing all the big rigs and maybe they knew cops were around but it was a kick pulling that 30' 5'ver so very easily on level ground. Any help would be nice!

 

[NIsaacs]

Sounds like you have a well built truck. If you need/want more power, there are lots of tuners out there that will work, but in California it might be risky.

Nick

 

[phantomusa]

GQuigley why not update your smarty 03 with the newer catcher software it will give you alot more options and power levels

 

[AH64ID]

I would update your Smarty and try different settings.

The Smarty for your year makes the same peak power on all the levels but the in between is different. You may find that a lower setting drives better and pull the same.

 

[GQuigley]

I updated my Smarty 03 to Revo. At stock levels there is very little smoke. When I put it at Catcher level there is smoke but the amount varies depending on what level I put it at. The Smarty rep told me when I have the Catcher on I increase my horsepower output by 60 to 70 hp but there is more smoke with the amount varying depending if I set at 1 or 9 When I set it at Catcher 3 there was a lot of smoke when I gunned it but my truck is my daily driver at stock and there may be a lot of soot buildup inside which may cause more smoke. It seems when I approach a big hill when towing my 5'ver I may pull over and reset my smarty from stock to Catcher #1 and go from there.

 

[phantomusa]

If your turbo is making boost there shouldnt be much smokel
I keep my 2002 set at 8 all the time the only time i seem smoke is when I'm on the throttle before my turbo is making much boost after about 7 psi boost the smoke stops
Do you have gauges like a boost gauge ??
Are you reving the motor or driving it these is more smoke just sitting reving a motor thats not a true test

 

[AH64ID]

I updated my Smarty 03 to Revo. At stock levels there is very little smoke. When I put it at Catcher level there is smoke but the amount varies depending on what level I put it at. The Smarty rep told me when I have the Catcher on I increase my horsepower output by 60 to 70 hp but there is more smoke with the amount varying depending if I set at 1 or 9 When I set it at Catcher 3 there was a lot of smoke when I gunned it but my truck is my daily driver at stock and there may be a lot of soot buildup inside which may cause more smoke. It seems when I approach a big hill when towing my 5'ver I may pull over and reset my smarty from stock to Catcher #1 and go from there.

Personally I wouldn't want to stop at every hill and retune my truck.

I would find a revo setting that works and use it every day. If it is soot buildup from easy daily driving, I get the same thing, then don't worry about it as it will go away.


I would try catcher 3 with timing on 3, torque on 2, and duration on 2. If it's too smoky try torque on 1. If it's not enough power try duration on 3. Those settings should yield better mileage empty and better towing power, and they shouldn't smoke too much.

 

[JR]

I ran my 98 on level 5, timing and duration at 2 and no TM. This was with RV275 injectors. It did smoke a touch when stomping on it at low rpm but was not noticable during normal driving or towing. If your towing at low rpm you'll run hotter, I tried to keep the engine above 1800 at all times and even higher on grades.

 

[phantomusa]

Any time you play with settings fuel timing ect gauges are important-boost- egt-fuel pressure are almost a must have
I run on level 8 and at times i can hit over 1200* so with my digital egt gauge I know when to back off the throttle

 

[NIsaacs]

Personally I wouldn't want to stop at every hill and retune my truck.

x2, After all that, even on stock you could be 10 miles down the road.

Gary, you have never posted any boost/Egt's numbers, do you have gauges? If so what are your numbers pulling hard?

Nick

 

[JR]

Any time you play with settings fuel timing ect gauges are important-boost- egt-fuel pressure are almost a must have
I run on level 8 and at times i can hit over 1200* so with my digital egt gauge I know when to back off the throttle

Are you running another box that adds timing?

 

[GQuigley]

When I first bought my '01 CTD Ram about a year later I went over to Banks (close to my then home) and had them install the full Banks Kit which included the column gauges. Several years later I started having trouble with the Banks electrical boost (?) that was spliced into my electrical system and a mechanic friend said it was shorting out and would be a continuing problem so he disconnected it and I haven't had that problem since. To be honest the only gauges I paid any attention to was my trans temp and EGT gauges. I have never had any trouble with high temps with my trans, never (so far!!) but when towing I really have to watch my EGT's and when it gets close to the red line I have to back off. As far as boost goes I never learned what was what with it so I ignored it. With boost what should I watch for and what is good and what is bad?