TSB 18-037-04 (Any regrets??)

[tschwab]

Truck is scheduled to go in for this flash on friday. There has been a slight minority on these boards that say not to do it, and the majority have had excellent results.



Now that quite a few folks have had it, and you have had a chance to hand calculate mileage..... are you still giving this TSB flash a thumbs up?



Thanks for the responses



As info - TSB 18-037-04 is for:

1. Improving fuel economy

2. Eliminating white smoke at start-up

3. Recalibrating the overhead trip computer for accuracy



The TSB can found here -

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2004/18-037-04.htm

 

[rotts4u]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115109

 

[GFritsch]

Go for it

Worked great for me. Up at least 3 mpg, although some of this gain could be because of engine break in just after our vacation with our camper.

 

[Weatherman]

Had mine done about 3 weeks ago, it has improved my milage about 20% driving unloade or pulling a load. I am very happy I had mine done. about 11. 4 pulling and 19 empty.

 

[klenger]

I had mine done about 2 days after it was released. My only regret is that I waited so long.

 

[tschwab]

Thanks Ken (klenger), your a wealth of knowledge around here on the 3G and towing forums. Appreciate your input and your great website. Thanks!

 

[KBertetto]

Had mine done, no regrets here either. Mileage is up approx 2 mpg all around driving. Engine pinging is gone also.



Bert

 

[TCrawley]

Overhead is up 3mpg to 19. 5mpg. I can not wait to hand calc. So far no regrets.

 

[TravlinRam]

Regarding TSB 18-038-04

The only regret that I have is waiting so long. We just got back from a 6000

mile trip ( Chicago to San Diego to Northern California to Las Vegas and back ). I got the reflash done in Las Vegas. I pull a 34ft. Jayco Designer 5th

wheel, 14000 lbs. Prior to the reflash pulling 8. 9 to 9. 5. After 10. 7 to 11. 3 all

hand calculated I made sure with each fill up to go right to the top. And by the way did that take a lot of patience. Not pulling my milage went from rough

ly 14 mpg to 17+. Had I taken care of this before leaving Chicago I would have saved a lot of money. ( $2. 60 a gallon in San Diego ). Well live & learn I

guess.

 

[BlueRam2500]

Since reflash, my mpg has been a steady 16. 5 empty with some highway, some city driving. Keeping speed to 65-68mph on highway, and only getting 450 miles per tank. Beginning to think maybe the flash was not done. Anyone with 4. 10's and 48re getting better fuel mileage or is it just you guys with the 3. 73 that are getting better mileage.

 

[OCarney]

I had the reflash done this morning. Truck has 19. 5k on it. The overhead is reading about 3 mpg higher than before, truck seems to run smoother, not that it ran bad before, but there is a difference. Only 65 miles mixed driving so far. I'll get a better read next week when I head back north to get another trailer to deliver. Maybe the 9-10. 5 mpg loaded will improve. Oo. Every little bit helps.

 

[Cohomojo]

Mine's in the shop today getting it done. Just received a phone call saying it's done. Will report back with how it's performing.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

Had mine done last Friday. Haven't driven it much, but I have noticed that the overhead is about 1 mpg higher than it has been. Performance wise, it feels about the same. No difference in noise noticed either.



I'm hoping that my hand calc will turn out better numbers. I've gone from a steady low 14's empty to low 15's, driving 75 on the highway.



I don't know if I'll see a difference now too because we're on #1 fuel and it's definately winter time w/all this new snow!



Wayne

 

[SSchang]

I wish I hadn't done it. Had it done about a month ago. Lost 1-2 MPG hand calc. Overhead was within . 5 MPG to hand calc before the flash, now reads 1. 5 MPG higher. I was at 18. 5 MPG highway before the flash, now at 17. 0, hand calculated.

 

[CAgnoli]

Klenger what mileage were you seeing prior to the flash, and what are you seeing now?



I'm a little hesitant to apply it, as I consistently get over 18MPG right now, but if the truck can get 21 with the flash... ... I'll do it.



Thanks

C

 

[WStoops]

Had mine done a week ago. Overhead is up about 3 mpg. Seems to be corroborated by the fuel guage which is just under 3/4 full after 295 miles. Engine is definitely quieter, smoother. Pulled into a friends driveway and he noticed that the engine was much quieter immediately. All pinging is gone. Power seems unchanged. Oo.

 

[klenger]

I was getting mid 17's before the reflash. Now I am getting about 20.

 

[tschwab]

Well, just dropped the truck off at the dealership, goes under the knife in the morning for the reflash, passenger side mirror not holding adjustment and centering of the steering will.



Will post findings from TSB at the end of this weekend.

 

[crobertson1]

I had mine done on Oct 28th. I have a great relationship with a couple of techs and my advisor, so when I pulled in, I held up a copy of the TSB (thanks klenger), the tech laughed and called me an a*****e. He had to wonder where I got it but didn't ask.



Anyway, my paperwork says TSB 018194992. ???? He said it was a combo of three. Does anyone know what the deal is? The DTE finally says 450 when I filled up instead of about 330. That'll help. I haven't driven it enough yet to check for mileage improvement.

 

[SamPap]

I also had this flash performed a few days after it came out. The first thing I noticed was that the overhead would settle at about 15. 3. Before the flash it would consistently display 13. 3. This would indicate an improvement but my hand calcs prove otherwise.



I can only go about 425 before the fuel light comes on. I then fill up to the first click and I can get about 30 gals in the tank. This yields about 14mpgs. Before the flash I would get 400 miles before the light and it would still take 30 gallons. THis is roughly 13. 3mpg. My truck now has 16K and I still dont think it has broken in.



Interestingly enough, before the reflash I did not have any white smoke. For the past week and a half I always have white smoke in the morning. It clears up after about 5 seconds. Granted, the over night lows have been around 40 degrees.



Is the white smoke normal due to the fact that is colder at night?





Oh and BTW, upon initial startup the idle is rough for about 3 seconds. It sounds as if the mighty cummins is coughing.