Two issues with '06 RAM 2500 - realtime MPG and quieting down engine "noise"

[Rebel69]

I traded in my '01 2500 last year to an '06 2500 Big Horn and noticed that the real-time MPG feature is missing from the display. Is there any way to re-enable this function? I'm assuming that the real-time information would be needed in order to calculate the avg. MPG, so why would Dodge choose not to make it available? The salesman told me that this feature, along with quieting down the engine, were the result of customer surveys that indicated that the realtime MPG wasn't a feature that customers needed and that a major complaint was that the engine was too noisy. I understand that several things were involved in quieting the engine noise and that the only thing that could be done without changing the computer code was to increase the size of the exhause pipes. I really miss the sound that my '01 made and the '06 sounds more like a gasoline engine than a diesel...

 

[AMink]

I'd like the "real time" feature too. The 3rd injection event helps quiet the engine, and I think I read that the engine itself has been "stiffened" to help reduce engine noise. Could be wrong on that. The exhaust is already a 4" turbo back, but it does have a restrictive muffler, cat, and resonator on it. That gets rid of the exhaust noise. I do find that the engine gets pretty loud if I stomp on it :-laf , but in that case it's probably good that I don't have the real time mileage!



You can get some of the turbo whistle back with a cold air intake and a Blue Tube.

 

[RustyJC]

Pilot injection (a small shot to start the combustion process before the large shot is injected) is the primary reason the CR engine is much quieter than my 2nd gen. The original 6. ohno Fords had pilot injection, then Ford had to eliminate it in one of their reflashes dealing with injector problems - the 6. 0s immediately got significantly louder in terms of diesel "clatter".



Rusty

 

[pwr2tow]

The exhaust is already a 4" turbo back, but it does have a restrictive muffler, cat, and resonator on it. That gets rid of the exhaust noise. QUOTE]

Just wanted to clear up that they only have a cat and muffler. The cat acts like a resonator but cleans up the exhaust also.

 

[pwr2tow]

There is a pre, main, and post injection.

The pre helps quiet the main injection knock, which is where the most noise comes from. The post injection is to help keep the cat hot so it works properly.

 

[RankRam]

The exhaust is already a 4" turbo back, but it does have a restrictive muffler, cat, and resonator on it. That gets rid of the exhaust noise. QUOTE]



Just wanted to clear up that they only have a cat and muffler. The cat acts like a resonator but cleans up the exhaust also.

To make this even more "clear" the Mega Cabs do have a resonator placed downstream of the muffler.

 

[Giachino]

They're marketing to people like me that never owned a diesel before and dont necessairly want the rattle sound of the older dodges or current fords... . two obsticles of greater diesel adoption for diesels in the states are noise at idle and smoke... .



Granted, i added the smarty and it's significantly louder at idle and smokes! and i love it! also removing the stock muffler made a nice improvement in sound at all rpm's.

 

[scootergmc]

And it gets louder as more miles go on the engine.

 

[pwr2tow]

To make this even more "clear" the Mega Cabs do have a resonator placed downstream of the muffler.

Good catch, difference between mega cab and QC.

 

[Rebel69]

Pilot injection (a small shot to start the combustion process before the large shot is injected) is the primary reason the CR engine is much quieter than my 2nd gen. The original 6. ohno Fords had pilot injection, then Ford had to eliminate it in one of their reflashes dealing with injector problems - the 6. 0s immediately got significantly louder in terms of diesel "clatter".

Rusty

Mod'ing the muffler/resonator/cat isn't a big deal since I have someone who can do welding and fabricating. Do you think the dealer would be willing to reflash to eliminate the pre, and would that void the warranty?

 

[RustyJC]

I'm certainly no CR expert, but I don't know of a reflash to eliminate the 1st (or 3rd) injection event.



Rusty

 

[BHolm]

Running a boost gauge, while it wont give you an mpg number, will tell you what kind of load the engine is running at. I know that around 5-6 psi will give me nearly 20 mpg and 20 lbs is down around 10-11 mpg.



There is no way they will remove an injection event for you. If you even asked them they would give you a blank stare.