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Comments
WHAT DO I DO IF ANYTHING FOR A BREAK IN ?
BEST OIL TO USE?
IS THERE A CHIP THAT DODGE WILL WARRANTY?
HOW MUCH WILL PERFORMANCE AIR ELEMENT HELP AND WHAT KIND SHOULD I GET?
ANY OTHER ADVISE TO A VIRGIN CUMMINS OWNER WOULD HELP
THANKS
2. At 75 mph, RPM should be at 2100 3.73. what is yours?
3. Fuel Filter, change every 10,000 miles.
4. Air filter must be clean.
5. Do you buy fuel at the same depot? Different fuel stops can change the performance.
I am on my 3rd Cummins and all three have performed 19 plus on the road and 17-18 in traffic. May ask your dealer to reflash the ECU for your vehicle. Your ECU may have been programed for another specification. This can happen.
Diesel8
I use the K&N filters, they perform very well. Oil, Shell Rotella Synethic and a mobil one oil filter. 7500 miles between changes. The new high output engines will turn the oil black very fast, so don't get concerned.
An engineer from Ford actually came out and performed the diagnostics, and said "Nothing Is Wrong." He also told me, "Ford does not post mileage on their Super Duty Trucks, and therefore does not warranty the fuel mileage. He went on to tell me that even though the mileage is at the lower end of the scale, he feels it is within Ford's specification.
This is my 5th Powerstroke, so I know how they supposed to perform. With a shortbox, and a 28 gallon fuel tank, I get about 250 miles and have to look for a fuel station.
The Ford dealer told me they would trade me out of it for $10,000 to boot, and the truck is only 6 months old! I'm frustrated enough to trade this one off for a Dodge or Chevy.
My old Poewerstrokes 6.0 and 7.3 consistantly got 15-16mpg empty and 12-13mpg pulling horse trailers and a 10,000lb 5th wheel.
Who else is having this problem?
Any solutions????
Thanks!
TJ
I'm looking to buy an 04 or 05 Dodge turbo most of the use will be in town
the towing will be in summer months pullling a 9,000 boat to the ocean which requires a travel over a steep mt pass ( alaska)
are you still enjoying your truck
what gear ratio should I get
and after mark products should I ad? a chip? raise the front end? (why would I do that)
akseagirl
I can eke out a little better when I drive like Grandma, and keep the cruise on 55. 17 is the best I've ever done. My truck has 45,000 miles on it, larger tires, and I keep the fuel filter changed religiously. I put a Bullydog on it and while it absolutely smoked, my leadfoot didn't help the economy ...it actually went down! So I didn't buy the bullydog.
Should I try another chip? What can I do? I love everything else about my truck...surely there's something I can do. The dealer says nothing's wrong, but admits it should do better.
Thanks for any advice...
Once I actually put it on paper it was around 2MPG pulling trailers. It definetly seems to help my MPG.
....I'm having big time difficulty in figuring out some of this good info.....
..is the Cummins (empty) really 25 MPG capable?
best, ez..
kcram - Pickups Host
..that is amazing to someone like me.
..I drive a VERY small diesel pickup..
..tks again, ez
I will be 95% on the highway, empty 90% of the time. so I am mostly interested in getting better mileage... can someone tell me the best thing to do?
I read somewhere about locking hubs, is that something that can only be done after-market? or can the factory do that?
And the chips... are there any that will not void my warranty? thanks!
Locking hubs - probably can be added at the factory for a substantial price. I would buy aftermarket and install them myself. A buddy of mine said it can easily be done with limited tools in about 2 hours per hub.
Warranty and Chips (Quadzilla)- it plugs into your exsisting wiring at your fuel rail. If you have to take your truck back for factory repairs;unplug the chips wiring harness and plug your factory connectors back in, remoave chip wiring harness and chip (takes about 10 minutes). The factory can not tell you ever had this chip on your truck. This chip only tricks your computer into giving more HP. It does not modify your factory settings. If that makes any since?
Locking hubs... are these like the red dial that came with my '93 toyota truck? where you have to get out and turn dial on the wheel? if so, how does that work with the factory wheels?
Chips... increased HP isnt as important as fuel economy to me, however if the chip means better fuel economy and a bonus of more HP thats fine with me. would you still recommend getting the quadzilla? thanks!
Quadzilla - yes I would still recommend this chip. I rode in a Ford 6.0 with a Quadzilla race chip yesterday and was very impressed! He can actually put his dually in 4wd and smoke all the tires. I know that I or few others would need to try this, but I did think it was impressive for a dually to be able to do this.
you provided some great info that many of us could benefit from. however, you failed to give us specific info on a number of things such as: the power-module on your rig, and overall the "wise mans" set-up for similar diesels. :confuse:
many of us understand the general guidelines here, but are totally confused about really successful diesel set-ups. so please ... spare us the incognito crap and give us specifics on your set-up and/or other recommendations. :shades:
in closing can anyone out there recommend a simple, and if possible, inexpensive set-up for 2000ish ford/dodge diesels? i want to maximize mileage, run vegetable oil and/or biodiesel and if possible increase hp.
thank you mucho mucho mucho
Testing lift pump pressure is a relatively easy task and one, which should be done periodically to assure that the lift pump is healthy.
Heath Diesel produces fuel pressure test gauge kits for the 6.5 diesel and these are listed below.
GM 6.5 Diesel
The GM 6.5 turbo-diesel engine found in the ’92-’00 truck, Suburban and step van is supplied by a frame-rail mounted electric lift pump. This pump is powered by a relay when the engine’s starter in engaged and by an oil pressure switch while the engine is running. It is designed to supply the fuel injection pump at a pressure of approximately 7 psi at idle. The more important fuel supply pressure reading, though, is that measured while the vehicle is being driven.
The Heath Diesel Power fuel pressure test gauge kit for these 6.5 vehicles is connected to the fuel filter drain cock which is located near the thermostat housing at the front of the engine. The drain cock features an outlet nipple onto which a drain tube is installed. The HDP Fuel Pressure Test Gauge (Part #HDP1456), features a specially sized hose, which is slipped onto the nipple of the drain cock after the drain hose is removed.
The HDP test gauge is taped onto the exterior surface of the windshield for viewing while the vehicle. While driving, fuel pressure should not go below 2 psi and should, more ideally, be in the range of 2.5-3 psi.
Heath Diesel Power supplies a Heavy-Duty Version of the Factory Electric Lift Pump (Part #HDP1300). Heath Diesel Power also supplies the relay and oil pressure switches used in these vehicles here.
Feel free to contact Heath Diesel Power with any questions you may have regarding issues you are experiencing with your vehicle. We are always happy to help.
- Bill Heath
They said the chip caused the engine to blow, and Ford will not honor the warranty.
Ford's current computer isn't smart enough to know if/when a chip was installed, once it's been removed. The tech told me that Ford is changing their software to recognize and record a change to the program.
What's really funny, is that the dealership sells "Chips and Programmers" in their parts department!!!
TJ
So lets have it. End all be all best chip for my truck. Please
I have heard from people who go to Europe they have vans, suv's ect over there with diesel, but do not have connections to purchase overseas.
Any suggestions welcome.
Pkr Bkr
Most people wonder why there are people with the same EXACT truck get better or worse fuel mileage than they do. The biggest variable in current diesels is injector build quality. The injectors are called good if the fit in a 20-30% range. The variable depends on the make of truck. If you get a truck with 6 or 8 better quality injectors your truck will have more power and get better fuel mileage than the person with the lower percentage of quality injectors. Most aftermarket performance injectors are simply a balanced, calibrated set. Companies work the injector to get 100% efficiency. They yield better fuel mileage and more power. My experience is the Duramax has the most consistent mileage and power. The Dodge is 2nd but, seems to vary. The pre "600" Dodges yield better fuel mileage. The 03-04.5 Fords were all over the map. I have seen people get 11mpg loaded or empty and others get 15 pulling with their 6.0. I have a friend with an 03 6.0 that gets 12mpg empty and loaded. I find that really weird. Word is that Ford has fixed most of their injector issues in their 05-06 models. The fuel changes over the most recent years has magnified the fuel economy variables even more. I am by no means an expert but, have done quite a bit of research.
Hope this helps,
one4speed
And drive 65 MPH(vig enforced here) or less...I have a TRD Prepped Lexus GS 400 capable of 160MPH IF I want to drive fast,w/ the the brakes, handling, etc...These are trucks, and most peoples daily driver/fun toy hauler. I did NOT know about injector variability....mine seems to run good.
I also wonder IF all these people are switching to BIGGER tires, then throwing the MPG off...almost every Diesel around here has big tires, but how many have the proper re-programmer to adjust the size???I'll venture to say this plays a bigger role IMHO then any other single variable out there, IMHO, Franko
kcram - Pickups Host
Put her on cruise and let it go.
I own a 2004 2500 HD Duramax Diesel with an Edge products (Juice) chip. Here is what I know about the truck that I thought may be causing some of the problems especially with the poor fuel economy: It has no catalytic converter, and has stainless exhaust from the turbo back. It is chipped as mentioned above. I am getting horrible fuel economy. I need help/suggestions desperately.
Here are some things that lead me to believe there is a wiring problem.
1) The remote (for unlocking/locking doors) – Remote 1 actually sets for driver 2 settings. Remote 2 actually sets for driver 1 settings. Unlock button of remote 1 actually locks the doors instead of unlocking. The mirror memory does not hold setting 98% of the time. After truck has been off and then restarted (regardless of amount of time – 5 mins. or for hours), mirrors move (usually down and in) from set memory position.
2) Edge Products (The Juice) computer chip – When truck is not running (even after 24 hour period), the exhaust gas temperature and engine temperature remain high. Example: when only the accessory is turned on (just enough to operate radio, windows, the Edge display unit, etc.) the exhaust gas temp. reading always displays in the high one hundreds (again, even after truck is not running for 1 to 48 hours – it doesn’t matter). This reading (EGT), jumps or fluxuates from 3 to 5 degrees up or down. The engine temp. reading (again after truck has been off for a lengthy amount of time) always displays a high number. Usually close to a hundred degrees or so. I would believe that when engine has not been running for many hours, that these displays should show close to, if not “0”. When engine is off, the “boost” and “load” displays on the Edge readout show “0” as they should.
3) 75 to 80% of the time, when truck is turned over and started, the “message center” display says, “battery not charging.” Although I have never had a battery related problem or any indication that battery(s) have or are losing charge.
4) Gas mileage is absolutely horrible. Average city mileage is 11 to 12 per gallon and highway average is 14 to 16 per gallon. This is driving the truck very light. Basically “babying” it and not nailing the pedal. I have tried various settings on the Edge chip display and have noticed very, very little if no difference. Setting 1 on the Edge is supposed to be a “mileage” setting and actually seems to be the worst.
I have thoroughly cleaned the air filter (which is an aftermarket “Tru-Flow” intake and filter). Changed the fuel filter. Pulled terminals were Edge wires lead into a re-plugged them in with the idea that this would “reset” the chip. Also attempted to “reset” everything by disconnecting the battery(s), waiting a period of time, and then reconnecting battery(s).
Regardless, I am pretty sure this shows that there is a wiring problem somewhere along the way. I am unsure how to go from here. Any and ALL suggestions again, will be greatly appreciated. Someone out there must have an answer.
Thank you.
I'm seeing 5-7 mpg.
Lot's of extra get up and go.
2005 Dodge Ram SLT 4 Door 4x4 5.9 Diesel 20K miles