SkyHarborCowboy

I traded in my 04 PowerPuke and got me an 05 3500 with Cummins and Handshaker (G56).

So far I love the truck it is much better than my Ford. I like the way it handles is much more comfortable and the suspension seems a lot more compliant.

I have a couple of questions though about performance. It seems that I have no acceleration in either 1st (expected) or 2nd (somewhat unexpected). It seems like maybe it revs out prior to building any boost pressure. Is this typical? Third through 6th it ran like a banshee!

I do have one concern though. In the last 50 miles of my trip home I tried to accelerate and the truck seemed to make like detonation sounds and no great acceleration. It was kind of sporadic. Sometimes running great and sometimes not. I also noticed this after I got onto the surface streets where 3rd through 6th gears seemed very lathargic in comparison to my previous 900 miles. The only difference I could see is that my tank is now below 1/4 full where prior to that it was always at least 3/8 full.

Any answers?

Thanks,

Joe

bulabula

Joe,
Bad fuel possibly? Filter plugged/dirty? Did you buy the last tank of fuel from somewhere other than your usual place?

Is the truck throwing any codes? I can't remember the procedure to access them, but its in the manual.

hth

SkyHarborCowboy

I bought the fuel at a Loves Truck stop. I was so tired I didnt even think of bad fuel. That is a possibility. Especially since I had no problem until it went below a 1/4 tank.

Joe

J BODY

West valley?

DmaxEter

first is way too low to start out in. It just blows through the rpms and you hit the rpm limit. 2nd is just about the same way. I know exactly what you are saying. thats all it is though.

SkyHarborCowboy

I know 1st is too low a gear to start out in unloaded but I am figure I should go through all of the gears just for a little break-in.

I mentioned my problem to a friend at work and he said bad fuel. He had an 04.5 model and he actually described my problem to me when I mentioned the possibility of bad fuel. He said it isnt really a water in fuel persay but more like getting fuel that is too low in Cetane.

Joe

Texcowboy9

Try one of the diesel additives like Power Service to raise the Cetane. I use an additive every tank for Cetane and to lubricate the pump.

Vittorio

IMO not bad fuel. The truck is new and tight so give it a little time. Also, the Cummins has a lot of low end grunt. The Cummins is not designed to be quick off the line but for hauling and towing large loads.

On the interstate though at speed the Dodge really shines and smooths out at 75 + mph loaded or not.

I have owned a lot of Fords but this new Dodge really is the standard. I have been impressed at its depenability and reliabilty in severe operating conditions.

SkyHarborCowboy

There was a definite change in the way the truck ran from the time I picked it up to the last 50 miles. I actually am pretty sure it was fuel related or something else has malfunctioned.

Where do you guys get your additives to raise the Cetane and how much do they cost? What brands are perfered?

Thanks

AirGrabber

Congrats on the new ram. I would have to say your symptoms are fuel related. Dont hesitate to change your fuel filter just because theres only a 1k or so miles on it. A bad load of fuel will put you roadside pretty quik. and you never know how long that 3 gallons of algae'd up mexican fuel/water was sitting in your tank while it was at the factory then your dealer lot. Most napa and advanced auto's will carry powerservice additive and have fuel filters in stock.

SkyHarborCowboy

I drained the bowl and it came out clean as can be. I think it was as my friend stated, low cetane level. I ran the tank down and pulled into the fuel station as my miles to empty went to zero. That wasnt planned but it happened anyway. I tried to top off my tank to the filler neck but ran out of time as I had to get to work. I am puzzled by the fact that even without filling up to the top of the neck I was able to put in 36.988 gallons! That seems like a lot for a 35 gallon tank! What is the most you have ever been able to get into your tank?

Joe

PS. I bought a large bottle of PowerServe to use for this tank and future fill-ups.

Dieselhed

I have put almost 36 in my tank before also. Can't figure that one out. I use the Stanadyne PF in every tank and my Cummins loves it.

Jason Foster

I just bought a new 2005 QC 3500 and it was tight as...well I won't go into that , I can tell you that when I drove it off of the lot onto the interstate, I was avg. about 12.5 mpg at 75. I've put about 2600 miles all under 60 mph so far and it went from 15 mpg to 20.5 mpg under 60 and it will accel. faster now than it did. However, it is still very unresponsive over 65 mph which is approx. 2100 rpm or above. The manual says it will break in better pulling a heavy trailer, but I am not any hurry.

rockhound

jason,

get a trailer behind your rig asap. from what i understand the slowly breaking in of your cummins will turn it into an oil burner for the duration of its life. you need to burn it in

i am new to owning a diesel but even my dealer recommended a heavy load as soon as the diffs were ready for it

i loaded 12k pounds up and headed over nearest pass. after i hauled a 6k lbd trailer to louisiana for fema this month (about 1300 miles one way) there was an immediate difference in my gas mileage and the way the rig responded to throttle input all for the better, initially it was more comfortable at 70mph now it loves 75 or 80 and has alot more top end throttle response is more crisp and definite

as for the original post 11.5 seems awfully low, i rolled off the lot getting near 16mpg and am nearly at 18 city or hwy and living at 8500 ft

Jason Foster

I have a friend who bought a 05 QC 2500 4X4 with 4.10. He got 18.5 at 70 right off the lot. He was with me when I bought mine and he said it was a completely different truck. The engine was louder and tighter. The more I drive it the better the mileage. I have a 9000 lb car hauler. I guess I should hook it up for a while.