A while back I submitted a post asking about power loss problems with my truck. A few people suggested that the injection pump was going out, so I installed a FP gauge.

We just made a trip to Pinedale, WY pulling a four horse slant load trailer with a tack room loaded with four horses and all the packs for two people for a week long pack trip. There are several 5% and 6% grade hills. Now the truck idles normal at 14 or 15 psi and cruises at 11 to 12 psi WOT was 8 to 9 psi. The truck only dropped to 7 psi twice and both times the truck was cold.

Starting in a construction zone at the bottom of a 6% grade hill I started up in 5th gear going 45 mph at 1800 rpms and 11 psi, halfway up I shifted into 4th gear doing 40 mph at 2500 rpms at 9 psi, at the top I was still in fouth gear going 50 mph at 3000 rpms at 8 psi. My foot was to the floor the whole time.

My dad's friend was pulling approx. the same trailer and gear with his 2004 quad cab cummins up the same hill and stayed at 60 mph and never shifted below 5th gear. the only difference between my truck and his is the year and he has 3.7? gears and mine has 4.10 gears. Would this cause such a difference?

So my questions are, is this normal for my truck or is there a problem with it? And if its not a fuel pressure problem then what could be the problem?

Sorry for the long post and thanks for the help.
Dave

 

He has about 80 more HP than you do, plus the TQ difference. I'm not real fimilar with the stock HP/TQ specs, but I think your truck is 245/520? and the 04 is 325/610? Add some RV275 injectors and a Mad ECM and there will be a different outcome the next time.

If you have good FP and you're not showing any codes, I think you're OK. My truck was pretty anemic stock. Thank God for the DTR!

 

How much weight do you reckon you were towing? My 5th wheel is about 9,500 lbs or so loaded. When my truck was stock, I think it would've pulled a 6% grade in 5th gear with no problem. And mine is an ETC 235/460. You could've been pulling a lot more weight than that. Let us know.

- JyRO

 

interesting.......at full load on a hill climb that high in the rpms he should of seen a lot more BOOST...then 8 psi.........check for leaks because your not spooling up enough preassure to drive the beast uphill......these engine run like CRAP when they have 0 boost.......i had a problem almost like this one and it ended up being my turbo..........buddy of mine was getting his turbo modified and when he took it off we stuck it on my truck and it made a world of difference before he even sent it off to get it modified...........

 

JyRo, I figure we were pulling about 10,000 lbs with the horses, tack and pack gear.

Storx, I should have been more specific, the fuel pressure was at 8 psi at wot. The boost pressure gauge should be here tomorrow or saturday.

thanks again
Dave