Just got back from a camping trip and had some issues with the truck. I had it at the dealership 2-3 weeks ago because I thought the oil level was growing. They did a injector kill test and scanned for codes, nothing. They then changed the oil and sent me on my way. I have been keeping a very close eye on the oil level. It had also been running rough at idle and not getting that great of mileage. I run grey power serve with every tank and changed fuel filter 500-1000 miles ago. Well back to the camping trip...had a very long slow pull up to the high country, pretty narrow tight roads. Probably uphill for 5 miles or more. Trailer is a 26' tt loaded down with all of our gear. Generator, motorcycle, kids bikes ect in the bed of truck, just to give you an idea of what kind of load, not sure of actual weight. Had tow haul on to keep egts in check, quad box on 30 hp. Egts stayed around 900-1000. It seemed like if I had to slow down for a corner and lossed momentum that It was a chore to get back up to speed and once I did it seemed like I did'nt have much more get up and go on tap. Towards the top of the hill the truck had an off sound, don't know what it was it just sounded different. My wife even noticed and asked about it. We got set up at camp and went for a drive the next day. when going up a forest service road at a slow steady pull it felt like the truck was cutting out or bucking. We turned around and went back to camp. I started it this moring and a friend thought I was fogging for Bugs. Even at light throttle pulling out he said I was leaving trail of smoke. This was all with the quad box off. I went up another hill and it cut out again. We hooked up to the trailer and came home with it pulling it like a champ. Of course alot of it was down hill, but once we hit the highway that is fairly flat with some hills it ran fine. Any Ideas? and sorry for the long post but I wanted to get as many details as possible.
thanks for your help,
Nick

 

The above listed post was for me with the truck listed in my profile. My brother had his user named logged on and I did'nt notice when I posted.
Nick

 

no one has any ideas on this? I figured with all the combined knowledge someone would have an idea of where to look.

 

I had the TSB 18-007-04 flash done yesterday for a bit of a stubble at 1900 rpm's. This TSB also included white smoke at startup when cold. Might be something to look at if you haven't already had it done, it seems to have helped my truck but haven't drove but a couple 100 miles since haveing it done.
You can look through this http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2004-index.htm

T398

 

Sounds like you have a couple of different issues to me.

First, the Quad standard box is pressure I think so I'm pretty sure that if you are running the stock lift pump it is crapping out on you. My truck did the same as you describe as far as cutting out, etc. with the EZ pressure box on. Once I addressed that all my problems went away.

Second is the oil level. Do you change it yourself? If not then it may have looked like it was overfilled or it may have been in fact overfilled. Our trucks hold 3 gallons period. My dipstick will show overfilled if I put 3 gallons in it like it or not. I watch the level from where it was on a fresh change and it doesn't move. I suggest you do the same.

Third. If you have a failed injector you would certainly know it. They sound horrible and they do not just slowly start to raise the oil level in the crankcase, they fill it in a matter of a few seconds. I would suggest some Howe's Meaner Cleaner and then run the dogpee out of it for about a month and see where that leaves you.

Recap. Address lift pump ASAP. Change oil yourself and mark the dipstick if you have to and monitor the oil level if it will remove all doubt. Change the fuel filter and then run some Howe's in it at heavy doses to start and then flog it. I used to run MMO/PS Silver in mine but now I just run Howe's and it runs better than ever before. I just broke 21 MPG for the first time since owning the truck this last weekend. No more rough idle, smoke, etc. and I haven't been to the dealer since I bought my truck and the manufacture date on the engine is January 2004. It is one of the first lots of 04.5's that were out.

Hope this helps or at least gives you some things to try. Keep us informed.

 

I was kind of leaning towards possibly the lift pump being weak. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge to know for sure, but I am looking at getting one. I had a weak lift pump on my old 00, (now my brothers). I found this out the first time I pulled our new camp trailer. Man was I dissapointed, telling everyone who we were going with, how my truck would pull the axle out from under the trailer, was I wrong! The first hill I started up it did'nt just buck it just had no go power. Took it to the dealer, bad lift pump. Put on a Fass, thought the problem was solved. I then lost the vp44. Replaced it and the truck has run fine since. I questioned the lift pump on my 04.5 when I first got it and was told that it was fine, that if it was bad it would kick a code, which I know is bogus. My 00 did'nt kick a code untill the vp was fried, then it kicked a couple different codes. I know these trucks will run with a weak or dead pump and just pull fuel through the pump.

How is the fuel flow tested on 3rd gen trucks. On my 00 it was run a hose from the fuel filter into a marked bucket and crank for so long and it should have so much fuel in the bucket. Do we do the same test for 3rd gen. If so I could do this myself to verify a problem before contacting the dealer.
thanks,
Nick

 

They say to use the same test. I think you will find that the pump is within spec albeit low. The problem is when these trucks are worked, coupled with the pressure box you have on there, that lift pump won't last long. The dealer won't likely do anything about it until it craps out totally or throws the low voltage code. If you want it fixed you need to go the FASS route again like I did. Problem solved. You could have them warranty it and put the in tank pump in and just prolong the inevetible but it would be under warranty. However, the in tank pumps aren't any better no matter what anyone says.