Ok, I know this has been beat to death and I have looked and looked at the posts but I couldn't help asking again. I am new to diesels. I have never owned anything but gas motors and I build all my own engines for the drag car, but I know nothing about a diesel.

I am somewhat comfortable with the early morn clatter and the off idle clatter but there is some noise at other times that is driving me crazy.

It seems as though right before the tranny shifts I get what sounds like gasser valve train noise. Is this normal? I am thinking maybe the computer is pulling power away while shifting.

even at a steady pace, say 1800 rpm's it sounds like it has a little constant valvetrain noise

and last but not least while cruising and then letting off and then getting back into it, I get the clatter again no matter how warm the engine is.

sorry guys, I am sure in time I will become more comfortable with it all. I guess with all the injector posts I get a little concerned. If it would be a bad injector or two, would it be noticeable for sure?

I have been getting 16-18mpg during my normal driving routes and have gotten between 19-20 on long trips at 60-75 mph.

thanks again

 

Yes it is 'normal".. The "pinging" you hear is from the "multiple injection" injectors.. Ironically, these are to "quiet" down the engine.. If you notice, your engine is much quieter than the older Cummins engines...What you're hearing is the small injection or pre-injection of the cylander before the full power injection of fuel.. The fuel is firing before TDC of the power stroke, much like "pre-ignition" of the gasoline engines...

 

A sound you'll begin to love coming from an engine that's stronger than you could ever imagine placed in a truck that's light years ahead of its nearest rival.

(Part fact. Part opinion.

 

I now have 8500 miles on mine. It is still quiet compared to the older gen. But I did notice that it is not as quiet as when I first bought it. It is a tad bit noiser, however , I am not concerned about it. It does sound like a normal diesel (to me). But, I contibute the little increase in noise to the engine starting to get adjusted and breaking in. Hence, my milage was 16 - 16.4 and now I'm get over 17 and just yesterday I had an 18.2 (hand calc'd to the brim) reading (65-70 MPH). I NEVER HAD THOSE NUMBERS! When I saw people post that your milage will get better, I just smiled and said "Yeah right!". My sarcasim was from my experience with gassers, milage never changed when I left the lot. This being my first diesel, I am just happy as can be and I am learning as I go. This forum has educated me SO MUCH and there are some sharp minds here. Thanks for everything guys. Sorry for the long post, but I am a happy CTD owner.
Oh, and the funny thing is, it seems like my milage just happen to change overnight, when I filled up again. Weird...

 

Mine now has 8000 miles and is nosier also, not that I mind. I have also noticed on a recent 1300 mile trip that mileage can vary with fill-up. I was getting 16 mpg on my trip down to the New Orleans area from Fort Worth, Texas to pick up one of our horses pulling an 18 ft stock trailer. I filled up in Shreveport, LA at a Speedway service station and from there on to South Lousiana the best I could get was 14.7. Diesel had been running 2.09 - 2.14 along the Interstate, yet at Speedway it was 1.99. I figure they could have loaded up on winter diesel even though it would sure not be needed in that area.

 

my 2004.5 is clattering/pinging much more now with 3k miles on it. it runs fine and the noise doesn't bother me as long as its normal. i also have a 2003 SO that makes no pinging/clattering/cackling noises at all. the 600 pings while accelerating or climbing but drops off to low ping while running flat out on the hiway. its my third dodge and the first one to ping like this although the 94 was probably too loud to hear a ping, even turning the radio on drowns out the pinging on the 600.