Finally, after a week waiting, the EGR Cleaner Kit arrived @ my dealer and the truck went in on Friday to have the procedure done. 33k miles on the clock. Tech dismantled the EGR tube/valve housing and applied the kit stating it "smelled like Dove soap." Told me that there was alot of gunk inside which probably caused the EGR valve to stick open which threw the codes & CEL. 3 hour process.
Tech told me that it looks like this will probably become a routine process for the EGR equipped 6.7l engines. Again I'm reminded of my Ferd buddies who need to have their EGR manifolds cleaned on their 6.ohno's. Cummins procedure is a bit less complicated. Thanks DC & EPA.
When asked if there was something I could do differently to avoid the gunk buildup, change driving habits or whatever, he pointed out the gallon bottle of PS in the bed and said that Cummins doesn't recommend using diesel fuel additives. I told him I use that as I'm concerned about the quality/lubricity issues of ULSD and also that Howes prints on their label Cummins Approved. Plus with the poor fuel mileage I'm getting, using the additive I can sqeak out a little better m.p.g. He suggested I try not using it for awhile to compare, now that we cleaned the EGR out.
What do y'all think?? I've been using diesel fuel addititve since day 1 with this truck as well as always used it in the 04.5 which really helped the 04.5.
Currently, I have no trips scheduled to test his theory, but I am really concerned about not using any additive with the ULSD out there.
Also, with just short type running around I have not noticed any increase in m.p.g. using the overhead as a baseline - still getting 14.5 - 15.5 on the overhead. When I go out next trip I will be hand calcing as usual.

 

Give it a try for several thousand miles. What do you have to lose? I think the injectors and pumps on these trucks are designed for the ULSD so they shouldn't need any extra lubricity. I know where you are coming from though. Check the tube in another 15k or so and see how it looks compared to what it did before the cleaning. I am assuming you had the reoccuring 244 or 245 code? There are quite a few having the problem I guess even after the tsb flash.

 

Yeah, the 245 code. I really don't know how I would go about changing my driving habits as most of those 33k miles have been highway @ 70 - 75 m.p.h. loaded & unloaded, which seems to be the best way to run these trucks. If cleaning the EGR is going to be a regular maintenance thing, is it going to be on DC's dime or mine?? I wonder, are they going to pay for it up to 100k miles and then it's on me?? A 3 hour process. Not too warm & fuzzy about that!!
VZ - I've read some of your posts. Are you a Cummins or Dodge tech?? You seem to be pretty helpful on here & apparently have access to DC resources. I'm going to try the next 15k without using any additives - I sure hope there will be no long term damage showing up. I learned my lesson with my 04.5 though - not to take them over 200k miles. The repairs I paid for on the 04.5 from 200k to 330k miles would've made a very healthy down payment on this beast!! All of those repairs were for the Dodge wrapper - the Cummins just kept humpin' along.
Thanks for your insight.

 

I'll see what I can find out as for the EGR cleaning , and on who's dime it'll be. I used to be a Dodge tech, and kinda still am. I now work on a fleet that is made up of about 90% Dodge vehicles. Family owns a dealership so I still uhumm, have access to the Dodge site! I'm a firm believer that it's not what you know, but WHO you know! LOL