my 05 dually, 3:73's pulled harder then my brothers 05 KR 350. 4:10's, but I also had I believe 40 more #'s of torque

 

Thanks for all the responces, cant wait to try manually shifting, cant say why I didnt think to do that. Perhaps I take the term "auto" too literally


I didnt intend to say the Ford pulls better loaded overall. The Dodge accelerates harder in most situations. I am not used to downshifting manually so I have not tried that. The Ford and Chevy both downshifted when it needed it. The Dodge must be staying in 5 or 6 at such a low rpm it wont grunt up the grade. It just maintains. Thursday I tow the G/N again and I will use the shift buttons. I have not tried that. I am in a habit of just hitting tow button and never touching anything again so that must be what is happening.

 

If engines 1, 2 and 3 are made one after the other and you put them in to 3 identical trucks. You then take the truck with engine #2, work it hard compared the other two engines and most likely it will be a better engine then the other 2 if the other two were used as daily drivers.

 

Let us know how the towing go's again please.

 

I sort of wished my 05 would downshift alittle sooner, my brothers KR, would downshift alot, he could very seldom use cruise. I would be on cruise, and have to kick it off because I would push him up the hills. The big part was in a identical between fillup, I used 4.4 gals less then his ford. We bothe have 08's now, but I have'nt towed any distance to coment on the new dodge. The shift button will be nice.

 

From my experiances with a Ford yes they downshift on the hill but then the RPMS are close to red line but your not going any faster. Infact that is what I hate about automatics is the constant downshifting on a hill when they could just maintain in their original gear. From the way you describle the way your tranny is operating I would be very happy with it!!

 

That is basically the theory behind taking a new engine and loading it hard early on like I describe what I did and have done in the past. That is why I was confused that you said

"IMHO there has never been a need to drive a modern diesel engine from 50 to 80 MPH to seat the rings or to help break it in."

My thinking as well as a few really well known and respected engine builders is that high pressures early will wear in or "seat" the rings before the cylinder walls have a chance to glaze from work hardening. I am by no means trying to come off as an expert, I just have seen the results many many times and I can't tell you what would be different about the mechanics between a gas or diesel engine in this regard but I do know cylinder walls is cylinder walls and rings is rings and neither give a rat's doodoo what fuel is used to make em go bang bang bang. I can run a gas engine on WD-40 or carb cleaner and the rings and cylinder walls still do the same thing. Pressure makes the rings expand and + pressure = + expansion = + friction = something is going to give even if it is miniscule. cheers

 

This is the only part I will disagrees with you "but I do know cylinder walls is cylinder walls and rings is rings" From all of the diesel pistons and rings I've see over the years theres is a difference between the 2 and what they are made out of. I don't know of any standard gas engine (be it a 350 Chev or a Ford 390 etc) piston, rings or cylinder wall that would hold up to what a diesel piston, ring & cylinder wall has to handle every day.

JMHO

 

For got about this.....

TSB 21-019-07
FLASH: 68RFE Transmission - Harsh Coastdown Shift And/Or Harsh 2-3 Upshift

You may want to try this also.

 

Same as a Henway.