I finally picked up my new 2004 - 2500QC 4x4 HO/48re on Friday afternnon. By 6:00pm I had called the dealer saying I may have made a mistake. I was having a difficult time getting adjusted to the stiff ride of the truck and don't remember the 2500 Hemi riding as stiffly. The dealer said to drive it over the weekend and give him a call on Monday. If I like I can return it and order a 1500 Hemi with 17" wheels and a 3.92 axle to pull the 7,500#(gross weight) horse trailer I will be getting.

In the mean time, I find that I am almost getting sick from the odor coming into the truck from the heater system. I should say that I had the truck rustproofed and undercoated. The smell in the truck doesn't smell like diesel exhuast, but I'm not sure it is the undercoat either.

I'm starting to get used to the ride, but the smell has me nauseated. Is this something that should disappear as the coating on the engine "burns off"? (Or is there nothing to burn off and I am smelling diesel?). Is it possible this is an undercoating/rustproofing smell?

With respect to ride, has anyone added a few pounds to the bed to settle the ride? Does it help?

In the end, I think I can live with the sluggish pickup (compared to the hemi - or a car) and the firm ride, but no poor air quality in the cab. Any comments, help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[quote author=BIG ED link=board=17;threadid=19926;start=0#msg187395 date=1064171918]
Both of my 03's had some odor when new. The engines have a coating on them that burns off. Also, since the Cummins vents the crankcase fumes into the atmosphere you will get a odor from new oil that dissipates after 500 miles or so. This means every time that you change the oil the odor may return. Their has been some discussion about certain oils "smelling" more than others.
[/quote]

Ed, How many miles since your last oil change? If it is more than 500 miles, is your cab completely odor free? It doesn't seem to be as bad when the heating system isn't used. I'm surprised that the hvac system would draw any air from the engine compartment area.

 

I would highly recommend you pull your trailer behind a Hemi before giving up the Cummins. Dodge gas burners are over-rated as to what they can pull comfortably, at least the 5.9L v8 was.

 

My truck had a distinct smell to it for the first few weeks. After that, no smell. It also stinks for a day or two after every oil change. If you undercoated it (bad mistake in my opinion) it could also be the undercoating making a stink. That could take a while to disipate.
Sluggish pickup???? Not on mine. Are you trying to accelerate from below about 1500 rpm or even below 1000 rpm? If so, then it could be a tad sluggish. I can't suggest you use the gears because you have the auto. Something does not sound right here. Are you flooring it or just being gentle on the throttle. Go ahead, make the engine work because you will not harm it. Just don't make it lug.
Yes, these trucks do ride rough with no load. Load it up and you will be amazed at the difference. What tire pressures are you running? With no load I have run as low as 50 in the front and 40 psi in the back. It makes a difference. To make my truck ride smoother with no load I installed a piece of 4x4 wood behind the wheel wells. Then added a few hundred pounds of sand in sandbags. I also switched to Rancho 9000 shocks.
Please don't switch your truck. I think you will regret it. In a very short time you will love your truck and the Cummins engine.

 

I'll second n5oxp. I had a 96 1500 ext slt 4x4 with the 360 and auto. I put 135000 miles on it. Most weight I pulled was around 7500lbs. Lousy 7-8 mpg at that weight and a high of 14 empty. Two torque convertors, two tranny rebuilds by a reputable shop. Final straw was blown intake manifold gasket for the second time. IMHO, stick with the Cummins.

Your idea of weight in the bed will really help the harshness. I normally have 300-400 lbs in the rear of my 3500 and the ride is lots better than the 1500 was.

Ed

 

My 3500 rides nice and smooth. No bumpy ride here, at least no more than you would expect from a Heavy Duty truck...

Mine smelled for a couple of days and then went away. As for sluggish, get on the highway at 55-60 mph and stomp it! It won't be sluggish!! Better yet, do that with a load in the bed and/or a trailer behind you. I bet you'll stick with the truck with the best engine ever put in a pick-up truck......

 

[quote author=Dodgezilla link=board=17;threadid=19926;start=0#msg187550 date=1064230556]Better yet, do that with a load in the bed and/or a trailer behind you. I bet you'll stick with the truck with the best engine ever put in a pick-up truck......
[/quote]What he said. That little ISB still makes me smile every day.

 

I didn't mean to say that I think the HO doesn't have alot of grunt. In fact, I am amazed at how quickly the truck accelerates. There is no question you can feel the torque when you step on the accelerator (you didn't catch me saying "gas pedal&quot. I was just commenting that it is a major adjustment from driving a gas powered car or the Hemi, which pretty much squirts forward "now" when you hit the gas.

I know how poorly the Hemi pulls my trailer - I test pulled with one prior to getting the Cummins. I haven't been able to pull with the Cummins yet - it only has 400km (240 miles) on it. The owners manual says no towing for 500 miles and the next 500 miles must be below 55mp/h. I'm sure it will pull 6,000# - 7,000# like it's not there.

My main concern, however, is with engine compartment fumes in the cab. If this is a short term thing, then no problem. If it will always be present (which I can't believe would be the case - help!), then I don't think I could live with the truck, no matter how well it pulls.

 

[quote author=kayjh link=board=17;threadid=19926;start=0#msg187393 date=1064171427]
I finally picked up my new 2004 - 2500QC 4x4 HO/48re on Friday afternnon. By 6:00pm I had called the dealer saying I may have made a mistake. I was having a difficult time getting adjusted to the stiff ride of the truck and don't remember the 2500 Hemi riding as stiffly. The dealer said to drive it over the weekend and give him a call on Monday. If I like I can return it and order a 1500 Hemi with 17" wheels and a 3.92 axle to pull the 7,500#(gross weight) horse trailer I will be getting.[/quote]

First....congrats on the new truck. ;D

Most likely that smell is the smell of new oil burning in the engine. It will go away as the oil ages, but it will come back every time you change the oil. Most of us see that wonderful smell as one of the many advantages of owning a Cummins. ;D

Regarding the ride.....well, when you buy a TRUCK you should expect it to RIDE like a truck. If you don't enjoy bone jarring rides then maybe 2500's or 3500's aren't right for you. :- For what it's worth though, you DO get used to it....and adding weight helps a lot.

Adding some weight should take out some of the jolting over bumps...but it will still be a stiff ride.

Did you say SLUGGISH?? Hook the Hemi or the car up to a 10,000 pound trailer and THEN see which one is sluggish. These engines are FAR from sluggish....especially if you follow suit with some of these other guys and BOMB them. ;D Regarding the air quality...then only time you should notice it is when the oil is new and when you have the heater or vent on while the truck is stationary. It's your truck though...so it's your decision. ;D

 

The engines have a heavy application of clearcoat paint put on them at Walesboro before they are shipped to Dodge. The clearcoat covers everything including the turbo and exhaust manifold. I'm sure the smell you have is that clearcoat buring off the high temp parts. In a few days the smell should go away.
Don't get rid of the Cummins/Dodge truck. After a few weeks you'll realize that this is the best truck you've ever owned.

have a good one

 

When I took delivery of my truck, it had 84 miles on it. I have never noticed any odor whatsoever.

Give the Dodge/Cummins a chance. I love mine. Bet you will love yours.

 

kayjh

Comming from a long time ower of Gas trucks, give the ol' cummins a chance. I to had the smell you are describing for about the first 300 miles on my 03 but soon was gone. As other members stated here you will have the smell when your oil is changed but its a small price to pay to have the rig you have. Best of both power and fuel mileage. All my gas trucks would never pull like the cummins and the fuel mileage flat out stunk when towing. (6 MPH) These trucks get great fuel milage, and pull like a bull dozer even stock. ( well a small bull dozer at least) When BOMBed, well, you get the Idea.

Diesels are not for everyone, but I can say I would never go back to a Gas power truck ever.

In the end you have to be happy with what you purchased. Either way, you will have a great truck.

 

Mine smelled also for the first 500 miles, then it went away. After the dealer changed the oil the first time, it smelled again for about a day. When I started changing the oil and I took care not to spill any oil, there is no longer any smell when I change the oil. In other words, the smell will go away.

 

Shell Rotella is the (smell fella) Hey I'm a poet and didn't know it. ;D That is what is in most of the trucks when you buy 1 new.