I have just added a 2nd CTD (2000 auto) & made a maiden trip yesterday pulling a loaded trailer (9,900 #) up the mountain to Flagstaff. The truck has been great while driving locally unloaded. I scaled it with people & trailer and came in at 17,000. While going up the hill I had a rushing (jet engine)sound for about 15-30 seconds, 3 different times, followed by the sound stopping and then blue smoke for about 30 seconds. All the while under full throttle and going about 25 mph uphill to 8,000'. The truck just didn't have any guts while going up small inclines and would slow to 20-40 mph, of course I manually shifted to 2nd or 1st as needed.
It does have alot of miles on it for the year, now 185,000, but is extremely clean and runs great, burns no oil & oil level is still at full with over 5,000 on the Amsoil and none has been added. I'm looking for answers to get more power, I called my mechanic while going up the hill at 25 mph and he suggested a Superchip as an economical power booster, I'm looking for other ideas also. Thanks, Jeff

 

Hey Jeff,
This is just a stab in the dark, but have you checked for boost leaks? It won't hurt to take a real close look at the intercooler hoses and clamps, plus you might want to check the clearance of the boots to any inner fender sheetmetal. My 99 (and I've seen others), was so close that it was actually starting to cut the boot.
Let us know when you find the solution to your problem. Good Luck!

 

You describe a turbo boost leak. Look around, I'll bet you find a hole or tear or blown off hose. Let us know, K? ;D

 

Thanks for the input, I guess I'm looking for a hole large enough to see & following the turbo back, right? I'll be looking there today and will advise of outcome.

Thanks. Jeff

 

Check for a crack in the air pressurization system that is opening under boost.

The most common place for a crack is the rubber reduction bellows that is on the air horn side between the engine and the intercooler. They break in the fold and it is hard to see.

 

[quote author=azjeff link=board=13;threadid=22725;start=0#msg212725 date=1069512308]
I'm looking for answers to get more power, I called my mechanic while going up the hill at 25 mph and he suggested a Superchip as an economical power booster, I'm looking for other ideas also. Thanks, Jeff
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I noticed you were interested in the supperchips upgrade. I have this and just about the same setup as you including the trailer. I did notice more power and about 1.3 mpg better on the fuel.
If you do that you will want gauges. I took a trip up the east coast last weekend and noticed the exhaust temps getting pretty high as I was coming out of the tunnels. Any longer and I would have had to get off the go pedal. I called supperchips to see if there was a way I could raise the boost with out setting a code and having the computer put me into a de-fuleing mode. They said they did not change the boost levels and did not have any plans to change their code to do so (they get their hp from timing and fuel). As much as I tried I could not convince them to add a few pounds to the high end. You might want to think about the Edge Easy, they have a boost fooler built in and would help in this area from what I hear. Then again I hear that the supperchips and edge easy stack nicely, but you will want tranny work done before you try that, and you will definitely want to get the boost leak fixed before you do any of the fueling upgrades.
If you have any question about the supperchips before you buy I'll be glad to answer as many as I can.
Good luck.

 

Along with boost leaks, you might want to verify fuel pressure and filter restriction. The "jet engine" sound you describe sounds like your fan clutch cutting in and out. On your intercooler ductwork, also look for witness marks where the boot can slip out from under the clamp under high boost and then move back when relaxed. Dodge revised the torque spec on the clamps to 95 inch pounds, I believe.

 

Hot digity, its back to normal. With the info given to check the hoses and clamps, that is just what I found - a clamp was off the hose coming from the elbow on the turbo. I thought it was missing, but it came off while under full throttle I'm sure. Putting it back in place and tightening it down tight (probably no exactly 95" lbs, just tight with a 1/4" ratchet) put the truck back to where it was before.

I was so excited that I hooked up to the trailer and went back up the hills, only 125 mile round trip & not all the way to Flag. I found out basically the same thing, I don't have enough guts to get up the hills when heavy, but I never got below 30 mph. I also was not higher than 4,500'. Pretty good climb to 4,500 from about 2,500 in 6 miles to Sunset Point if anybody may know where that is. Now that the leak is fixed, on to more go power & I'm open to all suggestions. Thanks for the help, & send in your suggestions on more power - I'll sure consider anything - is propane something that anybody uses adn if so, where does the tank go? Caio...

 

[quote author=azjeff link=board=13;threadid=22725;start=0#msg212924 date=1069555465]
Now that the leak is fixed, on to more go power & I'm open to all suggestions.
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Glad you found the problem! ;D First suggestion:....... If you're thinking about adding power,,,,,,,, Get some gauges. I'm still stock, but I put gauges in because I tow a 30' 5er and will eventually add a fueling box like the EZ. Having a set of gauges helps me keep an eye on things before they cause me trouble. I learned to change my driving habits a bit when towing, in order to keep my tranny cooler. My fuel pressure gauge alerted me that my lift pump was steadily getting weaker and I had that replaced under warranty before it cooked my injection pump. In your case, a boost gauge and EGT gauge would have shown you that you had a good chance of boost/intake problem.
They are well worth the money and should be first on the list as far as mods in my opinion. After that,,,,, I might suggest an asbestos wallet for your credit cards,,,,,,,,,,, I've heard stories about "Burning up the credit cards" by some members!

 

Thanks to all that replied. I put in the Superchip & tried 2 different settings without noticable difference to the truck. I am going to check the fuel pressure and if its in the range of 12-15 I'm thinking that should run the truck as good as it is going to run, as it is. I considered the gauges and right now am not going to do that until I know its running at peak, as a chipped stock motor. If it is, I'm going to another 12V that I can get to run without the hassle of this barker.
The truck runs great putzing around town, but not nearly as good as the '95. I did a 0-60 with the second hand on my watch and the '95 is about 13 sec & 2000 close to 20 sec. If anybody is driving a 24V, please tell if 20 sec. is close the same 0-60 on yours, if it is stock. It sure drives better, but not as good of puller as the older one.
Looking for info, thanks. Jeff

 

Hey Jeff,
This is the point were guages helped me the most. When I install the boost guage I noticed the boost wouldn't build gradually as I thought it should. The guage would just sit on the peg until the engine was under a good load and suddenly the boost would jump to 15 or so psi. I found more than one clamp tight, but not tight enough. Check'em all. Twice.

 

FINALLY!!!!!! (Yes, I'm screaming) I couldn't believe this truck could really be this bad at pulling a load. After reading all of the posts again, I checked "all" of the clamps this time and found the one that blew off the first time had a partial dislodging of the hose out of the clamp.
I chased down another hose, thinking this one was jelly, that's quite a trick because the parts computers don't list or show the hose on the turbo discharge where one would expect it to be. After about 15 minutes and 3 different Dodge dealer counter folks, we found it and they had it ( in the air intake system of the parts computer). I wasn't going to try to get the old one stay on again, but I did try it and didn't tighten to 95" lbs as suggested earlier, but now I know they will take much more than that - probably closer to 20 ft lbs. So, I haven't used the new $67.00 hose (about 4" long) - wow ($67.00?).
Anyway I went out after tightening and put the pedal on the floor and it just about gave me the 0-60 time of the '95, blowing quite a bit of smoke. Now I know that it will run adequately and off to the fun stuff. Before finding the prob I was looking locally for gauges today and didn't find them. I did find a source they were just out. I'll be getting them in soon and then try another trip up the mountains and see how it goes. Will advise of any other happenings. Thanks for the help I was really thinking of getting another 12V until the '03 HO's hit the used market. Now my friends and fam won't be able to confirm that I'm crazy for wanting to get rid of such a nice truck - yet. Jeff

 

Are you travelling up and down I-17 to and from Flagstaff?
If so, I am very familiar with that road as I drove it three times/month from Canada for three years. Most of the time I dragged a 53ft wedge trailer with old collectible cars going south and full size vans going north...sometimes three boats at a time.
I did this with a 90 Ram and it held 45 all the way if I caught the gear just right...bone stock. I did hit 2nd gear a few times in traffic or weather.
Then I had a couple of 92 and 93's running it.
I then ran an enclosed 48ft with a 96, then a 98 and on the 98 with the Edge EZ, my air box and the DD Stage 3 injectors I was pulling that climb very easily and maintaining speed where it was safe. ;D

These where all 5 spd trucks.
You may also want to address the auto trans [I think I read its an auto] before any major tweaking.

Nice stretch of road. So is Hwy 89 north of Flagstaff. ;D
That road near Hurricane is tricky...with a trailer.

 

Scotty, yes that's the road and your truck handled it much better than mine. I think that since the turbo leaks are now stopped, mine may approach 45 mph also. I would be really happy with that. Will be making that run again soon. It was a trial for a Reno, SLC, Cheyenne & Denver trip that I intended to make this week. I couldn't get everybody I wanted to see setup, so now it looks like a late winter or early spring trip.
If you drove it 3 times a month, you are much more familiar with it than me. I'm sure that I haven't made tht many trips north in the 18 years I 've been in AZ. Hope all is well and not to chilly, and by the way was your '98 a 12 or 24V and if a 24, which did you like driving most? Best to you. Jeff

 

The 98 was one of the first 24V's and I had a few failed injectors pumps bone stock. Once the bugs got worked out it was fine. I do wish I had taken the 12 Valve I ordered but the sales Mgr was a friend and he needed a truck for a customer. He was real good to deal with and I could wait so I passed on the 12 valve. :'(

Oh well. LOL

Drive safe and do it mid winter not in the spring...those spring snow storms are nasty.

[quote author=azjeff link=board=13;threadid=22725;start=0#msg216778 date=1070341334]
Scotty, yes that's the road and your truck handled it much better than mine. I think that since the turbo leaks are now stopped, mine may approach 45 mph also. I would be really happy with that. Will be making that run again soon. It was a trial for a Reno, SLC, Cheyenne & Denver trip that I intended to make this week. I couldn't get everybody I wanted to see setup, so now it looks like a late winter or early spring trip.
If you drove it 3 times a month, you are much more familiar with it than me. I'm sure that I haven't made tht many trips north in the 18 years I 've been in AZ. Hope all is well and not to chilly, and by the way was your '98 a 12 or 24V and if a 24, which did you like driving most? Best to you. Jeff

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