My New Vehicle/ Question

[Silent Wolf]

Well I never thought I would be typing this to say, I'm no longer a member of the FORD family

Over the weekend I was able to hunt down the truck, I've always been dreaming of but didn't think it would happen. I was able to find my Dodge so now I'm a member of the MOPAR Family along with the family of the CUMMINS

To what I was able to scoop up was a 2006 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9L Cummins.

Now I know there is a few of you on here with the oh so mighty Cummins, what I was wondering if it is worth my time and or money to add a cold air intake?

Or does anyone have some info on what I should do.

Thanks

SW

[Wildcat]

I have a 2004 Dodge 2500 and IMHO no need to change anything on the power plant except a winter front. The truck seems to be over cooled and heat in the winter is the shits without a cover on the front. I went with some stainless inserts and they work well. -20c weather on the highway and it never would warm up without the inserts.

I have pulled 40 foot trailers up the Coquihalla and never lost much for speed anywhere except from the snow shed to the top I was down to 80km/h. Had some good sized loads on those trailers so I figured that was just fine

[montana]

Originally Posted by Silent Wolf

Well I never thought I would be typing this to say, I'm no longer a member of the FORD family

Congrats on the up grade. Where are the pictures? It's a good feeling to have a newer vehicle and some pice of mind dependability wise. More power never hurts either!
I too decided on getting a new truck last spring, and finally took the plunge this fall.
I considered Dodge but don't like the noise of the Cummings, and would sooner WALK than drive a ford, so I went with the early '07 silverado w/ Duramax diesel. My first 'new' truck ever and I'm not dissapointed.

[Silent Wolf]

Thanks guys, Montana and Wildcat...

One thing I dont know if it just mine or not but, the glow plugs come on at first start up for the day. If I park and go fishing for a couple hours and move to another place the glow plugs dont come on?? But when i park at work for the day they come on when i fire it up to go home!


Yet with my pop's 2004 Dodge 3500 they come on every time?

Montana, Cummins loud ???? Mine isn't as loud as my pop's his is loud in the Cab, mine is quite! I will also get some pics up soon... Its steelhead season now

Ford Owner's Recomend Dodge aka FORD


SW

[Don in BC]

Here is my suggestion. Join or lurk on this site. If you join,the magazines are amazing. Loaded with info. I have got sooooo much from the info on the site.

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/

I have a 2001 R3500 6 spd, dually, 4" Dynamax exhaust, cold air, Edge Comp performance box, Air Dog fuel supply,, sport light conversion, dipricol gauges, Fuel,pyrometer and Boost. With the Edge box on level 5 , my Cummins puts out approx 425HP and 800 ft lbs of torque. Look out hills !!!

To answer your question Rob, yes a cold air intake is worth it.

[Don in BC]

IMO... I would never put a cold front on a vehicle with an intercooler. How is it supposed to do it's job all covered up and being allowed to heat up? Kind of defeats the purpose of the intercooler I think. Just my 2c

Don

[Silent Wolf]

THanks Don,

I know what I'll be checking on the net here soon

Now with reg highway driving is 19miles per gallon good? That is 100km/hr tact is around 15-1700rpm.

I know my gauge up on the top says i should get 940km+ per tank of fuel? How good are the gauges like this??

This my first Truck with all the bells....

Thanks again all for your info.

Rob

[Don in BC]

Rob. First, I have been a licensed auto tech for 38 years so now you know I have seen a few things. The overhead display can be reasonably accurate or out to lunch. Use it as a guide line but don't rely on it . running out of fuel in a diesel is not always a simple thing like a gas engine is. I personnaly fill at the quarter tank mark in my diesels and my gas engines.

With todays LSD and ULSD (low sulfur diesel and ultra low sulphur diesel), the lubricity factor is greatly reduced. Use of a good diesel additive is strongly advised. I use Howe's. (Lordco). Howe's has several types including an anti-gel if you are going to an area of really cold weather.

http://www.howeslube.com/

I am a strong believer in gauges to monitor operation info on a diesel engine. Fuel pressure gauge is very important in the 2nd gen diesels ('94-'02) as the 24valve engine had lots of trouble with lift pump failure and consequentially the Injection pump. The history of problems in the newer CR engines (common rail) for fuel pressure problems is reduced but monitoring that pressure is still important.

If you are going to be towing, monitoring exhaust gas temps is important. This is done through a Pyrometer. If you are going to start with "add-on modifications", a pyrometer is a must as well. Don't want that turbo getting too hot.

If your truck is an auto and you are going to be pulling a trailer, monitoring trans temp is important. Gotta keep that fluid as cool as possible.

Plug and play devices (ie performance boxes) are fantastic. My Edge Comp box installs in less than 10 minutes and is controllable inside the truck and can give an additional 120Horse/350ft torque on level 5. It adjusts pump timing and fuel. Some entry level performance boxes only control pump timing (Edge EZ) Check out this site. Be forewarned Rob. It is sooo easy to get BIG power out of a Cummins with just external changes, it becomes infectious. Have alook at this (available through Lordco) but hold onto your wallet. This the same one I have but for the 2nd generation 24v.

http://www.edgeproducts.com/product....+with+Attitude

You will see guys on TDR refer to Fass and Airdog. These are fuel delivery sytems that are far superior to the Manufacturer. If putting alot of performance Mods on, fuel supply must be addressed, just like a gas engine.
Improved fuel pressure is a must on the second gen 24v trucks as the original lift pump on the block and even Dodges "improved design" in the tank, did not provide enough pressure under heavy load. Pressure where dropping below 8-10psi which is hard on the Injection pump and can cause it to fail. Aftermarket has addressed that issue with the following link. These are available for your truck as well. I have had mine on for a while and I love it. There is a dealer in Abbotsford.

http://www.pureflowtechnologies.com/

Don't get me wrong. This is all stuff available for the Cummins if you wish to go down this road. If you are not towing anything, you can leave it alone. But if you want to enjoy what these engine can do without sacrificing fuel economy (only a slight drop), then have some fun.


If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask. Good luck and have fun.

Don

[Silent Wolf]

Thanks Don for the info

You now are the third person to talk about Howes, my dad said I should use it. I was using a Lucas product for my gas pot truck, I was told HOWES is the best on the market right now... So I have some so will give it a whirl.

For the monster horsepower well that isn't me, I'm more the type that changes the air to let the motor breath better. (Like on my Harley).
As I can see this being like a Harley the sky's the limit with a Cummins for parts to add!

As for TDR that is a good site thanks for passing it along


Oh Don another question, Jake brake or exhaust brake! Are they worth farting around with or just use the Tow-Haul to come down a hill?

I for one always like working on the top half of a tank of fuel never the bottom, learned that when working on a Comm Boat. As I still need to read in the book where to prime the motor if I run out of fuel.

Don where would you say is the better of the places to get parts?

I have found out also talking to people that with the 04-06's I know for sure that around 100km the ball joints need replacing.

So far I love it the power going up hills is nice to when the turbo kicks in....

Thanks again Don....

Rob

[Don in BC]

Lordco has been my fav for parts. When it comes to front end parts,make sure they are Moog parts as they have a life time warranty. Make sure you hold onto your invoices as you may need them a few years down the road . When it comes to 4x4 front ends, it doesn't matter what make of truck you have, they all suffer ball joint hardships. Best you can do is keep all joints greased frequently.

A good exhaust brake is a good investment if you are towing heavy often enough to justify the cost. Banks make a good one. so do these guys and they are in your area I think.

http://www.dieselperformance.com/


Enjoy

Don

[Silent Wolf]

Don,

Question, cold air intakes...... I know a lot of guys I know run with K&N air intakes or is Banks worth it? I got the price of the K&N glad I can work some wonders at the auto parts as reg price

Plus with my truck over my dads when I shut mine off it is fine but with his he has like a churp, he figures it is the turbo but I said it sounds like a belt? I know it is hard unless you hear it.

I picked up Dieselpower mag i think it is OMFG, the stuff in the mag is endless, one thing i did fall in love with is the monster air horn system! As some know I raise some trouble and a system on my truck OMG watch out slow people walking in the crosswalk


Rob

[Don in BC]

Hi Rob. That chirp when they finish that last roll over is normal. Cold air intakes are a good thing. I have always liked the K & N. The whole idea is get the air in faster, get it out faster. So intakes and big exhaust are the way to go. Do you have to worry about warranty issues if you make intake changes? I'll give you 6 months and the Cummins power bug will have bit you Hard in the ass. It's unavoidable with these trucks, you'll see. Cold air intake, eh? And so it begins.

[Silent Wolf]

Don,

Stop it, I bet it is just like getting your first Tattoo, always wanting more!

The Cummins bug, well this truck, I have had my eyes on for many years!
I'm not into the big horse power, I just want the motor to breath better!
Good point if i do put the cold air intake does that screw up my warranty?

Someone told me to go with the 5" exhaust straight as the turbo is the muffler or restricter on the motor! I do love the sound of the straight pipes if done right!

Thanks for the info on the chirp, I will pass that on to my pops!

OH DODGE MAKES IT
CUMMINS SHAKES IT

Rob

[Don in BC]

5" exhaust......... SWEET ! You'll feel the difference when that cat is gone. Before going down that road, make sure there is no monitoring device for the cat that the ecm looks at. I can't remember if there is a o2 sensor for the diesels in the newer trucks. Have you joined TDR? If so, do a search for exhaust mods.

[Silent Wolf]

LOL there is the old saying GO BIG OR GO HOME

O haven't joined TDR yet, but sure been viewing it Ugh my eyes get sore all day at work on the computer then all night veiwing truck stuff!

I keep telling the boys at work that I going to come in one day to work with Stacks up the side of my truck. Like the L'il red Express

Can the newer trucks run on Stove oil like the old ones can?
That is the other thing when I fire my truck up it doesnt have the deisel smell it is more like propane, yet to when my pops was done with his 04 it sure has the smell of the deisel?? Even my hunting buddies new truck same as mine but the 3500 he says the same thing, propane smell?? So not sure if it is the deisel down here? Where pop's is in the Boo they would be running with winter fuel.

Thanks again Don for the info..

Rob