New Diesel

Jim&Peggy · Post by **Jim&Peggy** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:26 pm

We just purchased a 2007 3500 Dodge Ram with their new 6.7 Cummins Diesel. I hve never driven a diesel truck. What advice do you experienced diesel drivers have to give a neophyte driver? Breakin period? Warm up or not? Braking problems? any problems that will incur with a diesel that I don't with a Gas engine. The new truck has a 6 speed stick shift and a "Jake Brake". Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Many Thanks----Jim

Post by **Mike Clay** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:18 pm

Well I have now owned 5 CTD and as far as the break in goes put 500 miles on it then hook it to your trailer and drive.

You will love the exhaust brake. I have 60k on my Dodge and the front brakes are still 95%

campswithcritters · Post by **campswithcritters** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:55 pm

Other than what Mike said, do warm it up for a few minutes before driving, and always let it idle for a couple minutes after towing with it. This will allow the turbocharger to cool down and prevent oil from baking (coking) into the passages from that turbo. If the passages clog up it will seize the turbo bearings, which is not cool once the warranty is up. Most of us always carry a spare fuel filter along as it is possible to get contaminated diesel, try to buy from high volume dealers like truck stops and you will avoid that issue. Enjoy the truck, it will pull!
Former CTD owner: Bruce

bop11 · Post by **bop11** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:03 pm

Jim&Peggy,
Welcome to the club and congrats on the new truck. I agree with Mike and the 500 miles before you hook up the 5r. As far as any warm up goes as long as the outside temp is above 50 I would think that a nice slow crawl out of a camp gound would be sufficient, as long as it takes a couple of minutes before you start bangin on thru 6 gears

. I'd suggest idleing it as little as possible in a campground for fear of choking somone out!
Let us know how that 6.7L works out for you.

Post by **Mike Clay** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:15 pm

Yep these guys are right don't let your truck idle on cold mornings unless you have a high idle feature or turn on your exhaust brake. If you don't you will get diesel wash down on the cylinder walls (not good) Like Bruce said after towing on the freeway or a hard pull and say you pull into a rest stop let it idle for a few minutes to let the turbo cool. This is not a real big problem like the older trucks but it is still good to let it cool.

Diesel Dave 04 · Post by **Diesel Dave 04** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:20 am

DONT BABY IT, It is made to pull and work hard run it.
Please come back and let us know how the 6.7 is towing and on fuel I think my next truck will be a 6 speed But I may go the other way I may look for a 03 6 speed with the 555 motor.

Post by **Mike Clay** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:22 am

Diesel Dave 04 wrote:DONT BABY IT, It is made to pull and work hard run it.
Please come back and let us know how the 6.7 is towing and on fuel I think my next truck will be a 6 speed But I may go the other way I may look for a 03 6 speed with the 555 motor.

Why would you go back to an 03 just because of the cat?

Diesel Dave 04 · Post by **Diesel Dave 04** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:34 am

The CAt and the programing where they Inject 2 after shots of fuel into the chamber to keep the cat hot This waste 15% fuel If you run under 1500 RPM. I bought my Dodge CTD for power reliability and One big thing Fuel milage so far Im happy with all but MPG I get 10 I got as high as 13.8 on a unloaded trip going 66 MPH and people passing me giving me the finger for beeing in there way. all i heard before i bought my truck was 15+ MPG no matter how hard you drive it. well Im just not happy with 10 MPG and $2.79 per gallon.

Future Fulltimers · Post by **Future Fulltimers** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:49 am

I don’t think I have ever heard anyone say anything good about the fuel mileage their diesel gets. Personally I get about 9 when towing but that is what I bought it for…towing. Hook your rig up to a gasser and see what it gets 5, 7 mpg. My truck may not be fuel-efficient but it will take on any road out there. Arrr, Arrr, Arrr!!!

Post by **Mike Clay** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:32 am

my 04.5 gets a touch better than my 01 I get high 11's towing and 17 in town and 21 hwy empty. In fact a couple weeks ago was probably the worst I got 8.9 but I was fighting a 40mph head wind coming back up the Columbia River Gorge with the trailer on.

Anyway back on track here Jim like was said already let us know how that 6.7 does, I hear they are pretty nice.

Rob & Cathy · Post by **Rob & Cathy** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:53 am

Future Fulltimers wrote:Hook your rig up to a gasser and see what it gets 5, 7 mpg.Arrr, Arrr, Arrr!!!

Actually, I've never gotten less the 8 mpg per tank with my gas engine when towing. Of course I don't pull as large a trailer as some. But I'm with you, I got it for towing.

Rob

Jim&Peggy · Post by **Jim&Peggy** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:37 pm

I want to thank all of you for your prompt replies In regard to towing with a gas engine-- I had a '94 F250 with the big 460 cuin. engine pulling a 24ft 5er that weighed in around 7000 lbs. My worst mileage was coming out of Dodge City, Kansas ahead of reported tornados, into a 50mph head wind was 5.5 MPG. My best was 10MPG, one time only, on a long descent with a tail wind. I think I averaged 7.5 MPG as a best guess. Of course your road speed and head winds can really effect your mileage. In Arizona the Interstates are posted at 75 mph. In California, when pulling a trailer, you are limited to 55 mph. I tdrives me crazy coming fromAZ . to go that slow so I MUST use my Speed Control which I set At 62mph and so far I have not been stopped for speeding. I also show no improvement in mileage and I attibute that to decending from 5000ft. to 100 ft.{Colorado River} at 75mph to then ascending back to 4500 ft.{Barstow,CA.} at 62mph. I'm hoping I can AVERAGE 10 mpg on the new truck. Only time will tell. I will report results as I get them. Again, many thanks!!!----Jim

Diesel Dave 04 · Post by **Diesel Dave 04** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:12 pm

Mike Clay wrote:my 04.5 gets a touch better than my 01 I get high 11's towing and 17 in town and 21 hwy empty. In fact a couple weeks ago was probably the worst I got 8.9 but I was fighting a 40mph head wind coming back up the Columbia River Gorge with the trailer on.

Anyway back on track here Jim like was said already let us know how that 6.7 does, I hear they are pretty nice.

That is the funny thing I got 11.8 towing my old camper to maine that was running 65 and the camper was 14K But yet my truck dont do any good empty if i could just get 16 normal. Im happy with 11.8 pulling such a load.

Post by **Mike Clay** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:54 pm

Funny thing with the 04.5 trucks some got bad mileage some had a vibration some had both. With mine it was the vibration which a new front drive shaft took care of.

Diesel Dave 04 · Post by **Diesel Dave 04** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:38 am

Mike Clay wrote:Funny thing with the 04.5 trucks some got bad mileage some had a vibration some had both. With mine it was the vibration which a new front drive shaft took care of.

Your truck is the same as my truck other then dual rear wheels and you have the hand shaker.
There is an issue and Im not going to rest till i figure it out. are you 3:73 gears?

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New Diesel

New Diesel

6.7 Diesel