ReubenT

I am 1 year new to owning a diesel truck. Early last year I bought a 2006 Ram 3500 4X4 long bed with the 5.9 6 speed manual transmission with 285/70-17s on it. The engine has been rebuilt and has about 50k on it now; the truck has over 200k on it. It had 60hp injectors installed during the rebuild; I believe that is the right terminology. It also has an EGT gauge installed on the turbine inlet side. Not knowing a whole lot about diesel trucks I assumed that most people were getting great MPG out of them, in excess 21. When I test drove the truck the fuel economy gauge indicated 22, so I bought the truck with that assumption in mind. I started to do the calculations and it wasn’t even close. I am getting about 14 driving 15 miles back and forth to work, about 16 open road truck unloaded and about 10 when hauling my 7k GVW tongue pull RV, I rarely haul it with water and doubt I am close to the max weight. When pulling a hill I also notice the EGT temp climbs fairly quickly and I have to back off. On some of these climbs I am thinking that the truck should pull up without needing to back off. I try to not exceed 1000, 1200 is my limit. Also when just driving normally this truck smokes heavily when going through the gears, it passes Nevada smog with no problems. I usually try to maintain 2000 RPM. My biggest concern is the smoke, I do not like that it smokes like it does. I can live with the MPG but if I could get that to increase that would be great. It did come with a BD Diesel Performance programmer, I mostly run it on the “Stock” setting; I have run it on the “Tow” and “Stock” setting when hauling the trailer didn’t seem to make any difference. So I am thinking that I have a few options, install stock injectors, replace the injector nozzles, or if a programmer exists, get a programmer that will reduce the fuel consumption. I would just like to get some thoughts on my “Rollin Smoke” truck.

I am 1 year new to owning a diesel truck. Early last year I bought a 2006 Ram 3500 4X4 long bed with the 5.9 6 speed manual transmission with 285/70-17s on it. The engine has been rebuilt and has about 50k on it now; the truck has over 200k on it. It had 60hp injectors installed during the rebuild; I believe that is the right terminology. It also has an EGT gauge installed on the turbine inlet side. Not knowing a whole lot about diesel trucks I assumed that most people were getting great MPG out of them, in excess 21. When I test drove the truck the fuel economy gauge indicated 22, so I bought the truck with that assumption in mind. I started to do the calculations and it wasn’t even close. I am getting about 14 driving 15 miles back and forth to work, about 16 open road truck unloaded and about 10 when hauling my 7k GVW tongue pull RV, I rarely haul it with water and doubt I am close to the max weight. When pulling a hill I also notice the EGT temp climbs fairly quickly and I have to back off. On some of these climbs I am thinking that the truck should pull up without needing to back off. I try to not exceed 1000, 1200 is my limit. Also when just driving normally this truck smokes heavily when going through the gears, it passes Nevada smog with no problems. I usually try to maintain 2000 RPM. My biggest concern is the smoke, I do not like that it smokes like it does. I can live with the MPG but if I could get that to increase that would be great. It did come with a BD Diesel Performance programmer, I mostly run it on the “Stock” setting; I have run it on the “Tow” and “Stock” setting when hauling the trailer didn’t seem to make any difference. So I am thinking that I have a few options, install stock injectors, replace the injector nozzles, or if a programmer exists, get a programmer that will reduce the fuel consumption. I would just like to get some thoughts on my “Rollin Smoke” truck.

Cool! Just so you know this will be a slow moving project. I do believe that the vacuum switch was the problem, haven't taken it down for a smog test yet. I bought the jeep in Aug of last year and parked it in the garage until about a month and a half ago. Put fresh gas in it and some carb cleaner and ran 2 tanks in it before I attempted a smog. It failed for "High Speed CO" too high. At this point I was very uneducated on this carb and emission system. I changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Attempted another smog, failed for the same thing. Got in to the books and internet and learned a ton. I rebuilt the carb and adjusted everything to factory specs. and tuned everything in. I could see that the stepper motor metering valve was in the full forward position (full rich) at 2000 rpm. Started trouble shooting the whole emission system and found that the 4 in hg vacuum switch was not working. Replaced it and now I can see the stepper motor working as advertised. That is where I am at so far. I would like to continue through the rest of the sensors and gadgets to ensure they are working and I can learn from the experience. And by the way, this 1985 CJ-7 Laredo is 95% Stock and in excellent condition, could use some paint. I would like to keep it stock and not put a fuel injection system it it, I kinda like the stock idea. I would really appreciate your input. Thank you!

I found one at the junk yard.

My CJ failed smog so I rebuilt the carb and set everything to factory settings and have been going through all the sensors to see if I have a bad one. I got to the 4 in hg vacuum switch and it will not actuate at all when a vacuum is applied. 10 in switch works. After searching the net I can't seem to find a replacement. Does anyone know where I can get one? Thank you!