Dodge Truck Issues solved

[Duke Winch]

So my 2500 dodge diesel truck was getting around 13.3 mpg on the highway, bucking, sputtering and generally acting like a POS. I don't think it would have pulled my trailer home. Of course it was the partical filters,the truck has three of them, pretty much plugged up and the engine in constant regen mode. It's out of warranty, 120k miles, and stupid dollars for the dealer to fix it only to last a few months before the process would start anew. So .... over the weekend, while in the drive of the RV park, I did some "Top Secret" shadetree mechanical work with parts I ordered and reflashed the computer. Rolling about under a truck on a graval driveway for 8 hours ended up being a painful experienece but it was worth it.

WHOW! What a difference, Tons of power, an additional 40-100 ponies worth depending on the setting and in economy mode ... I am getting over 20 mpg on the highway. I never knew the overhead milage calculator even went that high.

Duke

[W_A_Watson_II]

WOW, nice tune-up!

[Duke Winch]

So I'm home for the summer but had an interesting trip back. I installed the "tow program" in the computer. It adds 70 hp at the rear wheels. Had the truck in cruse and spun the clutch about half way up the first hill. Took it out of cruse and was okay till awhile later when pulling back onto the interstate spun the clutch again when I was getting on it to merge back into traffic. Pulled over and installed a 40 hp program and but her back into cruse. Was okay for several hundred miles but spun the clutch on a hill again. Ran the skinny pedal on my own the rest of the way home praying I would make it.

Do I need a new clutch or stop juicing the power and go back to stock? Is a stock clutch even designed to handle the additional power? Got 120k miles on this one. Trailer is around 9K lbs. It runs like a champ without the trailer attached.

[wdln]

120K miles seems like a lot on one clutch.

[Jon Martin]

According to Fraser, you can run up to an additional 75 hp on the stock clutch. I didn't realize you had a manual transmission in your truck.

[Fraser]

The manual I got with my programmer said the stock clutch should handle the 90hp tune max, but I think that assumes a 310hp baseline, for a total max of 400hp. Your base HP is 350, so +70 would exceed that threshold. Upgrade the clutch or keep the tune at +50 or less.

[Duke Winch]

I tuned it down to 40 hp and was still spinning the clutch. Going to tune it stock till I get a better clutch. The program has a more aggressive torque curve which is probably part of the problem

[Duke Winch]

New clutch installed. 475 HP, 1000 ft/lbs torque.

[CLBJeep]

Am I beginning to see a pattern here with our diesel trucks and clutches. Glad you were able to get it home first Duke. We weren't as lucky in Moab . Matt, you better check yours out too before heading to GA!!

Clint

[Fraser]

Duke - maybe Cummins can figure out how to do this so they don't come with all the EGR, DPF, etc. stuff in the first place...

Industry News
@MinExpo: MTU Unveils Its No-Aftertreatment Engines
September 25, 2012

MTU, a Tognum Group brand, used MinExpo as the venue to publically unveil its Tier 4 final diesel engines for the mining industry, which are designed to meet the emissions standards without the use of selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment at ratings above 752 hp and no diesel particulate filter at any rating.

Beginning in 2015, MTU will offer a family of Series 4000 engines with 8, 12, 16 and 20 cylinders. Each will provide more power than previous models, the company said, with a top rating of 4023 hp. For special projects, the Tier-4-final-compliant engines will be available even before 2015, the company said.

The new generation of MTU Series 2000 engines for construction & industrial (C&I) and mining applications also complies with EPA Tier 4 interim and Tier 4 final emission limits without the use of any exhaust gas aftertreatment, the company said. The new Series 2000 engines are a family of 12- and 16-cylinder vee-configured engines. They come in power ratings from 760 to 1560 bhp.

[Duke Winch]

4023 hp .... hum I think I will need a stronger clutch.

[frankstruwe]

You can make a lot of power with 65 liters of displacement, but I think the 15,650 lbs of engine will be a slightly larger issue than the clutch. It's the cost of an MTU engine that would scare me. CAT stuff is expensive enough, but the boys from Friedrichshafen are really proud of their products.

[Fraser]

I can't figure out how to cut and paste on my phone, but Google "mtu no aftertreatment", there are several articles. Turns out EGR is their approach. Apparently EGR is not considered aftertreatment.

[matt4wheels]

We're going to have rednecks jumping off of bridges. Smoke x Noise no longer = Power