If the water-in-fuel light comes on, the first thing to do is to stop driving the truck. Repeat, STOP driving the truck.
The Dreaded Water-in-Fuel Light
Category: Fuel System
Low Pressure Fuel System Problems on Second Generation Cummins Diesel Rams
TDR Writer Andy Redmond discusses low pressure fuel system issues seen with Second Generation Ram/Cummins.
Maintaining Your Dodge Cummins Fuel Pump and Injectors
The Cummins diesel is a longevity engine. When serviced properly, the engine should last 500,000 to a million miles between teardowns. Peripherals like the turbocharger, fuel injectors and the fuel pump, however, can wear out or fail much earlier. A well maintained fuel system can keep injectors going for 250,000 miles or more. The original common rail diesel injectors and CP3 pump in my 2005 Ram have been trouble free for 180,000 miles now. These injectors have delivered good performance and fuel efficiency. There are no signs of spray pattern…
The Case of the $942 Fuel Filter
(or How to Change a #5 Injector) Solving the mystery of a vehicle’s mechanical problem can require some lengthy detective work—as demonstrated in this repair that I call “The Case of the $942 Fuel Filter.” The initial complaint by the Ram Turbo Diesel’s owner provided me with scant evidence for solving the problem: “It runs good,” he said, “for a while after I change the fuel filter, but it has low power.” I doubted that the fuel filter was the culprit. But I had little to go on. This would…
Ram Turbo Diesel Out of Fuel? Are You Sure?
We heard from a Ram Turbo Diesel owner who wrote of a situation where his 2001 truck ran out of fuel while the fuel gauge was showing 1/4 of a tank. He was fifty feet away from the fuel island when it happened, and strangers helped him push his truck up to the fuel pump. He learned to drive the truck by resetting the trip odometer and running a certain number of elapsed miles before refueling. Problem Diagnosis The problem is fairly simple to diagnose. In this case, where the…
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) for Dummies
If you own a 2013+ Ram diesel you know that you need to use diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) or you run the risk of going in to limp mode. You probably have some questions. What does DEF actually do? Does DEF go bad? Are any brands of DEF better than the others? DEF is made up of two things, Urea and de-ionized water. This mixture (32.5% urea/67.5% water) is sprayed via a DEF injector in to the exhaust to lower the N0x emissions emitted from your diesel truck. If you…
When is Dodge Cummins Diesel Fuel Pressure Important?
Undoubtedly you have heard from friends or internet forums that you need a fuel pressure gauge on your Cummins Turbo Diesel or else you run the risk of damaging your injection pump. This is true, but only if you own a 1998.5 (first year of the 24-valve engine) to 2002 truck. During these four years of production, a Bosch VP44 fuel injection pump was used on these engines. The VP44 is fuel cooled and needs to have more than 5psi to maintain proper cooling. “The VP44 is fuel cooled and…
“No Mess” Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Fuel Filter Change
“No Mess” Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Fuel Filter Change Avoid a diesel fuel bath when changing the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel fuel filter with this handy fuel filter change tool. In the one year we’ve had our ’15 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel here at Geno’s Garage, we’ve had to change the fuel filter twice. The first time: no drain from the pesky yellow drain valve and a diesel fuel bath and fuel spill on the garage floor when tightly installed filter housing was removed with a strap wrench. The second time: no drain…
Ram Turbo Diesel Cold Weather Tips
Que up the old 33rpm record player and what did you find? Some Dean Martin from the 1960s and “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” (Now try to get the jingle off your mind.) While it has only just dropped below 32 degrees here in Georgia, we know the importance of a diesel engine block heater and block heater cable. Hey, we’ve got ‘em in stock for your Cummins engine – Block Heaters for ’89-’98, 5.9L and ‘98.5-’20, 5.9L & 6.7L trucks and Block Heater Cables for ’89-’20, 5.9L & 6.7L Cummins…
Fuel Injectors for 2003-newer Cummins HPCR Engines
Originally appeared in TDR Issue 72 May/June/July 2011 by Joe Donnelly The editor called with the assignment for this issue, “I want an all-encompassing article on fuel injectors for the Dodge Cummins 2003-and-newer engines that use the High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel system. Can you do such?” I asked for a little guidance: where to start, what to say. His recommendation, “Think about country music. Haven’t you heard that David Allen Coe song where he sings about the ‘perfect country music song?’ I want you to do the perfect…