We have a 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 with a cummins diesel. I have noticed lately that the engine will bog down and will not get above 1500 rpm then it will catch and you can hear the turbo whistle and it revs. Have noticed alot of white smoke coming from the tail pipe when it does this. The gas milage is very poor around 12 withouttrailor to 9 to 10 with trailor.Changed the fuel filter and it was dirty it had some rubber parts in it. I was told the fuel line could be deteriorating due to additives that was added thinking that it had water in diesel. We changed the fuel lines and filter and it still does it. Does it mostly when engine is cold (first cranked up). Was told it could be the turbo and to check if there was slack in the impeller. Checked it and it was very minimal. The air filter was extremely dirty. We changed it to a K&N it helped but still is acting up gas milage is better though. Any thoughts No check engine lite or warning lamp has came on. Thanks Joe

 

You have an automatic or manual? With some automaitcs, the tranny's start to go, and they kick, because it doesn't know when to shift. But if it mostly does it when it's cold, that wouldn't make a difference. The white smoke could be water in the diesel, do you fill up at arco or safeway? Those places mix water with their diesel, that's why they're cheaper. Don't fill up there!

 

From the sounds of it, you are gonna want to get the pressure checked coming from your lift pump and also from you injection pump.

How many miles are on it.

If you've already changed the filters and the engine is bogging at 1500, then it sounds like there is a fuel delivery issue. You've got that VP44, so that is a good possibility. If you are in that 75K - 125K miles range, you could be looking at a new lift / injection.

 

The white smoke means that the engine is lean. I would not drive it until you check the fuel pressure from the lift pump. If the lift pump is not delivering enough fuel to the injector pump you will ruin your injector pump. If you ruin the injector pump, you are looking at a $2000+ repair bill!!