Hey guys I'm new to the forum and hopeing maybe someone here can give me some insight as I'm new to owning a diesel. I bought a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 12valve truck last February from original owner with only 81k on it it currently has 90k. Since I bought it I have been fighting to get good mileage out of it I was averaging about 14-16 until recently when it just died I replaced fuel filter and it runs again however now I get 12mpg. Also when I tow it seems to be a dog under a load struggled to tow 7k a half mile up a mounting pass to a job site. The truck sat for two years until I bought and started driving it. I get mostly black smoke but I do get white smoke also. I have read mayb my lift pump needs to be replaced? Is there only the lift pump on the block under the filter and the injector pump or is there a pump in the gas tank also? Any advice would be greatly appreciated I am about to start running archoil through it to help mayb and clean some stuff out

 

Grab the 96 service manual from here. That should give you a lot of good details on the fuel system.

White smoke is usually water.... I.E. Coolant..... might wanna test the radiator for combustion gases..... (get the kit at your local parts store.)