Hello from the high desert
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4
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Hello from the high desert
2006 3500 Quad Cab short bed SLT 4x4 6 speed manual Cummins Diesel
Hello all. First post. Just got my new truck, only 600 miles on it now.
I live in Northern Nevada, have never been without a 4x4 stick shift truck since I got my first one in 1973. Use my trucks for towing, hunting, and daily driving to work. Just can’t see myself sitting in a car. I won’t be pumping the thing up, The power is fine, and I’ll be looking for mileage and long life instead.
This is my first Dodge and first diesel though, so I have a few questions.
I like the 6-speed, has a nice low first and reverse. Taking off in second leaves the impression you could take off in third even. I don’t know what rear end gearing I have though. No glove box sticker, and didn’t find any indication on the door edge. At 65 MPH in sixth, the tach reads 2050 rpm. Any idea if that’s 4.11 or 3.73? I would almost like a seventh speed in this thing to drop the rpm’s at cruise.
What rpm range should I be driving in. the redline looks to be about 3000 on the tach, Is there a minimum rpm I should try to stay above?
I don’t want a lift kit, but am thinking of a taller set of tires for off road and to reduce the rpm’s a bit. I’ve read about a leveling kit. Looks like it‘s a spacer that goes between the front spring and truck body. Does the shocks, brake lines, etc have to be changed when adding one? What about front end alignment? Does the leveling kit give an additional tire size step up? With a stock truck, what is the max size tires that will comfortably fit?
Reading the posts here, it looks like the lift pump is a real problem. If I understand it correctly, the factory pump is mounted near the engine somewhere, and is prone to failure which leads to overworking the boost pump and causing it to fail. I’ll be putting in a fuel pressure gauge to monitor it, but is it really a god idea to go to an aftermarket pump? Are there any that just bolt into the stock location, or will I need to mount one under the truck by the tank somewhere?
I have the block heater plugged into a timer. Been getting a bit chilly here lately, 8 below zero F the otherweek when I’m leaving for work. The truck fires right up. I drive about a mile and then hit the highway where the speed limit is 65. Am I hurting the truck any by setting the cruise at 65 after driving it such a short distance after starting it? I let it idle for a couple minutes after starting it while disconnecting the block heater and getting the newspaper before starting out.
Along with the fuel pressure gauge, I’m thinking of adding a boost gauge, and EGT. Is this the right selection of gauges for a stock truck?
Some of this is probably pretty basic to you guys, but I want to treat this thing right.
Sam[/align]
[/align]
Hello all. First post. Just got my new truck, only 600 miles on it now.
I live in Northern Nevada, have never been without a 4x4 stick shift truck since I got my first one in 1973. Use my trucks for towing, hunting, and daily driving to work. Just can’t see myself sitting in a car. I won’t be pumping the thing up, The power is fine, and I’ll be looking for mileage and long life instead.
This is my first Dodge and first diesel though, so I have a few questions.
I like the 6-speed, has a nice low first and reverse. Taking off in second leaves the impression you could take off in third even. I don’t know what rear end gearing I have though. No glove box sticker, and didn’t find any indication on the door edge. At 65 MPH in sixth, the tach reads 2050 rpm. Any idea if that’s 4.11 or 3.73? I would almost like a seventh speed in this thing to drop the rpm’s at cruise.
What rpm range should I be driving in. the redline looks to be about 3000 on the tach, Is there a minimum rpm I should try to stay above?
I don’t want a lift kit, but am thinking of a taller set of tires for off road and to reduce the rpm’s a bit. I’ve read about a leveling kit. Looks like it‘s a spacer that goes between the front spring and truck body. Does the shocks, brake lines, etc have to be changed when adding one? What about front end alignment? Does the leveling kit give an additional tire size step up? With a stock truck, what is the max size tires that will comfortably fit?
Reading the posts here, it looks like the lift pump is a real problem. If I understand it correctly, the factory pump is mounted near the engine somewhere, and is prone to failure which leads to overworking the boost pump and causing it to fail. I’ll be putting in a fuel pressure gauge to monitor it, but is it really a god idea to go to an aftermarket pump? Are there any that just bolt into the stock location, or will I need to mount one under the truck by the tank somewhere?
I have the block heater plugged into a timer. Been getting a bit chilly here lately, 8 below zero F the otherweek when I’m leaving for work. The truck fires right up. I drive about a mile and then hit the highway where the speed limit is 65. Am I hurting the truck any by setting the cruise at 65 after driving it such a short distance after starting it? I let it idle for a couple minutes after starting it while disconnecting the block heater and getting the newspaper before starting out.
Along with the fuel pressure gauge, I’m thinking of adding a boost gauge, and EGT. Is this the right selection of gauges for a stock truck?
Some of this is probably pretty basic to you guys, but I want to treat this thing right.
Sam[/align]
[/align]
Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 0
RE: Hello from the high desert
Welcome to the forum [8D] send pics, I cant really help with your questions since I have an automatic, first auto in a truck since my first truck, many many moons ago hehehe
With the guages you deffinately want the EGT, fuel pressure sounds good...the boost is not a neccesty tho in my opinion, but Iam sure someone here can help you
With the guages you deffinately want the EGT, fuel pressure sounds good...the boost is not a neccesty tho in my opinion, but Iam sure someone here can help you
All Star
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 1
From: Utah's Area 51
RE: Hello from the high desert
Welcome there, Desert moose! Might I ask where in Nevada? as we have a few members there. I think as far as hurting the truck, I wouldn't think it would hurt as long as it's warmed up when you get to work. I drive 23 mi to my work and it's usually warmed up.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Hello from the high desert
Welcome Moose! Your truck seems to have the 4;10 gear ratio. Make sure youplug it in on cold nights Dont run it hard til it reaches full temp and then let it roll. Try to stay away from 3000 rpms unless a ford or chevy is comin!!! Have a little mercy on the old DODGES. Treat it right and enjoy.These guys will give you all the info you want, just ask, Especially on any mods you want
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 0
From: Swollen Beaver, OR
RE: Hello from the high desert
Welcome Desert,
It sounds like you have the 4.10 gears. If Drew pops in, he should be able to say yeah or neah, he has a 6 speed and 4.10's.
As far as driving the mile then hitting the highway.....You won't have a problem there as long as you aren't just starting it up and puttng the pedal to the floor and hammering on it. You've already got it plugged in, so that's a plus. Try stoping by the dealership and having them turn on the high idle feature so you can manually step the RPM's up to warm it up before heading out. Takes 10 minutes or less to enable it and you'll be able to adjust the idle up to 1500 RPM's while it's sitting there for a few. Once it's activated in the computer, you jsut start the truck, turn the cruise control on and then hit the set button. The RPM's will jump up to 1100 or so. You then use the accel and decel buttons to adjust it up and down. It turns off when you hit the brake or turning the cruise off.
If you really want decent mileage out of it, keep the RPM's under 2K. Over that you are making plenty of boost and that means fuel. For me, running 72 MPH at 2K gets me around 20 - 21 on the highway. Drop down to 60 - 65 and I can push 22-23 easy. Mine is bone stock.
Your lift pump is in the tank. All of them after 04.5 had it moved from behind the fuel filter and put in the tank. Not as many problems. You also have the CP3 injection pump, not the VP44, which is the one that had problems.
If you're not modding it, the fuel pressure gauge won't really be necessary, neither really will a bunch of other gauges. If you do plan to modify at all, then yes gauges are the first stop to make.
Take a peek at the Drew's Brew sticky up top. Most of the guys in here run it and pretty much all of us will swear by a 1.5, or in some cases more, MPG gain while running the mix. It definitely idles smoother with the mix in. 16 ounces os Power Service Deisel Kleen and 8 ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil per tank. Works great, good stuff. Here's a link to this one:
https://dodgeforum.com/m_578939/tm.htm
Other than that, keep an extra fuel filter in the truck with you just in case it does gel up and a bottle of the red Power Service 911. You can find that at almost any truck stop.
Check Geno's Garage for the filters and maintenance stuff. Pretty good prices. Here's a link. Also one to the Power Service Stuff I was talking about.
http://www.genosgarage.com/
http://www.powerservice.com/
Enjoy!
It sounds like you have the 4.10 gears. If Drew pops in, he should be able to say yeah or neah, he has a 6 speed and 4.10's.
As far as driving the mile then hitting the highway.....You won't have a problem there as long as you aren't just starting it up and puttng the pedal to the floor and hammering on it. You've already got it plugged in, so that's a plus. Try stoping by the dealership and having them turn on the high idle feature so you can manually step the RPM's up to warm it up before heading out. Takes 10 minutes or less to enable it and you'll be able to adjust the idle up to 1500 RPM's while it's sitting there for a few. Once it's activated in the computer, you jsut start the truck, turn the cruise control on and then hit the set button. The RPM's will jump up to 1100 or so. You then use the accel and decel buttons to adjust it up and down. It turns off when you hit the brake or turning the cruise off.
If you really want decent mileage out of it, keep the RPM's under 2K. Over that you are making plenty of boost and that means fuel. For me, running 72 MPH at 2K gets me around 20 - 21 on the highway. Drop down to 60 - 65 and I can push 22-23 easy. Mine is bone stock.
Your lift pump is in the tank. All of them after 04.5 had it moved from behind the fuel filter and put in the tank. Not as many problems. You also have the CP3 injection pump, not the VP44, which is the one that had problems.
If you're not modding it, the fuel pressure gauge won't really be necessary, neither really will a bunch of other gauges. If you do plan to modify at all, then yes gauges are the first stop to make.
Take a peek at the Drew's Brew sticky up top. Most of the guys in here run it and pretty much all of us will swear by a 1.5, or in some cases more, MPG gain while running the mix. It definitely idles smoother with the mix in. 16 ounces os Power Service Deisel Kleen and 8 ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil per tank. Works great, good stuff. Here's a link to this one:
https://dodgeforum.com/m_578939/tm.htm
Other than that, keep an extra fuel filter in the truck with you just in case it does gel up and a bottle of the red Power Service 911. You can find that at almost any truck stop.
Check Geno's Garage for the filters and maintenance stuff. Pretty good prices. Here's a link. Also one to the Power Service Stuff I was talking about.
http://www.genosgarage.com/
http://www.powerservice.com/
Enjoy!
Professional
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: 33.43.342, 84.21.602
RE: Hello from the high desert
you have 3.73's. the final drive gear of the G56 manual you have is .79. the final drive for my NV5600 is .73. if you do the math you'll see that with the g56 and 3.73's you will be running the same RPM as I do with 4.10's. it sucks and I at times amd looking for that 7th gear, but after a while if you go easy with the go fast pedal you can get above the 17's.
I wouldnt worry too much about the fuel pressure gage on a stock truck, however a boost and EGT gage is a good thing to put in. if you look in my gallery you will see my SRT-10 A pillar with a westach dual boost/egt gage.
I wouldnt worry too much about the fuel pressure gage on a stock truck, however a boost and EGT gage is a good thing to put in. if you look in my gallery you will see my SRT-10 A pillar with a westach dual boost/egt gage.
