Calling Dodge Diesel owners

[Hairtrigger]

Anyone else here own a 24V Cummins powered Dodge pickup?
Today, at 70,000 miles my dealer replaced the injectors. Why would they fail so soon?
I bought the truck as I believed the Cummins is the most reliable of the choices.

[DirtyHarry]

What year truck? What problems were you having that prompted you to take it to the dealer?

[Hairtrigger]

My truck is a 2005.
The truck would not start.

[DirtyHarry]

I have heard of issues with the injectors in the 03-05's, something about the injectors letting too much fuel back to the tank and not enough getting into the combustion chamber to fire. What type of fuel filter have you been running and how often do you change it?
There is some scuttlebutt about not using a quality fuel filter and too many particulates getting through eating away at the return valve causing the problem..

[Hairtrigger]

I use the Napa filter. I change it every 16,000 miles ( every 4 oil changes).
The dealer told me I did not change the filter correctly and told me how it should be done. I kept my mouth closed even though I change the filter exactly as they told me it needs to be done.
When they get me real upset I tell them I bought the Cummins and the only way I could get it was with a Dodge wrapped around it

[DirtyHarry]

Well, that is a good filter and a good change interval. I'm not sure how extensive the injector change was from the 2nd to the 3rd generation trucks, but in my 01.5 the stockers worked perfectly until I swapped them out for the DDP 150hp stage 4's. You might consider going aftermarket once your warranty runs out.

[begeberg]

My 2005 has only 27K on it but I only use MOPAR or fleetguard filters on it. There are several sites out there, TDR and Carson City Dodge that have excellent forums for issues like this. Dodge is known for not wanting to stand behind the warranty if off brand parts are used or the maintenance schedule isn't followed. The local dealer here told me specifically not to vary from MOPAR or fleetguard filters for oil, fuel, and air. My buddy is a CAT diesel tech guru and he says with the new ULSD he would change every 7500 miles, which I do. I also drain the water(if any) every month by opening the lever for 10-15 seconds. I think the key however is to get good fuel by only using stations that have lots of diesel trafiic to make sure you get fresh fuel.

I am perplexed on the issue of changing it correctly? Did you drain the fuel before removing the cover and filter? Were there any particles in the bottom of the filter container? Is the motor stock? I am interested in hearing what the failure was caused by.

[hillbill]

seems odd to me that ALL the injectors failed at the exact same time causing your truck not to start.sometimes it seems these dealers just stumble around replacing this and that until the sucker fires up, then they want yu to believe it was your fault because you didn't buy the over priced crap they sell.anybody else notice this?

[Hairtrigger]

On the common rail engine it only takes one to stick and lower the fuel pressure in the rail

[cap187]

Got a '94..... Dropped Bosch 380 HP Marine injectors in it along with big delivery valves and a cam plate.  Can crank it up to about 400 HP, but talk about smoke!!!

Check out the TDR Cummins board.

[begeberg]

OK, did the dealer cover you on the injectors since you have less than 100K on it?

[Hairtrigger]

I was told the injectors failed because of water and / or debris in the fuel. They told me I screwed up the filter change.
They did warranty it... it was the 8th time I had it in the shop the first 7 they could not remedy the rough idle.... the problem has gone away with the new injectors. I am sure my local 5 star dodge dealer was more than happy to warranty them just to get rid of me.

[bodyman]

Ive been told premature  injector failure was caused by excessive idle time on the cumming engine in the newer dodge. It was not designed to be idled. Maybe they were right My dealer told me that all the failures they have had the computer showed to much idle time.

[30-06man]

Mines a 99 and it has I think 166,954 miles on it. I bought it used and the only thing I had to replace is the Fuel Injector Pump because the previous owner disconnected the first stage pump and it put too much pressure on the system and caused it to lock up. Mine fuel filter needs to be changed now. Ill have to do that tomorrow.

[Hairtrigger]

I am pretty sure the '99 was before the common rail engine

[30-06man]

I ment to say 1st stage pump and not primer pump. Sorry

[begeberg]

I believe the idling issue is more of washing down the cylinders walls because of lack of sufficient heat generated to completely burn the fuel. CR owners should have their high idle activated to prevent this. The main reason injectors on these trucks go bad is the water/dirt issue. The factory MOPAR filter is a 10 micron filter and folks should really use the newer Fleetguard filter that filters to 7 microns. The new ULSD is hard on things also because of lack of lubricity so you may want to use an additive like Power Service to help. Also, if you decide to run bio-diesel in it carry extra fuel filters because the bio REALLY cleans out your system and clogs them.

I bought a Texas truck and brought it back to Illinois where most stations run 11% bio. I have replaced the filter at much less than the recommended intervals and have been looking into a 2 micron setup. Seems this is the only way to really protect the injectors in the CR engines....... GO FIGURE!