2021_3500_LowRoof
Well-known member
Yeah that’s too high anyway IMO, looks like 1400- 2300 is sweet spot for shifts. Pretty similar to my 6cyl Cummins. Below that not much power to pull unless on a very slight grade.
EGR Valve Cleaning
- Thread starter TeamBrazo
- Start date
2021_3500_LowRoof
Well-known member
Wish the power was closer to the Ram eco diesel @260 hp 480ft lbs… those numbers are actually super impressive considering that’s more than a mild fuel plate hopped up Cummins 5.9 from back in the day.
Friend of mine has 2015 with v6 in it since new. For two years he have had EGR problem every 5 weeks which resulted it a trip to dealer. Getting loaner for two or three days. After warranty expired he asked me if I will service his EGR since that would save him trip to dealer and I agreed. After first cleaning I told him to try drive first two kilometres holding rpm to about 2000 or till engine warms up. He agreed to try that. Cleaning frequency dropped to about every 4-6 months depending how many short trips he does. And cleaning the valve is just a breeze.
Personal experience pulling long 5-6% grades, power seems to fall of below 2200 rpm pretty dramatically. And 6th and 7th (Overdrive gears) can't maintain speed (cruise set to 72). Automatic downshift to 6th happens fairly soon, maybe 68-70 mph. But it will hold onto 6th until you are close to 55 mph, downshift and then regain speed. [I typically pull the lever myself to keep this from happening, but I wanted to see what the computer thought was "a good idea" for a reference point..]. FWIW the dash engine monitor will show torque pegged at 324 ft lbs, so the downshifts are not triggered by load% only by RPM?
(Van weight is ~8900lbs loaded, roof rack, roof AC, side ladder for plenty of wind resistance..)
2021_3500_LowRoof
Well-known member
What gears 3.92 or 4.18?
glasseye
Well-known member
In nearly 170k miles, I've done nothing to my EGR valve. I'm not even sure I could find it.
I guess that's the benefit of 95% of Frito's miles being at highway speeds.
Kajtek1
2015 3500 X long limo RV
x2.In nearly 170k miles, I've done nothing to my EGR valve. I'm not even sure I could find it.
I guess that's the benefit of 95% of Frito's miles being at highway speeds.
I did have few vehicles with more than 300,000 miles, several over 200,000 miles and I think the only EGR I cleaned in my life was on 1985 El Camino.
That 5l Chevy engine never passed CA smog without putting few 100's in it.
But I am strong believer in "Italian tune-ups" . Even usually I drive for comfort and being retired I don't need to rush, from time to time I floor it on freeway ramp.
I asked my dealer if there was a remove/inspect/clean procedure they could do to get me back to normal until the already ordered (back ordered until October) EGR valve arrives. He said that no, cleaning won’t help me as there is a design issue and the replacement is a different version.
so, happy for those of you this works for but it looks like there is still a larger design problem that requires full replacement.
so, happy for those of you this works for but it looks like there is still a larger design problem that requires full replacement.
Mine wasn't too bad but I cleaned it anyway. It was however stuck to the housing pretty bad. I found out that if you remove the two security head torx bolts from the egr motor and insert two of the mounting bolts in the holes then tighten them down alternately it lifts the egr valve straight out of the housing, no prying with screw drivers or pounding with hammers and punches.
I went with 8nm or about 70 inch lbs on the mounting bolts although they sure felt a lot tighter than that when I removed them.
It was only a 30-40 minute job but I spent at least an hour trying to find the security torx bit I dropped to no avail. Pretty sure it went into the hole on top of the box rail.
I went with 8nm or about 70 inch lbs on the mounting bolts although they sure felt a lot tighter than that when I removed them.
It was only a 30-40 minute job but I spent at least an hour trying to find the security torx bit I dropped to no avail. Pretty sure it went into the hole on top of the box rail.
That's not normal. What year and what engine? What kind of driving?