My journey to 40mpg with a 1ton diesel.

[mikeyjd]

418 miles on 14.667 gal = 28.5mpg

Since last tank:
70 psi tires
80% front grill blocked
Removed ladder rack
Warmer weather

Next tank to have:
Shifter kill switch (more effective PNG + eoc)

[mikeyjd]

How do I go about advancing the timing?

[Phantom]

Im not sure how you would advance the timing on that diesel engine but on a VW TDI you have to remove the cover on the side of the engine then loosen three bolts that are on the sprocket for the fuel pump. After that you turn the sprocket ever so slightly tighten every thing and check the timing.

For your engine I would look for a forum for it and see if they have directions on checking timing and adjusting.

[slowmover]

For vehicle specifics -- and to see if someone else has covered the same ground -- go to Turbo Diesel Register and Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum and search the First Generation forums. If the search doesn't turn up much (which I doubt, be persistent) then post a new thread. One wants to know the players already involved in these questions and they may not be posing currently. Re-open old threads, in other words.

[bandit86]

If you shutoff a diesel would you not have massive amounts of engine braking?

The other thing I'm thinking of, why not route the air intake to behind the rad where the tranny oil cooler is? The steady flow of air would cool the rad so it stays cooler, you also get a warm air intake which diesels supposed to love

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by bandit86

If you shutoff a diesel would you not have massive amounts of engine braking?

The other thing I'm thinking of, why not route the air intake to behind the rad where the tranny oil cooler is? The steady flow of air would cool the rad so it stays cooler, you also get a warm air intake which diesels supposed to love

You don't get any engine breaking with a manual tranny in neutral

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by bandit86

If you shutoff a diesel would you not have massive amounts of engine braking?

The other thing I'm thinking of, why not route the air intake to behind the rad where the tranny oil cooler is? The steady flow of air would cool the rad so it stays cooler, you also get a warm air intake which diesels supposed to love

Diesels like cooler air. Both for power and effeciency. At least until you get really cold
Thats why turbodiesels have intercoolers to cool the air back down after its been heayed up by the turbo.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by bandit86

The other thing I'm thinking of, why not route the air intake to behind the rad where the tranny oil cooler is? The steady flow of air would cool the rad so it stays cooler, you also get a warm air intake which diesels supposed to love

Diesels do not love warm air. The only time you will want to run a warmed air intake is some where around -5'C to +5'C. It all depends on compression ration and if you are DI or IDI.
Even then I think gains would be too small to justify having to switch back and forth between Ram air/CAI and WAI.

Cold Air and Ram Air - EcoModder

[hound]

If you are really blocking up you grill then you should try wrapping your headers to keep some heat out of the engine compartment and keep the EGTs up since you're not a hot rodder. At least it help the airflow in the exhaust system if it doesn't do anything for your heat situation.

I've had some real hurdles when the words "work" is involved. I often maxed out the GVWR on deliveries, but not anymore. How much work and pulling are you doing? That is a tough compromise. I am thinking about starting to hack away at all the unnecessary metal, get some nice aluminum wheels and a different rear end......or dump my 6.0L F350 4x4 dually with a 4.10 rear and go with 4x2 Cummins of your vintage. That's a great ride you have. The bed is a nice place for fuel saving gear or an extra radiator, but the stuff you carry in there may also feed you.

The Cummins forum is a great place for info. If you really want to get crazy you can look into: 4btswaps.com

I've been dealing with a steel flatbed all these years since my employees would have ruined anything else. It's taken me 2-3 years to get from 10mpg to 17. You have better fodder to start with.

I would definitely not be afraid to go with 5W-30 synthetic as long as you don't start leaking oil and maybe change out your differential fluid for something lighter if you aren't pulling much and/or install a differential temp gauge to watch it if you are.

-matt

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by hound

If you are really blocking up you grill then you should try wrapping your headers to keep some heat out of the engine compartment and keep the EGTs up since you're not a hot rodder.

You cant wrap the cummins exhaust manifold, but you can JetHot it.
I Applied the Jet hot coating to a T4 turbine housing and while doing some welding on the flange it was bolted to, I could pick up and carry and move the turbine housing around as long as I was touching the ceramic, if I touched bare metal nope too hot, there is a big difference in heat transfer between coated and bare metal.