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2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad?

Posted By: Cab_Burge

2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/24/13 05:00 AM

I had a local guy tell me that he had heard and seen the stock injectors(2004 and later) go bad after 80,000 miles or more. My truck is a 2006 Ram 3500 with 96,000 miles on it and the mileage is down from where it has been in the past, he says the injectors will start leaking and over flow into a bypass tube I have seen stains in my driveway under my truck that I don't know where they come from, I assumed that they where oil stains coming out of the little breather pipe in the front of the motor
Posted By: Bad340fish

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/24/13 03:15 PM

When I was in the market for a used truck recently I really wanted a cummins truck. I found one I liked and had it checked out by a reputable shop and customer of ours at work. He did what he called an injector balance test and said it needed the injectors replaced. This truck had 100ishK miles if I remember right. He told me don't be surprised, most of them need injectors at this mileage unless they have been maintained perfect or have a better fuel filtration setup on them.

For this shop to replace the injectors and provide warranty he wanted about $4000 IIRC. That included cleaning the entire fuel system tank and everything. Aftermarket fuel pump and filtration setup, and new injectors. It sounds insane but this guys shop only works on Cummins, Powerstroke, and duramax trucks. He has a line out the door and its all three brands filling his shop and parking lot.

If you get on the truck hard and then let off does it keep going for longer than normal? This truck would take a bit to really slow down if you were wide open then shut it down. Supposedly the bad injectors leak fuel until the rail pressure comes down and that causes the throttle to "hang" if you will. Thats how I understood it.

I drove a few trucks and they all showed the "signs" he wanred me of and that I had read on the internet(had to be true right lol). The common rail trucks will hang the throttle real bad when leaky injectors leak while the high rail pressure comes down after WOT.

I bailed out and went gas motor, the diesel was a want way more than a need so I went with a hemi truck. I second guessed my decision yesterday as I was changing 16 spark plugs on my new to me truck lol.
Posted By: cascius

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/24/13 03:36 PM

Quote:

I had a local guy tell me that he had heard and seen the stock injectors(2004 and later) go bad after 80,000 miles or more. My truck is a 2006 Ram 3500 with 96,000 miles on it and the mileage is down from where it has been in the past, he says the injectors will start leaking and over flow into a bypass tube I have seen stains in my driveway under my truck that I don't know where they come from, I assumed that they where oil stains coming out of the little breather pipe in the front of the motor



This is a lot more common with the 2003-early 2004 trucks, but it does happen quite frequently with the later trucks as well. The main problem with the early trucks was the material the needle inside the injector. After time exposed to the high pressure fuel it would erode away and not seat properly. This would cause numerous issues including runoff as described in the other post. The shop I used to work at had lots of issues with these, and on average they came in right around 100K. Some of the earlier trucks had an extended warranty from the factory so these issues were covered and would be replaced from the dealer. This was a mistake on Bosch's part. It's the same problem that the 01-04 Duramax's suffered from and GM actually stepped up and extended their warranty to 7 year, 170K in order to take care of their customers.

Any year common rail is a target for this problem. On average, the injectors can be found from a reputable source (Not the dealership) for around $300-350 a piece. I would think someone who has never done a set before, with a little guidance could easily do this in an afternoon. After working on nothing but Cummins trucks for about 3 years I can do a set in about an hour. They are not complicated by any means, just tedious work that needs a little attention to detail.

As far as any stains you are seeing, unless there is an external leak which you would smell or see, it is not fuel. When they injectors go bad and the return rates are high, the fuel is returned to the fuel tank. Good filtration is the key to making them live.

On your mileage concern, there are a lot of variables there that could come in to play. I would check absolutely everything before I worried about putting a set of injectors in it.
Posted By: Rhinodart

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/24/13 04:23 PM

As most on here know I blew-up two Cummins trucks, a 2004 with the 305 555 and an 05 with the 325 600. Both were injector issues. The 04 had an injector go wide open and hydraulic the engine throwing a rod. Right before it happened it was blowing white smoke and fuel was actually leaking out of the intake gaskets! The 05 an injector went dead while I was pulling an 18K load up a mountain in Arizona. That one burned a hole clean through a piston. I had just got through replacing four of the six injectors in the 04, shoulda done them all. Four 4 injectors and cleaning the system it was $3200 at a shop in Vegas. The main issue is cleanliness. The 05 truck had 205K miles on it and as far as I could tell only had the fuel filter changed maybe twice. After replacing the engine in the 04 I have changed the fuel filter after every other oil change and put injector cleaner in a full tank of fuel every third fill-up. I plan on keeping this one for life.
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/24/13 11:09 PM

Thanks to all of you for the help my trucks is not showing the slow tol et off symptoms, yet I'll go test it the next time I drive it and see As far as the fuel mileage I towed my 24 Ft Pace enclosed trailer 1300 miles one way to Tuscon,AZ with my old Duster in it at more than the posted speed limit most of the way The wind was blowing, it was cold and the heated seat where on most of the way, it averaged 10.78 MPG going down and I haven't figure out the return milage yet I have been negligent in changing the fuel filter, I've changed it twice so far I do buy most of the deisel fuel at a local station that pumps a bunch of fuel everyday, two big tankers a day usually, so hopefully that helps. It will get change more often now Thanks again to all Cab
Posted By: MMiller

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/25/13 12:11 AM

I advise changing the fuel filter every oil change or at the least every other oil fitler change. Yes it adds to the price of service, but if it can extend the life of the injectors its worth it. I also do not buy filter from the parts stores, there are places to buy filters from in bulk for a lot less money then buying them when necessary from the parts store. A fuel additive like Howes Lubricant or Power Service, or purchasing a Biodiesel(preferably Soydiesel) will help lubricate and extend the life of the injectors that have very tight tolerances inside them.

Old Caterpillar Equipment used to say "Buy Clean fuel, Keep it clean" on the fill cap. Its more of a necessity then it ever was back then.

Michael
Posted By: Bad340fish

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/25/13 01:08 AM

Quote:

I advise changing the fuel filter every oil change or at the least every other oil fitler change. Yes it adds to the price of service, but if it can extend the life of the injectors its worth it. I also do not buy filter from the parts stores, there are places to buy filters from in bulk for a lot less money then buying them when necessary from the parts store. A fuel additive like Howes Lubricant or Power Service, or purchasing a Biodiesel(preferably Soydiesel) will help lubricate and extend the life of the injectors that have very tight tolerances inside them.

Old Caterpillar Equipment used to say "Buy Clean fuel, Keep it clean" on the fill cap. Its more of a necessity then it ever was back then.

Michael



The shop I mentioned earlier says all his business comes from bad fuel and poor maintenance.
Posted By: J_BODY

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/25/13 01:10 AM

Unique thing about the Cummins in the Dodge.... neglect to change the air filter.... the engine WILL get it's air, even if it has to fold the air filter down the middle and suck it halfway into the lid. Fuel system pretty much the same story.... neglect the change the filter, the cp3 pump WILL pull fuel through the filter, along with filter media and contaminates. There's a 15K service interval for a reason. Cummins/Fleetguard/Mopar filters all the way!
Posted By: Rhinodart

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/25/13 02:53 AM

No kidding! I had a run-on problem with my 93 and had to disconnect the hose from the filter housing and suffocate the engine to shut it off! I couldn't find the board I usually used one day and tried an map atlas I had in the truck, bad idea! It sucked the cardboard cover right off of it and luckily it died right before it went into the turbo!
Posted By: NITROUSN

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/25/13 04:25 AM

Quote:

There's a 15K service interval for a reason. Cummins/Fleetguard/Mopar filters all the way!


Exactly. No need to change fuel filters at every oil change. My fuel pressure gauge would tell me if my filtering is being restricted.
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/25/13 10:20 PM

Quote:

Quote:

There's a 15K service interval for a reason. Cummins/Fleetguard/Mopar filters all the way!


Exactly. No need to change fuel filters at every oil change. My fuel pressure gauge would tell me if my filtering is being restricted.

What do you guys think of the Wix brand feul filters for the Cummins? I bought a batch of them the last time I restocked my oil filter inventory, I didn't know that there was two different filter micron sizes Is the filters with two micron elements worth using compared to the 5 micron element filters?
Posted By: 71yelladustr

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/26/13 02:11 AM

Use the Wix filter with the XE suffix at the end of the part number for the best filtering. They are a re-boxed Fleetgaurd filter. The standard paper element flter that they try to sell you at the parts store is actually for an 00-02 truck. They dont require near the filtering that a high pressure common rail engine does.
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/26/13 07:08 PM

I drove my truck last night and it seems to not stop accelerating immediatly when I let off, maybe keeps going for a 1/4 to 1/2 second Is this a sign of bad injectors or just me being hyper sensitive BTW, do these trucks have electric or manual throttles actuators?
Posted By: 71yelladustr

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/26/13 08:13 PM

The throttle is drive by wire. Not mechanical. You may be jumping the gun about thinking your injectors are shot. I wouldn't be too worried as long as you dont have any issues with it starting, missing, odd fuel related knocking noises from the engine, or white smoke coming from the exhaust. There is no set mileage that the injectors give up. There are different parts of the injector to fail also. The nozzles can crack, The nozzles can get stopped up with crud in the fuel, the solenoid can fail, etc.... That being said, The injectors will not last forever. It all depends on fuel quality, how its driven, and modifications to the fuel system as to how long they last. The best thing you can do for you injectors is to keep CLEAN fuel in your tank, Use a GOOD fuel filter, and do not idle the truck excessively.
Posted By: copchaser

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/26/13 08:34 PM

The injectors are junk. I've got a 06 and I've replaced all the injectors once all ready and and most twice. The truck has just over 120k on it. I blew the first engine up at 5200 miles, injector went wide open. Changing injectors is a cake walk. I've always changed engine oil between 3-3500 miles and fuel filter every second oil change. I run quality filters. Now does any buddy know who offers good quality injectors? I had a guy tell me to marine grade injectors next time.
Posted By: Triple Threat

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/27/13 07:21 PM

My dads early 04, 305/555 is now experiencing a hot start issue. As in, it wont restart hot. When it is cold it seems to crank longer than necessary, but always fires up. We replaced the FAC already on the injection pump.

Starting to think its the injectors, truck has 90K miles and had the pump update done by the dealer, under warranty.

Any thoughts? I have browsed a number of forums and no one seems to have a good answer.
Posted By: MMiller

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/27/13 08:05 PM

Quote:

Quote:

There's a 15K service interval for a reason. Cummins/Fleetguard/Mopar filters all the way!


Exactly. No need to change fuel filters at every oil change. My fuel pressure gauge would tell me if my filtering is being restricted.



I don't own a 3rd gen, but am seeing that Cummins says 7500-15000 miles for oil changes on an 06. Is this what they call for in the owners manual?
Posted By: cascius

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 02/27/13 08:30 PM

Quote:

My dads early 04, 305/555 is now experiencing a hot start issue. As in, it wont restart hot. When it is cold it seems to crank longer than necessary, but always fires up. We replaced the FAC already on the injection pump.

Starting to think its the injectors, truck has 90K miles and had the pump update done by the dealer, under warranty.

Any thoughts? I have browsed a number of forums and no one seems to have a good answer.



One thing you might check is the nuts that hold the crossover tubes in the head. If they are not torqued properly they can cause a pressure leak and cause the symptoms you are describing.
Posted By: Michael

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 03/03/13 06:58 PM

329237 on my stock '06 Cummins ------- never been touched except for oil and fuel filter changes --- truck works EVERY day
Posted By: Posest

Re: 2006 Ram Deisel stock injectors, good or bad? - 03/04/13 04:17 AM

My duramax was hazing exhaust at idle when I changed them at 96K. My injector balance rates can be checked on my edge programmer, this way I knew for sure they were bad. I also had a FASS filter and pump system installed to hopefully avoid another costly expense in the future.
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