The modern diesel conundrum

[jejb]

I own a '22 CTD 2500, bought it new. Only have 26K on it, but ran into the constant regen issue last summer when using it for a grocery getter while in Wisc fishing for 5 weeks. Got that pretty well cured with some harder pulls through the Ozarks and Archoil. But I've been reluctant to pull it out of the shed unless I'm pulling the big trailer.

I'm up in Wisc again for a month and the wife decided to take the truck for a run to keep things moving. It had been sitting for about 5 weeks. Started throwing all the low battery messages (electronic stab control, trailer brakes, etc) even after a 50 mile interstate blast. OEM batteries.

I'll change the batteries when I get home, but was hoping to get more life out of the OEM ones. DPF gauge is still at zero though.

Fair tradeoff? Maybe. Batteries are cheaper than DPF's.

I'll install trickle charger cords with the new batteries.

 

[tron67j]

Just a suggestion for consideration, but if you look to trade it some day and want to stay with a 2500, the 6.4 would get you 5-6k pounds more of trailer towing and no diesel issues. Not disparaging diesel by any stretch but it really belongs in a 3500 when the purpose is towing.

 

[hemihustlin]

so what you are saying is you brought it north of the border for a few labbats and a can of maple syrup and accidently got your pcm flashed! alright! sounds like a good time haha

 

[jejb]

Just a suggestion for consideration, but if you look to trade it some day and want to stay with a 2500, the 6.4 would get you 5-6k pounds more of trailer towing and no diesel issues. Not disparaging diesel by any stretch but it really belongs in a 3500 when the purpose is towing.

Yeah, in hindsight, I would have looked harder at the 6.4. I owned an '18 2500 CTD that had none of the DPF issues. So I, foolishly it seems, expected the '22 to be the same. I got the diesel because of all the large hills I pull through in the Ozarks.

I bought an older gas SUV to pull my boat, as that does not work the Cummins hard enough. Really disappointed in Ram for screwing the truck up.

 

[stevenP]

Mine is a 22 also. I dont really drive the truck unless I am pulling my fifth wheel. Kind of a shame, but its only got 16k miles. But when I pull the RV, its the right tool for the job. So mine sets a lot as well, so I keep it on a battery tender 24 7 when not in use. On my last diesel the OEM batteries lasted over 5 years, still worked but cranked really slow.

 

[Burla]

At least you know what you are doing wrong, modern diesels are not a good choice for a grocery getter.

Add diesel additive with cetane boost every tank = power service actually recommended by Cummins. Think about that for a minute, how rare is it that additives are recommended by an OEM. Use deisel Kleen in every tank and don't take small trips, use a different vehicle.

 

[Burla]

Cummins logo on the label is no accident.. Research cetane boost and Regen.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Yeah, in hindsight, I would have looked harder at the 6.4. I owned an '18 2500 CTD that had none of the DPF issues. So I, foolishly it seems, expected the '22 to be the same. I got the diesel because of all the large hills I pull through in the Ozarks.

I bought an older gas SUV to pull my boat, as that does not work the Cummins hard enough. Really disappointed in Ram for screwing the truck up.

My 2019 had zero regen issues. I avoided idle like the plague(idle time <4%)and worked highway speeds into any trip. It went the full 24 engine hours between regens for the nearly 70K miles I owned it, when it was totalled. My 2024 started out that way, but steadily got the regen flu. Same idle percentage under 4%, and I went to even further extremes of longer highway loops. I tried regular Power Service(silver bottle), Stanadyne, Archoil, and the new Power Service Flush(gold bottle), and regens continued to get more and more frequent. The factory tuning sucks. Can't tune/delete 22-24 without $$$$ ECM swap. Truck is gone. Cummins has lost the plot.

 

[jejb]

Regen flu. I like it.

 

[joesstripclub]

As far as your batteries go, if you let it sit for more than a week or 2 I would put it on a trickle charger. These new trucks always have some computer thinking in the background it seems and they will run your battery down. Many new vehicles are also programmed to charge at a lower voltage than they used to so driving rarely gets your batteries up to fully charged.

 

[06 Dodge]

As far as your batteries go, if you let it sit for more than a week or 2 I would put it on a trickle charger. These new trucks always have some computer thinking in the background it seems and they will run your battery down. Many new vehicles are also programmed to charge at a lower voltage than they used to so driving rarely gets your batteries up to fully charged.

I've let my 22 sit many times for 12-18 days and not one time have I had any problems with starting, I will say to be safe I keep the key fob in a faraday cage when I'm away.