Guides Archives - DieselPowerUp

Nissan Titan XD 5.0L Cummins Deletes and Tuning (DPF, SCR and EGR)

Last Updated September 6, 2018

The Titan XD with the new 5.0L Cummins is Nissan’s answer to the 1/2 ton diesel truck market, and from initial impressions they seem to have created a great new combination with this truck. The Titan XD is basically a 1/2 ton truck with the engine of a 3/4 ton truck, which really makes it fall into a class of it’s own.

Considering it puts out an impressive 310HP and 555 ft. lb of torque in a less than 8,000 pound truck, the XD sure seems to be punching well above it’s weight class.

All New Powerplant

At first glance, you’ll notice some very impressive materials and packaging used on this engine to make it as lightweight, compact, and powerful as possible.

The construction of the 5.0L is nothing short of high tech, with Cummins opting to use metal technologies like CGI (Compacted Graphite Iron) to make the block thinner and more lightweight while staying as strong as possible. Aluminum was used to cast the heads which heavily contributes to the 5.0L being much much lighter than any of the older diesel v8’s that we are used to.

The packaging was designed for a small footprint, using tricks such as tucking the turbos deep into the valley pan area, with the intake manifold just about being molded right around them.

Clean and Quiet

A lot of emphasis was put into making sure that the 5.0L Cummins V8 would put quietness and cleanliness at the forefront of their design.

The Bosch piezo injector system has the ability to fire five times during each combustion event, keeping the pistons from slapping the walls and creating unwanted noise. Cummins even took into consideration the timing of the fuel pump, and by running the Bosch CP4.2 off of the timing chain, they were able to set it with precision to sequence the combustion cycle.

And of course, because of modern diesel regulations, the 5.0 has all of the usual emissions equipment that you would find on any new truck.

The Problems

Just like every other modern diesel engine, there are always trade-offs. Namely the DPF, SCR and EGR systems. They’re what really hold this engine back from it’s full MPG and HP potential, while contributing to future failures.

Don’t get me wrong, when these systems are operating properly they do help to greatly reduce emissions and are generally a good thing. They’re also a requirement if you live in a country with regulations on diesel pollution. While they are good systems for reducing tailpipe emissions, they definitely have the trade-off of collateral damage that they can cause that becomes a concern for the longevity of your truck’s engine.

Fortunately, there are still options for those of us who don’t have to keep our trucks legal for the street.

How to delete the Titan XD

There are only a few parts that you will need to delete your 5.0 Cummins; a tuner, an exhaust, and a some way to block off the factory EGR system. All of these parts together are what most will call a full delete kit.

We’ll start with the most important part first, the tuner. You won’t be able to run a deleted truck properly without it, so it is definitely a must have in order for everything to work.

Best Tuner for Deleting the Titan XD

PPEI EZ LYNK Tuner For 2016 2017 2018 Nissan Titan XD 5.0L Cummins

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ebay.com

as of September 6, 2018 1:17 pm

Features:

Read / Clear Diagnostic Trouble Codes
Monitor Vehicle Specific Parameters
Record / Play / Send Vehicle Datalogs
Reflash / Update Engine Control Module
PPEI Tuning
Compatible With Emissions Compliant & Emissions Detached Applications

Single Tune HP Levels:

20 HP – Economy
40 HP – Tow
60 HP – Street
120 HP – Race
140HP – Max Effort

**EGR DELETE DPF DELETE CAPABLE**

Titan XD DPF/DEF/Cat Delete Exhaust Kit

Flo-Pro SS 4" Downpipe Back Delete Exhaust for 16-17 Nissan Titan XD Cummins

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as of September 6, 2018 1:17 pm

Deleting and tuning the 2.8L Duramax LWN | Remove DPF, DEF and EGR

Last Updated August 30, 2018

From the factory, the 2.8L LWN Duramax is a remarkably stout and impressive power plant for the 2015-2017 Colorado and Canyon trucks. Straight out of the box people have been praising the power and performance of this compact 4 cyl. diesel motor. It’s so good most people don’t need to do a thing to it besides drive it (and change the oil, frequently.)

Of course, nothing can ever be perfect, and every engine has it’s weaknesses. We wouldn’t have to keep buying new parts or new trucks if they lasted forever. In the case of the LWN, well it wouldn’t be a modern diesel without complicated modern emissions equipment. That complicated modern emission equipment has some…. tradeoffs.

In fact, one of the main complaints so far has been that some of these trucks have already been throwing emissions codes because of a non-functioning, clogged up EGR system and related sensors going off for the DPF and SCR efficiency, in chain reaction to the EGR malfunction.

Most of the time, a thorough cleaning of the EGR system can make the codes go away, but it’s just gonna be one of those procedures that will have to be added into your maintenance schedule as you rack up the miles. The DPF filter is also going to need to be replaced in the higher mileage trucks at some point, the clogging happens there as well. Even more so when the EGR isn’t working properly.

And of course, the DEF isn’t going to fill itself.

Properly maintained and working correctly however, these systems do work really well together to make the LWN one of the “cleanest” diesels available.

What are the EGR, the DPF and the SCR/DEF injection systems?

These are the series of parts works together in order for the LWN to meet emissions output regulations. In order to better understand them, let’s do a quick overview of how each of these individual components function:

The DEF system is what uses the urea fluid (aka blue def or adblue) injection into the SCR, vaporizing the fluid mixture into ammonia and carbon dioxide that can be filtered by this catalyst into nitrogen and water. In theory, this a great addition to the overall reduction of emissions output. In reality though, the urea mixture is a little too volatile for long-term reliability, especially in cold climates. Urea likes to crystallize and evaporate when exposed to cold temps or air, which can wreak havoc on the injection system. These systems have numerous sensors and a heating element contained in the holding tank, which get attacked by the corrosive fluid and will almost always fail over time in one way or the other. Overhauling these injections systems can get quite costly.

In the DPF portion of the exhaust you have the filter that takes the remainder of NOx and filters out as much as possible by grabbing the carbon as it flows through the tiny passageways of the filter. As you can imagine, these passageways don’t take a lot to get clogged up, this is why you have what is called the “regen mode” which works by super-heating the filter to burn away carbon deposits. The burn is created by over-fueling the engine to make the exhaust gas temperature rise very high in order to vaporize deposits. Over-fueling does have the negative effect of also dumping some of the fuel into the oil, thereby reducing it’s longevity and lubrication effectiveness. For this reason, it is VERY important to follow the oil change intervals as closely as possible to combat the diluted oil. The DPF filter itself will also clog after some time, and require replacement of that entire section of the exhaust.

The EGR system works to lower emissions by re-introducing some of the unburnt fuel in the exhaust back into the intake tract, thereby re-burning some of the inherit emissions that would need to be filtered by the SCR and DPF. Some form of EGR systems have been used on just about every modern engine to reduce the amount of emissions they produce and they have been proven to do just that, which is a great thing for the environment. However, they do come with a huge reliability drawback, especially on diesels, and that is the amount of gunk that clogs up not only the EGR system but also the intake manifold, valves and etc. Basically by allowing the EGR to do its job, you’ll also have to accept the fact that all that dirty exhaust is going to be recycled back into the intake of your engine, gumming up everything in its path. This is terrible for engine longevity.

Should you delete and tune your 2.8L Duramax?

Let’s weigh some pros and cons:

Delete Pros:

Tuning can increase the power to around 212hp and 412 ft. pounds of torque.
By removing the clog-prone EGR and DPF, you will increase the reliability and longevity of your truck.
On average, you will stand to gain an extra 5 MPG after the deletes.
No more limp mode because of a clogged DPF or the frequent DEF system failures. This translates into much lower maintenance costs.
Your engine will run cleaner by not having recycled carbon and fuel dumped back into the engine, which frees you up from low-ash type oil and allows you to run my favorite oil: Rotella T6.
This is purely my own preference, but if you run without a muffler you’ll have much more pronounced turbo and engine sound with the exhaust restrictions gone.

Delete Cons:

The biggest con to deleting your mini max is that the warranty can be voided by the dealership if they detect a tune (and they can, even with it returned to factory conditions.) Normally these systems are covered under the emissions warranty for 8 years/ 80K miles, which is actually quite generous, although I have noticed that a lot of times people are having clogged DPF filter and EGR issues right after the emissions warranty runs out.
Legality is another con of removing emissions equipment, at least in the US. You need to be aware that these modifications are only to be used in vehicles that aren’t to be driven on public highways, as the US regulations have made modifications to these systems to be a fine able offense.

Tell me how to remove it!

So after careful consideration of the remaining value of your warranty and acknowledgement of your local laws, you’ve decided to delete your truck. Well, that in itself can be a little tricky; because of the newness of the LWN trucks some aftermarket manufacturers are still in development for this platform. That said, there’s some really good options already.

Keep reading to see the breakdown of everything that you’ll find in a typical delete kit.

Best Option for a 2.8L Duramax Delete Tuner

OZ Tuning Custom EFILive Switch On The Fly

OZ Tuning EFILive 2016 2017 GM Colorado Canyon 2.8L Duramax

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as of March 21, 2018 2:11 am

Best DPF/SCR/CAT Delete Exhaust

aFe Power Large-Bore HD

If you’re going to be running a delete tune, you’ll need to exhaust to support it. This exhaust replaces all the factory exhaust emissions components with a much less restrictive straight pipe and optional muffler.

DPF filters and DEF injection systems are a big source of issues on these trucks, they are a part that IS going to need replacement at some point in the usable life of the truck. The funny thing is that they seem to be conveniently engineered to last until just after the warranty expires. Get ahead of the imminent failure and remove the factory exhaust to replace with this one.

aFe Power 49-44073-B Large Bore-HD Large-Bore HD Exhaust System (3", Downpipe-Back, Stainless Steel), (N)

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amazon.com

as of March 20, 2018 1:22 pm

Features

Constructed from 3" mandrel-bent Stainless Steel tubing
Included in this exhaust system is a massive 4-1/2" dia. Black Stainless Steel tip
Utilizes all factory mounting locations to provide a quick, hassle-free installation
Uses a high quality band clamp and OE-style bayonet hangers for a secure fitment
This is a "Race only" product used solely for competition. It's use is limited to closed-course and open-course racing that is formally sanctioned by a recognized racing organization.

Product Description

Simple installation: this system uses factory mounting locations providing stability and hassle-free installation. OE fit: OE-style bayonet hangers are used to maintain a stable pipe location during high vibration and high heat conditions. The bayonet tip holds the hanger bushing in place for an OE-style fit that does not change with time. Flow and performance: this large bore-hd exhaust system is constructed of 3" mandrel-bent stainless steel tubing for maximum flow. Smooth Transition bends allow for low turbulence, increasing horsepower, torque and lowering EGT's. 4-1/2" diameter black tip: finishing off the exhaust is a 4-1/2" diameter, black, stainless steel Slash cut tip with a unique stainless steel laser-cut aFe Power logo plate riveted on for an aggressive style.

EGR Delete Kit for the 2.8L Duramax

OZ Tuner LWN EGR Delete Kit

Removing the EGR system is vital to longevity on the mini duramax engine, as many drivers have noted excessive carbon buildup in the intake even before the first oil change interval. This extra carbon is a pretty much a universal issue on emissions controlled diesel engines, and it always results in the soot gumming up your intake and valves and contributes to an overall shorter engine life.

As far as available options to remove the EGR on the Canyon and Colorados, OZ tuning is pretty much the only choice for a well-built and complete kit. The actual installation process to remove the EGR on the 2.8L takes some mechanical ability to perform, but the end results are more than worth it.

One caveat to EGR removal is that it WILL increase nox output, thus also increasing the amount of DEF that your truck will have to use in order to counteract. This is why it is recommended to perform both the EGR and DEF/DPF delete at the same time, otherwise you will risk having the engine computer raising alarms about the abnormal SCR utilization.

OZ Tuner EGR Delete Kit for GM Duramax Colorado/Canyon 2.8L Diesel 2015-2016

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as of March 21, 2018 2:11 am

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide has been helpful with your search to improve the reliability and performance of your Colorado or Canyon. As always, if you have comments or questions, feel free to ask away in the comment section below!

Thanks for reading!

How-To: Add a tailgate drop assist to your truck

Last Updated September 1, 2017

Have you ever had your hands full while trying to open your tailgate? If so, you’ll already realize that if you don’t hold it on the way down, you’ll be greeted with a big slam as your tailgate freefalls – until the cables catch it and jerk it to a hard stop.

This not nice and easy on the cables or the mounting hardware of the gate. Fortunately, there is a way to fix this issue and have a nice and smooth opening tailgate, without you having to hold onto it all the way down.

The answer to the dropping tailgate is a simple little hydraulic damper, or assist. These little shock absorbers (or struts) attach directly to the tailgate and bed, slowing the tailgate down for a nice and easy descent.

There are a few manufacturers that make these tailgate dampers, and below I’ll go over the best options and deals for each of the different model trucks listed. If you are installing one of these assists yourself, you’ll find that it’s pretty straightforward for the most part, installation difficulty for most of these kits is about a 3-4 out of 10.

Tailgate assist for the 2015-2017 Ford F-150

Ford OEM Tailgate Assist Kit FL3Z-99406A10-A

Without a doubt the best tailgate damper kit that you can get for the 2105, 2016 and 2017 Ford F-150 would be the one made by Ford. It’s designed to fit directly into factory mounting points, so no messing with aftermarket accessory fitment, which can be tricky in some cases.

Genuine Ford FL3Z-99406A10-A Tailgate Shock Assembly

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as of July 17, 2017 2:03 pm

Features

Genuine OEM
Top quality
Rely on the high quality and effectiveness
Protect your investment
Ford F-150 2015

Product Description

Manufactured from top quality components, this is your inexpensive replacement option for your rebuild, repair, and maintenance needs. When you select a genuine OEM part - you can rely on the high quality and effectiveness of the product and brand without having to guess if the product will work in sequence with your vehicle. Protecting your investment is important and choosing the right parts can be challenging. Stick with what you know and choose a genuine OEM part.

Tailgate assist for the 2005-2014 Ford F-150

DeeZee F-150 Tailgate Assist DZ43200

If you own a 2005-2014 F-150 then the best option for a tailgate damper is this retrofit model by DeeZee. The kit comes with everything you need to add it to your truck, including the strut and all required hardware. Only one damper is needed, there’s no need for a second kit.

Dee Zee DZ43200 Tailgate Assist

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amazon.com

as of July 17, 2017 2:03 pm

Features

Safely Controls The Drop Rate Of Truck Tailgates
Custom Designed For Each Make And Model
High Quality and Extensively Tested For Heavy Use
Works In Conjunction With Factory Cables
Only One Tailgate Assist Required Per Vehicle

Product Description

Dee Zee Tailgate Assist - Safely controls the drop of your truck's tailgate. Custom designed for each make and model. High quality and extensively tested to handle heave use for the life of the truck. Works in conjunction with factory cables. Easy, no drill installation that installs in minutes.

Tailgate assist for the Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty

DeeZee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43203

This kit is the one designed for the 1999-2106 Ford Super Duty trucks. Just like the other kits from Dee Zee, this one includes all required hardware and installation instructions in the box.

Dee Zee DZ43203 Tailgate Assist Shock

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as of July 17, 2017 2:03 pm

Features

Safely controls the drop rate of truck tailgates
Custom designed for each make and model
High quality and extensively tested for heavy use
Works in conjunction with factory cables

Product Description

Dee Zee tailgate assist safely controls the drop of your truck's tailgate. Custom designed for each make and model. Works in conjunction with factory cables. Tested to handle heavy use with all mounting hardware included. Easy, no drill installation that installs in minutes.

Tailgate assist for the Dodge Ram 1500-3500

DeeZee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43301

If you own a Ram 1500 from 2009-2017 or a Ram 2500 and 3500 from 2010-2017, then this is the tailgate assist made specifically for your truck. As always, DeeZee has provided a Dodge Ram specific all-in-one kit that includes everything you will need for am easy, complete install.

Dee Zee DZ43301 Tailgate Assist Shock

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amazon.com

as of July 17, 2017 2:03 pm

Features

Safely Controls The Drop Rate Of Truck Tailgates
Custom Designed For Each Make And Model
High Quality and Extensively Tested For Heavy Use
Works In Conjunction With Factory Cables
Only One Tailgate Assist Required Per Vehicle

Product Description

This Fits: Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2009 - 2010 Sport , Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2009 - 2010 Laramie , Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2009 - 2010 SLT , Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2009 - 2010 ST , Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2009 - 2010 TRX , Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2009 - 2010 TRX4 , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 Sport , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 Laramie , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 Outdoorsman , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 Big Horn , Ram 1500 2013 - 2014 Express , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 Laramie Longhorn , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 SLT , Ram 1500 2013 - 2014 HFE , Ram 1500 2013 - 2014 Laramie Limited , Ram 1500 2013 - 2013 R/T , Ram 1500 2014 - 2014 Special Service , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 ST , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 SXT , Ram 1500 2011 - 2014 Tradesman , Ram 1500 2012 - 2012 Tradesman HD , Ram Pickup 1500 2012 - 2012 Outdoorsman

Tailgate assist for the Chevy/GMC 1500, 2500 and 3500HD

DeeZee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43102

In the more recent model years, the Chevy trucks have finally started to include a tailgate dampening system in the higher trim trucks like the SLE/SLT and LT/LTZ packages. However if you have an older truck or a base model, you were out of luck as far as having this installed from the factory.

Thankfully, once again DeeZee steps up to the plate to offer their all-in-one kit for GM trucks. This is certified to fit the 2009-2017 1500/2500/3500 and is more of a universal kit that can be adapted to a lot of the Chevy/GMC platform tailgates.

Dee Zee DZ43102 Black Tailgate Assist

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amazon.com

as of July 17, 2017 2:03 pm

Features

Safely Controls The Drop Rate Of Truck Tailgates
Custom Designed For Each Make and Model
High Quality and Extensively Tested For Heavy Use
Works In Conjunction With Factory Cables
Only One Tailgate Assist Required Per Vehicle

Product Description

Safely Controls The Drop Rate Of A Tailgate. Custom Designed For Each Make And Model. Tested To Handle Heavy Use For The Truck Life. Works In Conjunction With Factory Cables. Easy No Drill Installation. Installs In Minutes. All Hardware Included.

What do the customer reviews have to say?

DeeZee has made quite the good name for themselves in the truck accessories market, and you can see that in their reviews, which reflect a lot of praise for their products.

Like anything aftermarket, there will always be a couple of hiccups in how the product fits initially or wears over time. This is standard for all aftermarket accessory manufacturers and doesn’t necessarily mean that the products are junk if they have a couple of issues across a wide range of models.

What really matters is how the company handles feedback from their customers about issues that need resolving in the next iteration of the product, and also how they handle the current customers that have the issues in the first place.

Below, you’ll see how they’ve dealt with the only real problem with the DeeZee assist kits and how they have resolved the issue going forward.

Tailgate assist common problems

The early versions of the Dee-Zee assist in particular did have a frustrating issue that has since been fixed. The issue is with the nutsert that they provided to install the strut with. The nutsert allows you to add threads to a bare hole in your tailgate that wasn’t originally designed to have threads in it.

The problem is that the early version nutsert had a tendency to loosen up in the hole with the repeated rotation that the end of the strut subjects it to. Either the nutsert was just a little off in size, or didn’t have enough friction to hold itself in the tailgate.

Good news is that Dee-Zee has realized the issue, and eliminated the nutsert problem for all the new versions of their kits, and has even been assisting previous customers in fixing the original version.

Conclusion

Hopefully this overview and guide for the options available to add a tailgate assist have helped you in the search for the right kit for your truck. As always, feel free to reach out to us in the comments below if you have any questions or something to add to the conversation. Thanks for reading!

How To Fix The Missing Fuel Cap on Rams

Last Updated November 25, 2017

Starting in 2013 and continuing still to this day, the Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 turbo diesel trucks all have a pretty significant design flaw.

Yep, that’s a fuel filler that comes from the factory with no cap. A cap-less fuel filler design, really?

What were you thinking Dodge!?

How exactly is the mediocre seal on the fuel door supposed to protect against water and dirt getting into the fuel filler neck?

Of course, Dodge will not admit to this being anything other than the design as intended, but they did release a part number for the people that inquired about missing “gas” caps; the Mopar part# 52029561AA, which is a quite thin and cheaply made green plastic wedge style cap. These do not seem to be durable at all, and still are questionable in their ability to keep out contaminants.

Fortunately, there are a couple options aside from what Dodge has (or hasn’t) provided:

Aluminum Fuel Cap

Thankfully the aftermarket has seen this issue and noticed that people in fact actually want to seal their fuel filler necks from getting crap down into the tank.

The main problem that you’ll have when trying to add a normal fuel cap to one of these dodge trucks – there just isn’t enough room for a regular old gas cap to sit in there and still have the fuel door close.

This is why these billet aluminum caps have such a low profile, so that they can actually fit perfectly in the filler, seal it with an o-ring and still have space for the door to close.

2013-2017 Dodge Ram Diesel Fuel Cap Billet Aluminum Magnetic NEW EASIER GRIP DESIGN

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as of May 8, 2017 3:48 pm

Features

This is what Dodge forgot to include in your new truck! Why take the risk going without this Dodge Ram accessory? This Magnetic Dodge Ram Fuel Cap KEEPS DIRT & WATER OUT OF YOUR FUEL TANK on all Capless Dodge Ram Diesel Trucks (2013-2017)
NEW EASIER TO GRIP DESIGN! (Based on our great customer feedback!)
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AT ITS BEST! Machined from AIRCRAFT GRADE Aluminum and Anodized Green with laser logo to help ensure no fueling mix-ups
A Strong, RARE EARTH MAGNET holds the cap to any metal surface on the truck during fill-ups.
COMPATIBLE with Dodge Ram EVAP EMISSION SYSTEMS. Diesel Compatible O-ring ensures a snug fit inside the fuel fill hole.

Product Description

For all Dodge Ram Diesels 2013-2017 with "capless" fuel fill. This trick looking billet aluminum fuel cap accessory will enhance the look and feel of your new truck. More importantly this cap will give you peace of mind that your fuel tank is staying clean by keeping dirt and debris out. The rubber o-ring seals off the fuel filler area and provides a snug fit. The strong magnet on the backside allows you to easily set it aside during fill ups, just stick it to any metal part of the truck. Eliminate any concern about dirt getting into your fuel tank, this is a fast, simple, effective design and looks great too!

Fuel And DEF Cap Combo

If you prefer a more uniform look, there is a combo set available that combines the DEF and fuel cap replacements together in one kit.

2013-2017 Dodge Ram Diesel Magnetic Billet Aluminum Fuel Cap and DEF Cap Combo

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as of May 8, 2017 3:48 pm

Features

Fits all 2013-2017 Dodge Ram Diesel and Eco-diesel vehicles
Rare earth magnet installed in bottom of gas cap. When refueling just place the cap against the steel fuel door, keeps you from setting it down and forgetting about it.
DEF cap is compatible with the stock tether. Remove the old cap and snap the tether around the new cap for easy retention.
Both caps machined from 6061 billet aluminum and anodized for maximum protection and a show quality finish.
Caps include o-rings to protect against outside contaminants, a major improvement over the cheap stock plastic diesel cap that lets dirt and dust in

Product Description

Do you own a 2013-2017 Dodge Ram Diesel? Tired of the lack of a quality gas cap on your expensive truck? What about the cheap looking plastic DEF cap? Well here is the gas and DEF cap combo that you've been looking for. As good looking as they are functional, this combo will keep dirt and debris out of the fuel system while making the other owners jealous. These are the caps that should have been included stock.

OEM Style Plastic Cap

Aside from the thin green plastic cap, Dodge actually has another style of cap that is more robust and seems like it would do the job of protecting the open fuel filler system.

The part number for this cap: Mopar/Chrysler 82214609.

It does also come with a tether to keep the cap attached and from being lost, a nice feature for those of us that sometimes misplace our fuel caps when refilling our trucks in the morning before coffee.

Dodge Ram Fuel Filler Diesel Cap With Tether Non Locking NEW OEM MOPAR

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as of May 8, 2017 3:48 pm

Product Description

Non-Locking Gas Cap for 3.0L and 6.7L Diesel Engines with capless systemAvailable for 2014-2017 Dodge Ram 1500Available for 2014-2017 Dodge Ram 2500Available for 2014-2017 Dodge Ram 3500

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide has helped you to find the best options for replacing your truck’s missing fuel cap. If you have any more questions or input about this issue, feel free to drop us a line below in the comments. Thanks for reading!

How-To: Choose and Use a Diesel Compression Tester

Last Updated March 15, 2017

Compression tests have always been a go-to for uncovering any issues that an engine might have, and diesel engines are no exception to this rule.

At first glance, it seems like the testing procedure is very similar between gasoline engines and diesels, however testing compression on a diesel does have different requirements, procedures and tooling (namely adapters and high pressure gauges).

The biggest difference you’ll run into when testing a diesel is the pressures that these engines produce. They’re a great deal higher than a regular gasoline combustion engine, which means your test gauge will have to be able to take a greater PSI reading. I recommend going with at least a 1,000 PSI gauge in order to accurately read your cylinder pressures, many regular gauges only go up to 300 PSI which just won’t cut it.

Best Test Gauge for Diesels

This is the best option that I’ve found for a reasonably priced, high quality test gauge that reads up to 1,000 PSI (or 70 bar) which is what you’ll need for a diesel. Keep in mind that this is for the gauge only, you’ll also need to grab the correct adapter kit for your truck, if you keep scrolling I have the most popular adapters listed below.

OTC 5021 Universal Diesel Engine Compression Gauge

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as of March 30, 2017 6:43 am

Features

Works on any diesel engine
Test compression up to 1000 psi and 7000 kPa
Include a check valve push button compression release and a quick disconnect fitting on the hose end
Straight and 45 degree hose connectors are included
Determination of damage by impact tools is subject to SPX evaluation and discretion

Product Description

OTC Universal Diesel Engine Compression Gauge Works on any diesel engine to test compression up to 1000 psi and 7000 kPa. Its features include a check valve, push button compression release, and a quick disconnect fitting on the hose end. Straight and 45 degrees hose connectors are included.

Diesel Compression Test Kit

If you’re a professional mechanic or just someone that works on more than one type of truck, you’ll probably want to get a test kit that already includes the adapters for all the most popular diesels, instead of buying them piece by piece.

14 Piece Diesel Compression Tester Set for Cars, Trucks, Tractors

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as of March 30, 2017 6:43 am

Features

Swivel-end quick-coupler allows quick and easy connection of adapters
0-1000 PSI/0-70 bar gauge with release valve and 14.5" long hose
Weight: 11.35 lbs.
Carbon steel construction. Hardened tips. High-pressure hose
Chrome-plated gauge

Product Description

This diesel compression tester set includes the tester and all necessary adapters to measure cylinder pressure on most diesel-equipped cars, trucks and tractors. Includes adapters for these engines: Ford/Navistar 6.9/7.3 liter engine Audi, Volvo, VW, Cummins 5.9 liter, M-B cars & trucks with 24 MM ports V-185, 210, 225, 555, VT-255, 555 Bacharach adapter M-B 18 MM (prior to 1978) M-B 12 MM (1978 and up) Majority of H-D tractor diesel engines including Allis Chalmers, Case, Deere, Ford, I. H., Mack, Onan, Waukesha Cummins V-6, V-8, V-12 BMW 2.4 liter, Lincoln (Mark-VII) 1984 & 1985, Peugeot 12 MM/18MM Chevy Luv 1.8/2.2 liter, Isuzu 1.8/2.2 liter, Toyota 1.8 liter G. M. 4.3/5.7/6.2/6.5 liter (turbo) Detroit Diesel 53, 71, 92, 110, 149, V53, V71 Cat D-336, 1674, 1676, 3406, 3408, 3412 (capsule-type nozzles) Case, Cat, Deere, Waukesha

7.3L Powerstroke Adapter Kit

On the 7.3 compression testing is best done by removing the glow plugs and inserting the special adapter shown here:

S&G Tool Aid 35250 Diesel Engine Tester Adapter

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as of March 30, 2017 6:43 am

Features

DIESEL TESTER ADAPTER FOR 7.3L POWER STROKE FORD & NAVISTAR

Product Description

Diesel Test Adapter for 7.3L Ford Power Stroke

6.0L and 6.4L Powerstroke Adapter Kit

The 6.0 is just like the 7.3 as far as removing the glow plugs to test. You’ll need this adapter for the 6.0:

OTC 6660 Compression Tester Adapter

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as of March 30, 2017 6:43 am

Features

Compression Tester Adapter
Use with OTC number 5021 diesel engine compression gauge works on 2003-2006 Ford vans and trucks with 60L diesel engines
Works on 2003-2006 Ford vans and trucks with 6.0L diesel engines

Product Description

OTC Compression Tester Adapter Use with OTC number 5021 diesel engine compression gauge. It works on 2003-2006 Ford vans and trucks with 6.0L diesel engines.

5.9 Cummins Adapter Kit

All the years of the 5.9 require the injectors to be pulled in order to perform a compression test. This adapter replaces the removed injector with the 1/8 NPT fitting that works with most gauges.

Lang Tools TU-15-26 Diesel Compression Adapter (Injector)

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as of March 30, 2017 6:43 am

Features

For use with Lang TU-15 Diesel Compression Tester
Applications: Cummins (1998-2002) 5.9L ISB and Dodge/Cummins (1998-2009) 5.9L ISB

Product Description

The TU-15-26 Die Compression Test Adapter is for use with the STAR Diesel Compression Tester TU-15 to test cylinder pressure on diesel cars and trucks. Holds in place with its own hold-down bracket For Cummins ISB engines used in Dodge pick-ups, school buses and medium-duty trucks Die Compression Test Adapter - TU-15-26 < / p>

2005+ 6.6L Duramax Adapter

This adapter threads into the glow plug hole of your Duramax and features a quick release connector to plug into a gauge.

Lang Tools TU-15-38 Diesel Adapter - 6.6L Duramax

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Features

M10-1.25 thread adapter with quick disconnect screws into the head of the engine in the glow plug hole.

Product Description

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Testing Procedure

Depending on which engine you have the test procedure will vary in details, but the overall procedure is similar for most engines:

Disable fuel injection
Remove all glow plugs to reduce compression resistance
Use the correct adapter to thread into the glow plug hole
Attach the test gauge to the adapter
Verify that ignition is disabled to prevent engine from starting
Using a test jumper or remote switch, activate the starter directly
Crank the engine for 4-5 revolutions
Read and record the final PSI on the gauge
Repeat for all cylinders and compare pressures

Compression PSI Specifications/Ranges

I’ve put together the PSI ranges that you should be looking for when doing your compression test. Keep in mind that a lot of these are the specifications for these engines when new or rebuilt. Engines with a lot of miles will naturally have lower PSI because of all the wear and tear.

Generally speaking, you’ll always want to look for the relative compression readings for all of the cylinders comparatively. A huge red flag is more than 75% difference between the individual cylinders.

Ford

7.3 365-475 psi is the acceptable range for the 7.3L Powerstroke.

6.0 375-425 psi is the acceptable range for the 6.0L Powerstroke.

6.4 340-375 psi is the acceptable range for the 6.4L Powerstroke.

Dodge

5.9 6BT The minimum psi spec for the 6BT is 350 psi.

Chevy/GM

LB7 Minimum 350 psi.
LLY Minimum 350 psi.
LBZ Minimum 350 psi.
LMM Minimum 350 psi.
LML Minimum 350 psi.

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide has been helpful in answering any questions that you might have had about compression testing your diesel. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to post them in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!