Code P026D and split cold side CAC pipe

[CrazyCooter]

A couple of weeks back while on an unloaded day trip, code P026D "Fuel injection Quantity "A" Higher Than Expected" popped up. We were at elevation and climbing a knarly hill.......The grade isn't posted, but it has us downshifting into 1st and 2nd gear while using the brakes pretty aggressively on the decent.......I wouldn't be surprised to learn its well over 18%.

My first thought was "Oh great, now I get to go through the process of getting it checked out with the incompetent dealer network". I got to thinking that by the code description it was probably an air leak and had been reading here about people finding leaks in the cold side CAC hose at 50-75K miles and I'm at 64K? Hmmm.......

I decided to hook up the smoke machine and it was a pretty quick find! The hose had some oil/dust stuck to it in the area where the smoke was coming from. Pulled the pipe to find a 1" split in it! Now I did note that the pipe had oil/dust residue on it while swapping out my steering gear a few years back, but didn't think much of it since most forced induction diesels with PCV pulled into the intake has some around every connection.

Wondering when this actually started leaking.........I can remember back to Oct 2024 when I first smelled burning plastic under the hood and a tiny bit of smoke, but could not find anything. Then I started smelling burned rubber and plastic on just about every hard pull while towing up 9% grades. I eventually the split loom covering my winch's positive cable was melting for no apparent reason after 4 years of being in the same location undisturbed!!!??? I wrapped it in a DEI foil sleeve...What else could I do?

Finding this air leak makes me think the turbo has been working overtime to supply the air the engine was commanding. The vane geometry was closed tighter than normal to spin the wheels harder to produce the air volume, but surely was creating more heat in the exhaust housing as a result? I have been seeing 22psi most of the time, but sometimes 23psi at elevation. I seem to remember seeing 25psi back in the day, but maybe I'm wrong on that? Can someone comment for sure?

I was initially unable to find a replacement (NO AFE kit since we are in CA)after an exhaustive search everywhere including Fleabay on the Sunday afternoon. I called my local Ram dealer to have them tell me there aren't any in stock in the country and is on backorder/no ETA!!!!??? I taped up the hose with Gorilla tape and put some knarly zip ties on it so I could at least take it home. I spoke with one my buddies who run the local diesel shop about making me a splice pipe, so that was the plan when I check Fleabay again and found one from a midwest dealer! This also gave me a chance to purchase the hardware the dealer left loose/off during the pump recall..........

I downloaded all of the freeze frame data, cleared the active code, and the permanent code also cleared after driving about 50 miles, so I might be good on this?

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[Rusty PW]

Looks like that will be a common problem. AFE for those of us not in California.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Looks like that will be a common problem. AFE for those of us not in California.

I considered just getting the AFE and sanding the lettering off to make it look plain and maybe make it through emissions inspection, but still under warranty for another 3yrs/61K miles? I promised myself that I wouldn't go down the rabbithole and screw with this engine

 

[rharr]

A couple of weeks back while on an unloaded day trip, code P026D "Fuel injection Quantity "A" Higher Than Expected" popped up. We were at elevation and climbing a knarly hill.......The grade isn't posted, but it has us downshifting into 1st and 2nd gear while using the brakes pretty aggressively on the decent.......I wouldn't be surprised to learn its well over 18%.

My first thought was "Oh great, now I get to go through the process of getting it checked out with the incompetent dealer network". I got to thinking that by the code description it was probably an air leak and had been reading here about people finding leaks in the cold side CAC hose at 50-75K miles and I'm at 64K? Hmmm.......

I decided to hook up the smoke machine and it was a pretty quick find! The hose had some oil/dust stuck to it in the area where the smoke was coming from. Pulled the pipe to find a 1" split in it! Now I did note that the pipe had oil/dust residue on it while swapping out my steering gear a few years back, but didn't think much of it since most forced induction diesels with PCV pulled into the intake has some around every connection.

Wondering when this actually started leaking.........I can remember back to Oct 2024 when I first smelled burning plastic under the hood and a tiny bit of smoke, but could not find anything. Then I started smelling burned rubber and plastic on just about every hard pull while towing up 9% grades. I eventually the split loom covering my winch's positive cable was melting for no apparent reason after 4 years of being in the same location undisturbed!!!??? I wrapped it in a DEI foil sleeve...What else could I do?

Finding this air leak makes me think the turbo has been working overtime to supply the air the engine was commanding. The vane geometry was closed tighter than normal to spin the wheels harder to produce the air volume, but surely was creating more heat in the exhaust housing as a result? I have been seeing 22psi most of the time, but sometimes 23psi at elevation. I seem to remember seeing 25psi back in the day, but maybe I'm wrong on that? Can someone comment for sure?

I was initially unable to find a replacement (NO AFE kit since we are in CA)after an exhaustive search everywhere including Fleabay on the Sunday afternoon. I called my local Ram dealer to have them tell me there aren't any in stock in the country and is on backorder/no ETA!!!!??? I taped up the hose with Gorilla tape and put some knarly zip ties on it so I could at least take it home. I spoke with one my buddies who run the local diesel shop about making me a splice pipe, so that was the plan when I check Fleabay again and found one from a midwest dealer! This also gave me a chance to purchase the hardware the dealer left loose/off during the pump recall..........

I downloaded all of the freeze frame data, cleared the active code, and the permanent code also cleared after driving about 50 miles, so I might be good on this?

CC,
Want me to order you a AFE kit and ship it to you? You cover the costs? PM if you are interested

The AFE has been on my list as well, i keep getting the P026D code just outside of Flagstaff, I clear it and it goes away until i pass by again....

Looks like i need to do a smoke test too....

 

[CrazyCooter]

Want me to order you a AFE kit and ship it to you? You cover the costs? PM if you are interested

I really appreciate that offer!

I have ways to get that stuff too, I just would prefer to stay compliant, not look over my shoulder, and not swap it back to stock every 2 years for inspection. I'm getting old and don't drive that many miles these days, so it's just not worth it.

I had to get my moto clothing through other means since they wouldn't ship to CA either? Tried to get a backordered Mopar trans filter from Rock Auto, but the Prop 65 paperwork wasn't handled? This is getting out of control!

 

[rharr]

I really appreciate that offer!

I have ways to get that stuff too, I just would prefer to stay compliant, not look over my shoulder, and not swap it back to stock every 2 years for inspection. I'm getting old and don't drive that many miles these days, so it's just not worth it.

I had to get my moto clothing through other means since they wouldn't ship to CA either? Tried to get a Mopar trans filter from Rock Auto, but the Prop 65 paperwork wasn't handled? This is getting out of control!

Haha, good luck man, don't worry you won't need moto clothing soon, since they will ban motos soon for being dangerous.

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