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Post by Soleman on Apr 30, 2020 21:55:48 GMT -5
I took all the advice & traded up to what I think is a good towing machine.
2017 RAM 6.7L - only has 23,072 miles on it. See details in my signature.
This is my First Diesel so any helpful tips on maintenance and service are more than welcome, REALLY!
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Post by johnr on May 1, 2020 7:47:49 GMT -5
Follow the service guidelines in your manual for your weather and operating conditions. If it's not your daily driver, make sure to fire it up and run it to operating temperature regularly. Expect sticker shock at your first oil change. It is much more expensive than a gas engine oil change. Check your manual for oil change guidelines, it shouldn't need done nearly as often as a gas engine. Don't let the shop force you into thinking it needs done every 3,000 miles.
Start a battery fund for when they need replaced, there are 2 very big, very expensive batteries in these guys. And tires, plan for 6 expensive tires.
Most of all, just have fun!
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Post by laknox on May 1, 2020 11:25:01 GMT -5
Don't let Johnr get you down. If you have the space and time, and are physically capable of doing so, changing your oil's not bad at all. You just need about 2x the amount of oil. If you need synthetic, yeah, that can hurt a bit, but if you buy jugs instead of quarts, it makes it a bit cheaper. You'll have to change fuel filters about every other oil change so you'll want to have a gal fuel can to put some diesel in to fill up the new filter. Saves a =lot= of priming! As for tires, there are a lot to choose from and there are some very good ones out there for a whole lot less than the Big Name tires, so shop when you need them.
Lyle
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Post by Edd505 on May 1, 2020 12:42:48 GMT -5
To keep that engine happy keep clean oil in it, I use synthetic and change every 10,000 along with all filters. Dirty oil & dirty diesel are the two worst engine killers. I have an auxiliary transfer tank with a filter. Fuels filtered from the station pump to the tank, from tank filtered to truck tank where it runs trough two more filters before it gets to the injectors.
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Post by RdRmr on May 1, 2020 12:54:18 GMT -5
Congrats on your purchase, enjoy. As stated by Johnr, follow your manual. There are four books with that year (over 800 pages). Did you receive one with your purchase? I'm on my third diesel, 1996, 2008 and now 2015. All Dodge/Rams, love that low RPM high torque inline 6. Oil changes are determined by one of three things: 500 running hours, 15,000 miles or 6 months - which ever comes first in the fourth gen Ram. Fuel filter changes are not hard to do, there are two. One in the rear by the fuel tank and the other on the drivers side of the engine. On the fourth generation Rams priming them is done by the key or push button. Easy. Send me a P/M if you have any questions. Also check www.turbodieselregister.com it is a Dodge/Ram specific site. Lots of information. Happy Campin.... |
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Post by Soleman on May 1, 2020 20:47:38 GMT -5
Thank you all for the straight forward information, tips, web links and advice!
I'll get my tools together and a good source for some supplies, the oil & fuel filters.
I was surprised to see "500 running hours, 15,000 miles or 6 months - which ever comes first in the fourth gen Ram."
Thanks again for your help!
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Post by johnr on May 3, 2020 8:39:55 GMT -5
Don't let Johnr get you down. If you have the space and time, and are physically capable of doing so, changing your oil's not bad at all. You just need about 2x the amount of oil. If you need synthetic, yeah, that can hurt a bit, but if you buy jugs instead of quarts, it makes it a bit cheaper. You'll have to change fuel filters about every other oil change so you'll want to have a gal fuel can to put some diesel in to fill up the new filter. Saves a =lot= of priming! As for tires, there are a lot to choose from and there are some very good ones out there for a whole lot less than the Big Name tires, so shop when you need them. Lyle I'm not trying to get anyone down, just being realistic. It's better to be informed rather than shocked, in my opinion. |
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Post by ronc on May 3, 2020 9:51:56 GMT -5
Since you have a 2017, your truck will likely “tell” you when service is needed. I have a 2016 Ford F-350 dually ... it tells me when the oil needs to be changed, when the fuel filter needs to be changed, when the anti freeze additive needs to be checked, etc. I only use a Ford dealer, so they know if any service bulletins have been issued and generally just know my vehicle better than anyone else. It may not be the cheapest way to maintain a vehicle, but it makes sure all the important maintenance events are taken care of at the right time. A diesel truck is not a car and needs unique care ... which is why I rely on the Ford Dealership network for those services.
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Post by Soleman on May 3, 2020 22:39:43 GMT -5
Thanks ronc,
I scheduled a service inspection with a RAM dealer that has diesel mechanics on staff. I'll pick his brain as much as possible and keep learning as I go. I want this to be my final TV!
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Post by nvguy on May 3, 2020 23:14:58 GMT -5
To be blunt and to the point, buy and use only top quality filters- Air, fuel, Oil. No "discount" parts or generic oil. Follow exactly the oil specifications to the letter in the manual. I change my oil, or rather I have the Ford dealer (same reasons as ronc) change the oil every 5K miles, as I think the manufacturer's guidelines can be a bit optimistic, as they want to show how "inexpensive" it is to maintain one of their trucks- (I feel this way about all of them: Ford, Dodge, GM) so, unless you are taking oil samples as you go along to monitor the actual condition of the oil, sometimes just going by mileage can "over extend" the oil. (dirty, excess fuel, oil additives depleted).
The good news is while diesels can be expensive to maintain, they pull like no other & deliver mileage - both MPG and lifespan that a gas rig can only dream of.
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Post by lynnmor on May 4, 2020 8:09:59 GMT -5
Since you have a 2017, your truck will likely “tell” you when service is needed. I have a 2016 Ford F-350 dually ... it tells me when the oil needs to be changed, when the fuel filter needs to be changed, when the anti freeze additive needs to be checked, etc. I only use a Ford dealer, so they know if any service bulletins have been issued and generally just know my vehicle better than anyone else. It may not be the cheapest way to maintain a vehicle, but it makes sure all the important maintenance events are taken care of at the right time. A diesel truck is not a car and needs unique care ... which is why I rely on the Ford Dealership network for those services. I learned the hard way about the value of dealers. After putting in too much of the wrong oil and not getting it right when returned, I'm done. The dealer will use the cheap help for such things as oil changes. The only way to know what goes in your engine is to do it yourself. If you want to know about the condition of your oil or engine, send samples to Blackstone Labs |
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Post by Soleman on May 4, 2020 10:20:27 GMT -5
Thank you lynnmor,
I was thinking about that while booking my service appointment, but the oil reads 23% remaining so I need to get this done ASAP.
TRUST BUT VERIFY is the thought behind this first go-round.
I use oil testing labs for the equipment we service at work and I also just saved "Blackstone Labs" to my Ram file!
Thank you for the advice!
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Post by Chuck on May 4, 2020 19:32:36 GMT -5
I also have a Ford F-350 dually but 2006 ... it dozen't tell me when the oil needs to be changed, when the fuel filter needs to be
changed, when the anti freeze additive needs to be checked, etc, but my for dealer like Ronc, they know my truck inside an out.
Again I only use a Ford dealer, so they know if any service bulletins have been issued and generally just know my vehicle better
than anyone else. Also like most truck MFG I can stop at any Ford dealer an the have a record from when the truck was built to
the present day, thus no guess they know Again As Ronc stated it may not be the cheapest way to maintain a vehicle, but it
makes sure all the important maintenance events are taken care of at the right time. A diesel truck is not a car and needs
unique care ... Again like Ronc an many others is why I rely on the Ford Dealership network for any services.
I would ask your Dodge dealer the same question, I'm sure they have a network, thus even if your in BFE an break down an your truck goes to a Dodge dealer they can see everything about your truck ....
Safe Travels an Be safe, congratulations on the new truck 
Chuck
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Post by Soleman on May 4, 2020 20:17:55 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck,
I appreciate all your input and will always listen to those that have already traveled the road I'm on. I know RAM has a good network and even though I'll be doing some of my own maintenance in the near future, I'm sure they will have it in their shop enough to keep me up to date with any issues.
Thanks again & safe travels to you too.
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Post by Edd505 on May 5, 2020 10:33:57 GMT -5
Living where I do a dealers not an option. I use a local diesel mechanic to do my work and he knows my truck better than I do. I always get an invoice and it goes in the glove box along with tire warranty etc. Simple to reach in and grab them all if I need something on the road. Guess it's the old fashion way, paper & no computer.
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Post by laknox on May 5, 2020 13:10:20 GMT -5
Don't let Johnr get you down. If you have the space and time, and are physically capable of doing so, changing your oil's not bad at all. You just need about 2x the amount of oil. If you need synthetic, yeah, that can hurt a bit, but if you buy jugs instead of quarts, it makes it a bit cheaper. You'll have to change fuel filters about every other oil change so you'll want to have a gal fuel can to put some diesel in to fill up the new filter. Saves a =lot= of priming! As for tires, there are a lot to choose from and there are some very good ones out there for a whole lot less than the Big Name tires, so shop when you need them. Lyle I'm not trying to get anyone down, just being realistic. It's better to be informed rather than shocked, in my opinion. Just yanking chains a bit. :-) One thing that I also do when towing, is to add DieselKleen in every tank. Put it in every 2nd or 3rd tank when not. I feel that it does make a difference. I'd still love to be able to run 99% biodiesel as I did for several years when a local company was making it. Truck ran noticeably more quiet, got better mileage, fixed a wonky fuel sending unit and smelled like french fries going down the road. :-) Lyle |
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Post by Edd505 on May 5, 2020 20:23:29 GMT -5
Just yanking chains a bit. :-) One thing that I also do when towing, is to add DieselKleen in every tank. Put it in every 2nd or 3rd tank when not. I feel that it does make a difference. I'd still love to be able to run 99% biodiesel as I did for several years when a local company was making it. Truck ran noticeably more quiet, got better mileage, fixed a wonky fuel sending unit and smelled like french fries going down the road. :-) Lyle I do use Diesel Kleene Centane Boost when heading to the big hills. Better mileage on Bio, wonder what their mix was? I had just the opposite, fueled in Wilcox, AZ with Bio and was almost empty by the time I hit Picacho Peak SP. I like the French Fry smell but I would always be hungry.  With the transfer tank if I pull in and see Bio I drive off, never less than a tankful in the truck. I will push further if I know I can get diesel at a good price within range. |
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Post by Soleman on May 6, 2020 7:12:29 GMT -5
That Diesel Kleene-Centane Boost looks like a good product!
The Bio fuel issue is all Greek to me? I'll leave that alone for now.
Oh, the aux transfer tank is on my wish list, that might be a while, I'm tapped out!
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Post by lynnmor on May 6, 2020 10:29:36 GMT -5
Some years ago I got a tankful of fuel that caused my 6.7 Ford diesel to rattle like the old ones, a sure sign of cetane being too low. I have been using Diesel-Kleen ever since.
Bio-diesel in small quantities is helpful as a lubricant for the high pressure fuel pump, in high quantities it is only helpful to lube the wallets of soybean growers.
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Post by laknox on May 6, 2020 10:35:29 GMT -5
Just yanking chains a bit. :-) One thing that I also do when towing, is to add DieselKleen in every tank. Put it in every 2nd or 3rd tank when not. I feel that it does make a difference. I'd still love to be able to run 99% biodiesel as I did for several years when a local company was making it. Truck ran noticeably more quiet, got better mileage, fixed a wonky fuel sending unit and smelled like french fries going down the road. :-) Lyle I do use Diesel Kleene Centane Boost when heading to the big hills. Better mileage on Bio, wonder what their mix was? I had just the opposite, fueled in Wilcox, AZ with Bio and was almost empty by the time I hit Picacho Peak SP. I like the French Fry smell but I would always be hungry. With the transfer tank if I pull in and see Bio I drive off, never less than a tankful in the truck. I will push further if I know I can get diesel at a good price within range. The bio I was running was 99% biodiesel and 1% petro diesel; something to do with fuel taxes at the time. I would run it all the time if it were available and competitively priced. I know Love's runs a biodiesel mix, but not sure what % it is. Too damn expensive, anyway. My brother was researching bio fuel systems 20 years ago and found one that runs straight oil. Was a 2 compartment tank in your bed and you put used veggie oil in that side and it was filtered into the 2nd compartment. From there, it was heated and run straight into the fuel system. Now, this was somewhat like my old JD Model A was, where you started on gas, then switched over to "distallate" after the engine warmed up. You started your truck and ran it for about 5 minutes, then switched to the straight oil. I also saw a story about a couple guys who drove from Prudoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego in a diesel VW Golf and ran straight veggie oil from wherever they cold get it the entire way. Just ran it through a cloth filter right into the tank. :-) Lyle |
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With the transfer tank if I pull in and see Bio I drive off, never less than a tankful in the truck. I will push further if I know I can get diesel at a good price within range.