02Texas_Rattle

I'm a 6'5 220lb weenie!

I just picked up a 2002 Dodge 2500 CTD 4x4, Dana 70 LSD rear, 60 front, long bed, 47RE....25K miles.....And I'm scared of it!!!!!!

It is clean as a whistle and the guy even kept the little
sticker when it was time toget the oil changed.....(in 500m)
There isn't a sign of towing since the receiver isn't too bashed up nor the trailer lights.

Interior is perfect, exterior, maybe a couple of door dings, nothing more...

Cosmetically I don't care, Engine/Tranny I care a lot

Trany fluid is pink, not new, but def. not burned
Engine oil looks good, not too dark, looks like it was changed maybe 3-5K ago.......


What do you guys and gals recommend me do first...
(not in performace mods) :O) but

oil, trany, rear fluid swaps, fuel filters, etc.

I'm coming from a gasser 8.1L Chevy and this diesel is
all new.....I will spend a lot of time reading the owner's manual tonight...

Oil changes - Can I still go to Jiffy Lube if I continue to watch them like a hawk? Do I dare go get my 3 GAL of Rotella-T and filter and just have them drain and refill?

Do I DARE go to the Dealer?



Thanks for ALL of your answers and help.

Patrick

pro puller

Never go to the dealer for anything to do with the engine always look for a cummins shop you will get the parts for half of what dodge gets for them.If i were you i would change the engine oil,use rotella or a quality synthetic, oil filter,use Fleetguard,change the fuel filter,fleetguard as well.Next i would change the tranny fluid & filter,use mopar type fluid rated for the chrysler trans.You can change your axles if you want but with that few miles the lube will look like new,unless the previous owner went 4 wheeling in the water alot.If you do change the axle lube make sure you add the small bottle of limited slip differential additive in the rear axle if it is a limited slip.The best source of information is this web sight & the turbo diesel register be careful because this can become addictive especialy when you start bombing.Check out my sig i think i have a problem.Good luck.

Kurt

DPG

Hey Patrick, welcome to the family!

Definately change the oil and filter. Be careful of the filter you use, filters like FRAM are not built to take the oil pressures of our CTD's , and they tend to have the paper filter elements sucked into the engine with very negative results. I wouldn't recommend Jiffy Lube, or any quick-change places. They generally don't know anything about diesels, and can do some real damage through their ignorance. Make sure that you use an acceptable grade of oil, I use 15W40 synthetic and Fleetgard Stratapore filters. There are lots of threads here that deal with oil and filters, just do a search.

I would also change the fuel filter, just to be safe. With only 25k miles I would't worry about the diff's and tranny for another 25K or so.

If there is a reputable dealer in your area, you can certainly use them. I'm not very mechanically inclined, but I've learned to do most of my own preventative maintenance just because I like knowing for sure how it was done, and also it saves quite a bit of money. I have a good friend who owns and operates a gasser/diesel repair shop, so I have a good resource person when I get stuck on something.

I hope that this helps, I'm sure that others will be responding as well with their ideas.

DeWain

Shovelhead

You'll find more info here on this site, than in a hundred owner's manuals.

Welcome,......Don't be skeeeered.

4x4

!!!!!!You have a problem if the tranny fluid looks like Pepto-Bismol!!!!!!

It meens that it has had a lot of water in it.
You better get it checked out if it does look like pepto.

4x4

tankeryanker

Ok
What is limited slip differential additive? What is it's purpose,what brand,is it neccesary with Amsoil syn? I changed my engine,tranny, tranfer case,& rear ends all over to Amsoil 1,000 miles ago. I do have limited slip.

Shovelhead

Limited slip differential additive is an additional supplement that needs to be dumped in to the posi fluid when refilling with a standard, ie. Non-posi labeled, fluid.
The additive lets the fluid do the cooling, and allows the clutch plates to smoothly slip to prevent the posi clutches from chattering on low speed turns.

If you use AMSOIL when refilling it is not needed as AMSOIL has a Friction Modifyer already in it.

tankeryanker

Thanks Shovelhead for the reply on the limited slip additive. Thought maybe I missed something when I bought all the oil from my Amsoil guy.

02Texas_Rattle

I just called My local Houston Cummins dealer,
$68 for an oil change and a Fleetguard filter.....
Exxon/Valv oil......Am I nuts for not taking the Rotella T 15w40
with me?

In my mind that is a bargain for every 7.5-10K
worth of oil change!

Thoughts?

Dr. Evil

Thoughts?

This is just my opinion, I would change my oil a bit sooner than 10k. Why dont you change it yourself? It only takes like a half hour and once you have done it a couple of times you wont spill a drop.....

Rotella T is a good oil - There are several other good choices. I personally prefer Delo 400, or Mobile Delvac 1300 neither gives the Rotella stink after an oil change.

scuzman00

Welcome Rattle!!!!

The only real thing you need to watch out for with this truck is to WATCH THE FUEL PRESSURE!!!

The lift pump is notorious for dying a short lived life which in turn can wreak total destruction on the injector pump (can you say expensive???). Nice thing about Cummins is that they will, after some gentle nudging, replace both pumps up to 100K miles. The 1st mod should be a fuel pressure gauge so you can feel comfy that the lift pump is doing its job.

These trucks are workhorses and, after a little time well spent in enjoying it, you will be totally in love with the CTD!!!!

Enjoy your new baby,

Gary

Dr. Evil

[quote author=scuzman00 link=board=4;threadid=23172;start=0#msg217551 date=1070469715]
Nice thing about Cummins is that they will, after some gentle nudging, replace both pumps up to 100K miles. [/b]
[/quote]

Gary, I would like to know just how you get CUMMINS to replace either of your pumps??? From everything I know and have read the only involvement Cummins has is to supply the engine. DC takes care of any/all warranty issues.

How do you get warranty from Cummins??