Jack Evers

I just registered this morning. Bought a 2003 Dodge 2500 Cummins last week. Will use for general transportation and to pull my race car. Borrowed a friends 1996 Dodge Cummins to pull my car to Carlsbad, CA last weekend and was so impressed that I had to have my own. Real happy to find this forum.

barracuda

welcome, you'll enjoy this site alot, great info...when u get a chance, update your "signature" a bit..auto, HO, 4x4 etc...that way when your ready to make it perform more like your race car we can assist you ;D ;D
good luck w/ your new truck!

Jack Evers

Thanks for the reply, Barracuda. First question, I bought this truck used (13,900 miles) and got very little information on it from the dealer. Not even an owners manual. How do I identify the "regular" 24 valve engine from the "H/O"? Thanks in advance.

Jack Evers

Second question for you guys. Can I get lub oil brand and type recommendations. The trucks got 14,000 miles on it and I want to schedule an oil change and filter this week. Anything else I should do?

wannadiesel

Any good diesel oil is fine, Mobil Delvac 1300 super, Chevron Delo 400, and Shell Rotella T are all good conventional oils. If you want to go synthetic there are synthetic versions of each. As far as what else to do, I'd change the fuel filter since you don't know where it's been.

Shovelhead

Welcome to the DTR family Jack, ;D

Search out your closest Cummins parts house here:
http://www.cummins.com/service_locator/index2.cfm
You find the filters waaaaay cheaper from Cummins. (about 1/3 the dealer price for the same filter)

As for oil, it's a wide open discussion on which brand is best, including dino vs synthetic. :
Just make sure whatever oil you choose is rated specificly for a diesel engine. It does make a big difference.

Ed

Jack Evers

[quote author=Jack Evers link=board=20;threadid=17910;start=0#msg167611 date=1059923404]
Thanks for the reply, Barracuda. First question, I bought this truck used (13,900 miles) and got very little information on it from the dealer. Not even an owners manual. How do I identify the "regular" 24 valve engine from the "H/O"? Thanks in advance.
[/quote]

I answered my own question. Tag says ISB 250 so it's the "regular" engine, not the H/O.

Jack Evers

[quote author=Shovelhead link=board=20;threadid=17910;start=0#msg167646 date=1059933523]
Welcome to the DTR family Jack, ;D

Search out your closest Cummins parts house here:
http://www.cummins.com/service_locator/index2.cfm
You find the filters waaaaay cheaper from Cummins. (about 1/3 the dealer price for the same filter)

As for oil, it's a wide open discussion on which brand is best, including dino vs synthetic. :
Just make sure whatever oil you choose is rated specificly for a diesel engine. It does make a big difference.

Ed
[/quote]

Thank you, Ed. I'd like to stock up on oil & fuel filters. What should I ask for?

PADZZ

Is it an auto, 5 spd, or 6 spd?

Jack Evers

It' an automatic w/electronic transfer case switch

Shovelhead

This is probably one of the easiest ways to get the filters you need (If using stock air box)
Geno'sGarage.com 4-2-1 kit.
They carry lots of parts, not just filters, for the Dodge trucks.
I've bought from them several times.

These part #s should be good at Cummins also.
Oil Filter LF-16035
Fuel Filter FS-19579

Ed