Hi,

I've just bought a very clean 1994 4X4 reg. cab 2500 cummins 5 speed,one owner and only 62K miles.I saw it advertised in auto trader and didn't want to risk loosing it so bought it unseen...what is the real condition still need to be seen!
But today I had a good talk with the previous owner and I've been reassured about many issues.
The man bought it new and used it lightly for carrying around his tools and materials for small scale carpentery work.Truck always slept in heated garage,out from the rustbelt area,oil changed every 2K miles,2 or 3 years old paint as the hood was peeling,not a bit of rust nowhere.One new starter this last summer plus the solenoid fuel shut-off valve..otherwise ,as far he could remember,everything is original stuff ("never gave me trouble").He told me that brakes could be needed to be changed soon altough they where not giving signals of immediate change needed.I've talked about 5th gear nut problem and dowel pin but he had never heard about this so I guess it needs to be done.All in All I should be clear from major repairs but one deatail did not appeared too good :when talking about maintenance,oil type and filters,when I asked what brand of fuel filter he used he couldn't answered clearly..as if he didn't know about the need of changing these also.His answering was its been long he didn't crawl under there but last time here was only few drops of water..like there is a drain valve somewhere to drain water from.My understanding is there is a water separator hook up onto the fuel line but there should be separated fuel filter(s) to the system isn't it?
So this is the only single explanation that did not reassured me to well!Could it be that he ever changed fuel filters? The engine should have been really badly behaving then isn't it?Starving for fuel..

This truck is actually on Rotella 15-40 ,wich correspond to warmer area but I will have it shipped to me up north and then it could very well see temperatures around and close to zero Fduring its transit period...should I have the oil changed for a lighter one before they send it up? or is 15-40 still OK? At what temp am I risking with 15-40? If not taking any risk I'd like to keep this 15-40 as the man told me its brand new oil.

thanks to all, Ron.

 

I wouldnt worry about it. You really cant hurt the injection system on these trucks. Only thing I could see it doing is running badly. And as for the oil, id leave it. Never heard of a problem running 15-40.

Eric

 

Nice find ! The 15-40 will be fine, i run that up until Decemberish then i will switch to 10w-30 for the really cold months.Like you said you will need to tab that kdp asap.You may want to change all the fluids and filters anyways so you know what is where and how long it's been there.

 

WOW! 63K miles... good find!

 

Go to a heavy truck shop , every highway tractor out there runs 15-40 year round , the shops don't stock anything else.

The water drain on the fuel system of your 94 is right on the bottom of the filter itself , when you change the filter , you unscrew the WIF sensor/water drain , and screw it into the new one.

 

Happily surprised to learn that as I was under the impression there was another filter after the water separator.So the previous owner was not in error thinking there was not another filter distinc from the one incorporated to the water sep....Now can someone confirm where is located that filter/water sep. unit on a 94 truck? The PO was mentionning about having to crawl under the truck to get to the water sep...would this be attached to the inside of the driver's side frame rail? If so this must not be so difficult to service?
Also could anyone tell me what kind of warning lights or buzzer or whatever else act ,on 94 models, as warnings related to the fuel system and what they protect?Low fuel pressure and/or water contamination?
thanks,Ronald.

 

The water seperator is on the drivers side of the engine towards the rear, as seen in this picture (compliments of Infidel)



Unless someone has installed a secondary fuel filter somewhere under the truck (which i don't see being a good thing , the lift pump would be forced to pull fuel through it) Then that is your only fuel filter, besides the screen that is in the fuel heater assembly.

The only warnings related to fuel pressure on your 94 are for water in the fuel (WIF), the sensor is in the bottom of the filter, it is incorporated with the water drain. The light is on the dash , beside your wait to start light , and transmission temperature light, there is no audible warning.

I hope this helps.

 

JKM,
thanks this sketch shows very clearly the filter location. Am I right to think the filter location changed on later 2nd gen? From your posted diagram this one happears to be easily reached compared to what I've read about newer ones.....maybe the diagram doesn't represent the full reality of it!

Where are you located in NB? I am on the Gaspé coast..not that far away.
Thanks,Ron.

 

It looks easy, but it's not. It's down behind/under the master cylinder/power booster, and very difficult to reach, from top or bottom.

 

The filters on 2nd gen trucks are all in the same place although a lot of owners installed a fuel filter relocation kit because the stock placement is kind of tight. If you dont have the 4 wheel ABS then filter changes are much easier. With 4 wheel ABS its REAL tight around the filter.

 

The following years of trucks have the filter in the same location, in 1996 they switched to a cartridge type filter , which is even harder to change IMO, then when they went with the 24v, they switched to a different type of cartridge filter , which is a breeze to change , again IMO.

I am just about 2 hours up from the Calais maine / St Stephen border, if your ever in the area definetly give me a ring , i'd like to see a 12v with 5 digits on the odometer