I am purchasing a 02 cummins auto with low mileage. What besides FASS should I replace to keep this truck from more costly repairs. I have found the preventative maintenance is cheaper than repairs. I know somethings are better left to wear out before changing, however others like ruining a vp44 are not. What else say ye. Thanks

 

Add a fuel pressure gauge to keep an eye on the lift pump to keep from killing that VP44. I also added a trans temp gauge. I do alot of towing.

 

If you do the FASS...with fliters, the FP gauge is nice, but kind of unnecessary! you won't be able to pull pressure down to the danger level...even at 700 HP!

Get a DSS to protect your Steering box/linkage and help the truck track much better. Great add on! I did mine at 29,000 miles as PM, and was surprised to notice a big difference!
http://www.solidsteel.biz/index.htm

They also make replacement Track bars and bracket (if you got a 4x4) which solves another weak design problem on the 02's.

I would re-route your oil puke bottle, mounted on the front of the radiator. They tend to spill covering the radiator with crude. Most do away with the bottle and you can run a3/4" tubing straight down or run back behind the tranny pan!

Lastly, I would run Amsoil synthetic ATF in the stock tranny (and the transfer case). Cheap insurance against high fluid temps...especially if towing or adding HP. Amsoil makes an AFT+4 compatible fluid that does a good job of keeping tranny cool. Some think it's overkill but I consider it good PM for a potentially weak link in the drive train chain.

02's are great...best of the second gens...IMO. Enjoy!

RJ

 

.....good quality batteries ( I prefer the spiral wound type as they don't leak). You'd be surprised how many "scarred" fenders I see from battery acid damage.

 

Your LP & VP are fuel lubricated & cooled and there's little lubrication in diesel fuel. A fuel treatment like Power Service, Lucas, Stanadyne, Howes and others provide the extra lubrication.
Since it costs just as much to keep a fuel tank full as it does to keep it half full, go with keeping it topped off to let the hot return fuel cool off a little before going through the pumps again.

 

I think helping fuel lubricity is the best thing you can do for a VP truck.

Sad to say, though-- there are simply no absolutes in this game. THere's nothing you can do that will completely bulletproof your truck. All the preceding suggestions are goods ideas, but they are NOT guarantees.

Personally, I'd upgrade the fuel delivery (plumbing/pumping), beef up the weak parts (front end of 4x4s), and enhance all your fluids with synthetic conversion and/or better filtration.


JMO