I've seen several posts the past few days, weeks, and months about all kinds of issues relating to our engines and thought this may be a good topic for you diesel "legacies" to post some tips for us new CTD owners.

I realize this is a broad topic, and if it's in a FAQ somewhere, I apologize (I'll delete the thread if so). Just making sure I don't kill my truck before I hit the 2000 mile mark .

To start it off, these are some things I've read in the past few days...

1) Don't let the truck idle for over 10 minutes
2) Let the truck idle for 1-4 minutes after driving (depending on load) to cool the turbo
3) Drain the resevoir (forgot the name - the little yellow valve in the engine bay) every 8-10 fillups
4) The truck doesn't warm up when idling (is this one really true?).

Thanks...

 

Opinions on all this and more, are like noses, everyone has one.

Here is mine. Just drive it and enjoy it. You wouldn't let any motor idle for hours on end if you could avoid it. I'm a contractor and my motors idle for a few hours each day and we still get 300 to 400K out of one before it needs any work.

As far as turbo cool down goes. If you tow, let it cool a bit. If it's just normal driving just use it like any other vehicle. What are you going to do, sit in the truck for turbo cool down every time you go somewhere?????? Just think how old that will get. Read sentence 3 again. Just drive it!!!!
Yea, its a good idea to drain an ounce or so out of the fuel filter resevoir every 10th or 20th fill up. I never do though. I drain it every oil change and change it every other oil change. Wait till you get all the opinions on oil changes and types to use. Whole nother subject. Yikes, thats a scary one too.

Yes, they don't warm up much when idling, especially when it's winter. If it's cold where you live, plug it in. Starts easier and you get heat pretty quick. I never plug any of my trucks in till it gets down around freezing. Have never had a starting problem.

Otherwise, it's just another truck. Drive it and enjoy it. No breast feeding, no diaper change. It will never say thank you for anything. Just have fun. You will most likely be very happy with it.

 

mymaur

I like your responses. Your answers seem to be what a diesel is all about. I talked to a guy the other day buying fuel next to me in his 2nd gen DRW work truck. He said he doesn't do the cool down thing and thought I was a little strange being concerned about it.

This being my first diesel, I tend to overreact as well. I'm not hauling anything right now and maybe do 30 seconds unless driven hard.

Thanks
Pete

 

Thanks Mymaur,

It's actually a nice change of pace to hear "the other side of the story" on these engines. Several family members of mine currently own 2nd Gen CTD's and NONE of them do anything that I've heard about here (cool down, idle, etc..), but have run well over 250K on their trucks. I'm just trying to make sure mine does the same!

Thanks for the replies.

 

I am certainly not an expert on this, but my impression when I took delivery and from reading the section in the owners manual on this is that the cool down thing is a new thing with the 600/325 engine.

jr

 

99% sure it's in my 2002 manual.


phox

 

The turbo cool down is a good idea when towing or hauling a REAL heavy load. But most people have a good cool down period during the drive down their road from the highway. I mean come on, these things aren't tractor trailers. We seldom go from the highway into a truck stop after pulling an 80K lb rig 500 miles.

THis forum is an outstanding place to absorb information an exchange experiences. But it can also get people nervous with all the talk about oil changes, cool downs, synthetics, mileage. Geeeez, a guy could go blind if you believe all this stuff..

Like I said, just enjoy it. THey are great machines.

 

I would think it's a universal issue with the CTD's since they're all turbocharged. Most turbocharged gas engines recommend a cool down period depending on load the engine is under - I just didn't know this applied to the Cummins as well.

 

if you dont let the turbo cool before shut down
(dependent on load, egt's, oil quality,etc)

you WILL be replacing it sooner or later

on bombed trucks it will be sooner
on stockers not hauling anything it will be later

 

For what it is worth from my Owner’s Manual, page 215

"STOPPING THE ENGINE
"Idle the engine a few minutes before routine shutdown. After full load operation, idle the engine 3 to 5 minutes before shutting it down. This idle period will allow the lubricating oil and coolant to darry excess heat away from the combustion chamber, bearings, internal components, and turbocharger. This is especailly important for turbocharged, charged air cooled engines, like your Turbo Ram."

The manual than provides a chart which recommneds an idle time of from one to five minutes depending on load and turbo temp.

jr

 

. . . and if you don't have an EGT gauge, you're only guessing as to when you've reached a "safe" temp. I had gauges on my PSD (and plan to put them on my CTD) and sometimes it surprised me how long it would take to get to 300deg.

Neil

 

I agree Neil. Both on my PSD, and now this truck, I was, and am, surprised at how long it takes my gauge to get down to 300*, especially now with the warmer weather. Usually at LEAST 1-1.5 minutes, and that's after cruising slowing down the road in my condo development.

 

Makes you wonder how many TDI and Saab owners replace thier turbo's if they keep their new vehicles more than 4-5 years. Anyone ever see one with an EGT gauge?

 

Actually it's in the 03 manual also

 

I use to be a heavy equip. operator after working 8-12 hrs a day we let the engines in the tractors cool down for about 5 min. it is good to let them cool down after working them hard, digging or pushing dirt all day long. Boss man liked it because less expense out of his pocket for broke parts. So its up to you how you want your truck to last work it hard enjoy it, run the snot out of it and feed it right and it will last a long time. IT"S A DIESEL MOTOR with big beefy parts inside.

Sittenbull