I just bought an 04 Quadcab 2500 automatic that was in like-new shape, with less than 10,000 miles on it. The tag on the valve cover says it's the 325 HP engine. My question has to do with the owners manual. The packet the previous owner gave me contains 3 booklets - one is the 2004 Ram Truck Owners Manual, one is the warranty information, and the 3rd is the Maintenance Logbook. But none of these has ANY information about the Cummins at all. Even the Maintenance Logbook talks about changing the sparkplugs at 30,000 miles and the oil in the 45RFE/545RFE transmission!?

When I bought a Powerstroke a few years ago, Ford provided a separate booklet with all kinds on info on operating the diesel. Doesn't Dodge do the same thing? I need to know when and how to service this thing. Is there any information on the net, or a place I could buy a manual that would tell me what I need to know?

 

Call a local Dodge dealer and see if they have any manuals in stock or see if they can answer your questions.

 

I think the sparkplug service intervials have been extended to 60k miles.... I believe your oil change intervials will be the same as mine which is 7500 miles or 15000 depending on your driving style. Not sure about the other fluids, will have to get the book out.

 

Deserteagle,

Welcome to DTR and congrats on your new truck!

That maintenance log book should have some intervals for the various items you need to do. Mine does. Honestly, I rarely ever look at it now since I am on the forum so much.

Personally, I change the oil every 5k with Shell Rotella T and a new Fleetguard Stratapore oil filter. Lube the tie rod ends.

Every 10K I am replacing my Fuel Filter with a Fleetguard Stratapore.

Every 15K I drain the transmission pan and transfer case and replace with fresh ATF +4 and a new transmission filter purchased from the local dealer.

Also at 15K I replace my front and rear differential fluids with Mobil 1 75w90 gear oil.

Some of my maintenance schedule is probably overkill. You could easily extend your oil change intervals and differential fluids if you wanted.

My book say 7500 miles on oil change under rough conditions and 15,000 on light or no towing conditions. I just prefer a 5k interval.

If you have a question about any particular maintenance item just ask on here. Alot of guys on here know a WHOLE lot more about your truck than the dealers do.

Good Luck and welcome aboard.

 

The factory shop manual also has all that info in it.

You could buy one on ebay or visit http://www.hemitruckclub.com where they have 03, 04, 05, and 06 shop manuals online for free.

FWIW my 2004 owner's manual has the word "diesel" printed on the front cover. The number on the back cover is: 81-326-0428 if that helps any.

 

WHOA! Hold everything! Where are your manners boys? We haven't even said howdie to the newbie yet!

Welcome to DTR.

You will now be returned to your regulaly scheduled thread.

 

Oops....you are to late Geico. I said "welcome to DTR" to him first!

To bad, so sad, you be to slow

 

On the trannies I think flushing is better than drain. Draining doesn't remove the oil still in the system. Over 1/2 the old tranny fluid remains in the tranny
if you simply drain it. I'm not a mechanic or anything but there are lots of posts on this. Do a search.

 

Thanks to all for the replies. I finally got in to a Dodge dealer and after checking with the service department they are of the opinion that the manuals provided with my truck are actually for a Dodge 1500 series. They have ordered the correct manuals for my 2500 CTD.

I will be reading here and asking questions, but I do want the proper manuals as a starting reference. Especially since I've still got over 6 years of warranty left.

 

Speaking of extending drain intervals. I've got 95,500 miles on my front axle fluid and it's still a nice golden brown. I've got 20k on my transfer case and it's the same color red as when I put it in. I let my tranny fluid go to about 30-40k miles. Even then it's still nice and red and doing it's job. My rear end fluid has been changed once in 95,500 miles. It needs to be changed again but I ain't to worried. The limited slip is still just as tight as the day I got it, the tranny shifts just as good, the transfer case goes in and out of 4wd nice and smooth, and nothing has broken on those parts. Just food for thought.

 

I know it's early in your CTD career but Cummins uses spockplug, not sparkplugs. Learned this in another thread albiet slowly I was informed. You will need one for each valve and 2 for each injector.

Have fun with your new truck! Set aside a trust fund for your future projects though as it is very addictive.

L8r,..........dogger