Hi all. I'm new here and ready to reveal myself, so to speak. I've been lurking for a couple of months, trying to absorb a little knowledge before I speak and prove how little I know.

Anyhow, I bought a used 2WD 2500 QC SB Laramie 5.9HO NV5600 with 100,000 miles on it. BTW, I absolutely love this truck. Right after I bought it I changed the oil and oil filter as well as the air filter. Just for a larf I used a drop in K&N air filter. That was about 2000 miles ago. Today, being the **** guy I am and after hearing some bad things about K&N, I checked everything and sure enough I had a big blob of soot opposite the big pipe in the air filter housing and fine dust on the inside of the big 'O' pipe. As well, the leading edges of the impeller fins looked a little chewed and the impeller was sooty.

I doubt all this happened in 2000 miles so I'm not blaming it on the K&N but I'm wondering if this is normal for an HO CTD with 100,000 miles + or is something seriously messed up with my truck? I know the guy who owned it before me drove it between here and Brownsville, TX and he must have driven all back roads because there was sand all over everything but the glove box was loaded with maintenance receipts and it does feel absolutely great and it's been flawless for the 3 months I've owned it.

I've owned over a dozen vehicles in 25 years of driving but this is my first turbo diesel and there's no way I'm ever going back but if the folks who know something about what I've described could chime in, I'd be really appreciative.

Thanks!

 

Welcome!!

I have ran the K&N in performance/turbo'd cars and had the same results!! The K&N is good on a normally aspirated car-----all Turbo Vehicles should go with a non-oiled filter element. Impellar Fins looking chewed is a bad thing! Something has hit the Fins to cause them to look like that! It very well could have been a larger piece of dirt that got through the larger holes in the K&N and dinged it up but I would bet otherwise. Clean everything up very well in the Intake and if you have the time check the Hot and Cold sides of hte intercooler piping. All of these areas could be filled with debris. Good Luck and glad to hear that you are loving the Dodge/Cummins!

 

ThankS! Glad to be here. First, I have to admit to being a Dodge driver for almost my entire adult life. My only flirtation with another manufacturer was my 95 VW Jetta and I traded that in 97 on my first Dakota. I sold my second Dakota on a Friday in late September and bought my Ram on Saturday. I'm sure I was meant to have it.

Another oddity I found with the Ram was the NV5600. After I got it home I checked all the fluid levels and found I couldn't feel oil level with my finger. No biggy, I went to my local DOdge dealer and bought some oil and chnaged it. Long story short, it kept blowing the rear seal out and I ended up having to LocTite it in. It hasn't budged since.

Just something else I'm wrapping my head around. That tranny looks like a brick s@#t house. It shifts a bit crunchy when it's cold but once it warms up it's surprisingly smooth. I can't wait for next summer so I an tow something big and roomy . I'm babbling.

 

Well come to group and congrats on your Ram. You should go to the user CP and fill out your signature. You told us all about your truck, except you didn't tell us what year it is. User CP will have that and post it to every post. That way folks on here will know what you have and can reply intelligently, at least some can! LOL!