(Above edited above for length)

CO42, from what you have described of your experience working on your gassers, a fuel filter change is well within your ability.

You need an 1-1/8" six point socket and about 15 minutes. You can search for the procedure, (it has been posted several times) or PM me for the details.

 

It's SUPER easy, do a search. Someone even did a blow by blow with pictures about 6 weeks back....

Never mind here is the one I was thinking of...Filter Pics

 

It's a "no brainer". You need a 30mm socket and the filter. The top of the filter canister screws off via alarge plastic nut on top, hence the 30mm socket. Filter is attached to the top of cannister, R&R the filter and reinstall.

Filters from Genos are $12 bucks. I change mine every other oil change or 15K miles. Been doing that for the last 12 years that I have owned CTD's and never ever had a problem.

I change the air filters every 12K miles.

 

You could save that 3K mile oil and sell it for half price. It's got at least anothe 6K miles left in it.

Just out of curiosity, how many miles do you normally keep a vehicle before replacing it?

 

Normally about 90K. I put 30K + on per year. Working the truck off road in 115 degrees+ everyday in very dusty, rugged mountaneous conditions has always made me careful about clean filters and fluids. If I were in the city, or an RVer I probably would double the mileage intervals. But for my use it just isn't worth it to me to extend the service intervals. Also, its 80 miles to the nearest town and nothing in between, so engine failure is not an option.

 

You could be a complete slacker on maintenance and get that many miles out of the truck. But I completely understand about not wanting to be stranded.

 

Agree the new Dodge is all sand. Our country is very unforgiving if you break down. There's no one to call and cell phones in my neck of the woods don't work.

What clinched it for me was when I had a new water well drilled on the ranch in a very remote area. The location was on the side (8% to 9% grade) of a 10,000 foot desert mountain about half way up. It took us two days to manuver the drill rig up there all off road. My rancher neighbor also owns a drilling company. He uses his trucks much harder than I do. Well, he came up one day in his 03' 2500 4 x 4 pulling a gooseneck (off road) with about 12,000 pounds of drill pipe aboard to park next to the rig. The truck wasn't even breathing hard as he passed me waving. He told me his new Dodges were holding up the best and I should try one. Case closed.

There are an awfull lot of new Dodges in my country which speaks volumes for its apparent durability and reliability. Time will tell. I could care less about silly turn signals mounted on TT mirrors and the numbers game manufacturers like to brag on

 

Man I'm with you. Could care less about all the fluff of heated seats, $1000 dollar option for a radio, fancy badges and bragging rights of DC. I want something that I can depend on. It's ashame you can no longer order a vehicle optioned exactly as you would like it. Instead of having to get these packages. Oh well.

Been driving these things since 92 & we estimate over a million miles. Have never been left stranded. Even when they do start to have a problem it kept running till I could get it fixed.

THey make a good machine. My wife drives Chevies and I can't keep hers out of the shop. ALways been that way. My current truck now has 20K miles and has yet to be in the service dept.