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hidden costs of diesel

Old Apr 20, 2006 | 10:47 AM
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hidden costs of diesel

what would they be?
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 10:48 AM
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for the most part, if something breaks on the engine, it's more expensive to fix.
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 11:14 AM
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what about things like oil, filters, belts, standard maintentance?
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 11:18 AM
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From: Cummins Technical Center, IN
More expensive oil changes and more expensive filters.

Engine parts are a lot more expensive (but much less likely to be needed).

Belts are a wash-- serpentines are expensive in both cases.

The Cummins is pretty low maintenance: Keep clean oil in it and clean fuel, and it's basically maintenance free. It's all the sensors and electronic crap that are more likely to need attention.



As for "hidden" costs, there's the cost of all the horsepower you keep finding and wanting more of.
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 11:29 AM
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i never even think of fuel filters on my cars

how often for a fuel filter on diesel truck like this?
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 11:40 AM
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I had an argument over the difference between an oil change on a car and my truck. I gave them the fact that it uses extra oil.. But the labour was an extra $20-30. Their reply to me was that the diesel was harder to do. Once I took then and showed them where the filter was located and the easy access it had on my truck, then compared it to another one of their cars in the bay and it's more then tighter then normal access, The guy agreed with me and only charged the regular $20.00 labour and no tthe 40-50 they usually charge.
Along those lines they charge more if you get your drive train fluids changed also, due to it being a diesel....
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by tog
i never even think of fuel filters on my cars

how often for a fuel filter on diesel truck like this?
I do mine every other oil change (oil at 5k so fuel filter at 10k).
Probably overkill, but cheap insurance.

Just don't have the Dealership do it, ask them what they charge, then price a filter at a Cummins distributor and you'll see why.


phox
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 08:45 PM
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+1 what Phox said.

If there is a time that you ever need to think about the fuel filter and you're not changing it for good measure; its probably dark, raining and not close to the house/garage.

Diesel fuel storage tanks can harbor more "chunkies and biologics" than the typical gasoline storage tank.
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 05:35 AM
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Originally Posted by phox_mulder
I do mine every other oil change (oil at 5k so fuel filter at 10k).
Probably overkill, but cheap insurance.

phox
Bull dung. Typical 1960's thinking. Anybody who is progressive with maintenance does oil sampling.
Heck our BMW 325 has an oil change interval of around 20k. Onboard monitors sample the level and quality of the oil every day. The days of 5k oil changes are long gone.
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 06:27 AM
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I change oil @ 10K, Fuel Filters @ 20K unless fuel pressure starts acting flakey.
But then I don't tow too much, and rarely sit in traffic.
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 06:46 AM
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I change mine every 4,000, fuel filter every other oil change.

I used to change it at higher intervals, but I push more fuel now than I did back then.
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 09:02 AM
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Originally Posted by rammtuff
Bull dung. Typical 1960's thinking. Anybody who is progressive with maintenance does oil sampling.
Heck our BMW 325 has an oil change interval of around 20k. Onboard monitors sample the level and quality of the oil every day. The days of 5k oil changes are long gone.
I have an hour meter and change oil and filter every 200hrs. Sometimes I only have 1500 miles in that 200 hour interval and sometimes I have over 5000. So as far as I'm concerned, mileage is NOT the way to determine when to change oil.

MY way is the right way, so 'bull dung' yerself!

It's too early for this, I need more .

chaikwa.
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 10:19 AM
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I just got the results back from my 1st. oil sampling (12000 mi. Valvoline premium blue extreme) and it looks like 15,000-16,000 mi. between changes is about right for me. When I hear people changing on a 1970s gasser schedule I really don't get it. Hell the manual states 7,500-15,000 between changes on dino oil. If the 5.9 is used in an over the road Freightliner, Cummins feels safe with 20,000 between changes. I don't want to give the oil companies (or anybody else) any more money than I need to.
Joe
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Old Apr 22, 2006 | 11:36 AM
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"The days of 5k oil changes are long gone."

No, they're coming back from some of the lame recomendations that manufacturers have made. Due to demand for less maintenance some makers extended oil change intervals far enough out to end up with a lot of sludged engines, including 'ultra reliable Toyota and Lexus'. Besides, the typical UOA (used oil analysis) doesn't detect sludging very well, as some with good UOAs have ended up with sludged engines.

For warranty do whatever is recommended by the maker.
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