Got My First Oil Change Yesterday at the Dealership

[Topzide]

I just spent last two weeks down with my back and found out last week need surgery on my left foot, that I put off until Fall, so choice on possibly not doing my own maintenance is becoming a real consideration.

Wiredawg - I feel you on the back and foot issues! I've got 3 levels fused in lower back, 1 level in neck, tears in both knees and failing hips! Knees and hips do to back surgery corrections. Still do maintenance, just takes longer! Planning makes the difference. Will continue to do the work for as long as I'm able to. Just like to know the work is to my standards. DW doesn't understand the maintenance, But have had many a vehicle go over 200k and would like truck to go over 500k and be last truck I purchase unless my luck shines bright! Either way you have the maintenance done, just make sure it's done! Makes such a big difference in life span of these trucks! Ladies and Gentlemen, Enjoy Your Trucks!
Forgot to ask, how many out there keep log book of work done and fuel used? Maybe I have OCD with my truck! LOL!

 

[Wiredawg]

Wiredawg - I feel you on the back and foot issues! I've got 3 levels fused in lower back, 1 level in neck, tears in both knees and failing hips! Knees and hips do to back surgery corrections. Still do maintenance, just takes longer! Planning makes the difference. Will continue to do the work for as long as I'm able to. Just like to know the work is to my standards. DW doesn't understand the maintenance, But have had many a vehicle go over 200k and would like truck to go over 500k and be last truck I purchase unless my luck shines bright! Either way you have the maintenance done, just make sure it's done! Makes such a big difference in life span of these trucks! Ladies and Gentlemen, Enjoy Your Trucks!
Forgot to ask, how many out there keep log book of work done and fuel used? Maybe I have OCD with my truck! LOL!

I keep a log! Log every tank of fuel, all maint performed, and when fluids added. I keep a binder for each vehicle with receipts for fluids, filters, and accessories. Makes huge difference in sales price with this kind of documenation.

I'm sure there's lots of folks out there who do it too.

Cheers, Ron

 

[nukegm]

I keep a log! Log every tank of fuel, all maint performed, and when fluids added. I keep a binder for each vehicle with receipts for fluids, filters, and accessories. Makes huge difference in sales price with this kind of documenation.

I'm sure there's lots of folks out there who do it too.

Cheers, Ron

comrade ron - keeping a log is a great idea. more people should do that. it only takes a few seconds. i have one in my console. sadly , many people treat their vehicles like a rolling garbage can. my best buddy works at a dealer. he sends me photos of the exceptionally filthy vehicles. its amazing. as an aside - take care of yourself. stay away from the dr. if you can ! cheers sir.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

My question is, did they actually use the oem filter???
Every dealer I've seen doing an oil change that cheap, used a junk $2 bulk filter.
If they used the oem mopar/fleetguard filter then you got a pretty good deal, oil hardly matters, I'm sure they used bulk oil but that is fine.

 

[AH64ID]

My question is, did they actually use the oem filter???
Every dealer I've seen doing an oil change that cheap, used a junk $2 bulk filter.
If they used the oem mopar/fleetguard filter then you got a pretty good deal, oil hardly matters, I'm sure they used bulk oil but that is fine.

The OEM filter is a bulk filter. From what I gather it's built by up to 3 different companies, but it's a LF3972 and has the second lowest ratings of any filter I've found for these motors. The only worse filter is the Donaldson P558615.

I wouldn't call the OEM filter junk, but it's nothing fantastic.

 

[Jim W]

I too keep a log going back 14 years on for my tuck. My fuel cost is $0.23/mile and the maintenance cost is $0.12/mile for a total cost of $0.35 a mile. My gas trucks were pretty much the same cost per mile, that is why I laugh when ever someone says a diesel truck cost more to operate.

My wife's VW TDI has log from the first day we purchased the car also. Her fuel cost is $0.09/mile and the maintenance is $0.10/mile, total cost is $0.19 a mile. On a side not all of her car's maintenance is done by the local VW dealer.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

The OEM filter is a bulk filter. From what I gather it's built by up to 3 different companies, but it's a LF3972 and has the second lowest ratings of any filter I've found for these motors. The only worse filter is the Donaldson P558615.

I wouldn't call the OEM filter junk, but it's nothing fantastic.

It's not a crappy parts store chepo chinese built junk filter though, it is produced by fleetguard.
It is rated and approved by Cummins for the 15K extended service interval called for by FCA.
Those cheap china $2 filters are great for places that want you to change your oil every 3K miles, but I wouldn't even trust them that much.

 

[Tuesdak]

I too keep a log going back 14 years on for my tuck. My fuel cost is $0.23/mile and the maintenance cost is $0.12/mile for a total cost of $0.35 a mile. My gas trucks were pretty much the same cost per mile, that is why I laugh when ever someone says a diesel truck cost more to operate.

My wife's VW TDI has log from the first day we purchased the car also. Her fuel cost is $0.09/mile and the maintenance is $0.10/mile, total cost is $0.19 a mile. On a side not all of her car's maintenance is done by the local VW dealer.

Have you figured the increased purchase cost ~$11,000.00 for the Cummins diesel? Just wondering how many miles, if any, there is a break even point for the increased upfront cost in your numbers. How much trailer towing for the gas and diesel rigs? Lastly any major expensive repairs like an injector set? Resale value is also fair game.

 

[SSchang]

The option price for the standard Cummins is $9100. The Cummins will get you ~$7000 more than gas at trade in time based on my dealer, KBB, and NADA. So the diesel will cost about $2100 more than gas. For me, the engine brake alone is worth that. It depends how you use your truck, and how long you will keep it. I trade at about 75,000 miles, so it's still under the 100,000 mile warranty therefore I've never encountered an engine or emission system problem that I had to pay for. In fact, I think I've had a few reprogram recalls (especially with my 2008), a water pump recall on my current 2020, and a DPF recall on my 2015. All recalls, never had an engine or emissions problem. This is my 5th Ram /Cummins - 2004, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2020.

 

[Tuesdak]

@SSchang That's been good advice for years: trade a pickup before the warranty is done. Sadly the gas engines only get a like a 60K warranty now. The resale on 4X4 vs. 2WD is also a big number that can be worth more the the initial 4X4 option cost. Except for recent events raising resale value crazy high it's all a sunk cost, loss.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

@SSchang That's been good advice for years: trade a pickup before the warranty is done. Sadly the gas engines only get a like a 60K warranty now. The resale on 4X4 vs. 2WD is also a big number that can be worth more the the initial 4X4 option cost. Except for recent events raising resale value crazy high it's all a sunk cost, loss.

I'd be trading trucks every year or less!
I have to do the alternative, keep my truck and use it until it is used up.
What's a 6 year old 2WD 2500 CTD with 580k miles worth???

 

[Tuesdak]

What's a 6 year old 2WD 2500 CTD with 580k miles worth???

More than a Ford or GM... rare to see them with over 250K on the ads... I see stupid high miles with stupid high prices for Cummins pickups on the ads all the time and have for years.

This said where do you break even on a diesel? What's your CPM and TCO look like? (We hauled RV's and then auto parts in the past doing like 550 miles a day. Due to 2008 crash and Great Depression V2.0 lacking loads: only 88K one year on a new pickup and was insanity on a GM 6.5TD...)

 

[Cummins12V98]

"What's a 6 year old 2WD 2500 CTD with 580k miles worth???"

Probably more than most would think.

 

[Jim W]

Have you figured the increased purchase cost ~$11,000.00 for the Cummins diesel? Just wondering how many miles, if any, there is a break even point for the increased upfront cost in your numbers. How much trailer towing for the gas and diesel rigs? Lastly any major expensive repairs like an injector set? Resale value is also fair game.

Will when I purchased my 2008, I think the diesel engine option was a little over $6,000. The truck was purchased for $49,060.00 with no trade in. I sold my 2001, Chevy 2500HD, 6.0L gas truck for $11,000. This was the trade in value from the Dodge dealer, so, my cost for the Dodge Mega Cab was really only $38,000.

The truck was mainly purchased for towing my 5th wheel trailers, with all three trailers being towed for a combination of 53,000 miles over this time period. My most major repairs was done to the front end having the ball joints and tie rods replaced along with front wheel bearings.

The maintenance cost also include extra tires since I run summer tires for towing and winter tires, which are replaced either on age or mileage which ever is comes first.

I keep logs for all of my vehicles and even my trailers so, I do know what the actual cost are for each vehicle/trailer that I have owned.

 

[monovasia]

For me.... there is something about running them forever, when I bought my 2012 2500 Ram/Cummins I was 50, I looked at my wife and said, “ this is the last truck I will ever buy” . I still feel that way... 106000 miles later I expect to have her well past 500 k...
With respect to holding value, pre def trucks command big premiums... my sticker was 51 k with the $7100 Cummins option... to replace her would run me almost 80k +...

I keep her up, am anxiety driven about maintenance... and cosmetics... smile every time she turns over

 

[Wiredawg]

I'm impressed with all the cost calculations... I just track use, maintenance, and fuel MPG.

I always justified the cost of ownership of Cummins Rams for their performance pulling big trailers. Not going to go too for in this thread, but starting to plan installing 285 70R 19.5s on the 5500 and making it a BIG play toy. I still am amused how the truck market is driven by big HP/TQ numbers, when folks with stock lower tuned trucks pull heavy and get good fuel mileage.

Anhoo, this is an interesting thread for sure.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Learjet]

Just did my 7th oil change and 4th fuel filter change all by myself Easier every time...except the gasket came off the old oil filter when I removed it and I have no idea where it went. Inspected the mounting base with a mirror and flashlight...wasn't there and couldn't find where it dropped....who knows The worse part about the whole deal is I went a year on the oil and only put 1,900 miles on it That will change this year...planning a 4,200 mile road trip this summer.

 

[Topzide]

Since owning my current truck, I kick myself for not eating canned beans to have been able to swing a Cummins 2500 when I bought my first Ram on Aug 1st 2000! It was a 5.9 but sadly a gasser which I still own with just over 105k. Have wanted a Cummins Ram for awhile! Ridden in many gas and diesel trucks over the years and have always been drawn back to the Dodge/Ram trucks! Glad to see that I'm not the only one who goes a bit overboard about up keep. Still trying to convince the DW that we need to swing a 5th wheel to enjoy the country while we can! Even if we don't, having the 3500 has made any and all trips much more comfortable on my back! She was to sure about needed that much of a truck but when you get a deal that is about the same amount you'd be spending to replace the other for dependability issues, why wouldn't you! Love these TRUCKS!!!!!

 

[AnonEd]

"What's a 6 year old 2WD 2500 CTD with 580k miles worth???"

I bet with so few cold starts and a knowledgable owner (I would pay extra for both) it's $45K or better. If I guessed equipment and condition right, even KBB admits $40k+.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

"What's a 6 year old 2WD 2500 CTD with 580k miles worth???"

I bet with so few cold starts and a knowledgable owner (I would pay extra for both) it's $45K or better. If I guessed equipment and condition right, even KBB admits $40k+.

SOLD!!!

When can I expect the check?

Heck, I'll even deliver it for free!