Normal duty/ severe service 2022 ram 3500 ho aisin

[NIsaacs]

Sure do, but ATF +4 isn't your daddy's ATF fluid.

Hydraulics are hard on oil/fluid. Tractors and industrial equipment use full oil coolers for a reason.

How many miles do you run your Dodge/Rams? My trucks are old and high miles, yet I would head for New York loaded or empty with them.

Why the severe service for a t-case? In 2hi they do nothing, just a glorified carrier bearing.

I really am not a pilgrim. Just an aware owner/operator of all types of equipment.

 

[AH64ID]

Yes hydraulics are hard on fluids, but you have to consider the fluid as well. Hydraulic pumps don’t have a lockup converter and are always pumping, unlike a modern automatic transmission running a modern fluid. This is why I prefer to change the PS fluid more often, but the trans isn’t a concern.

Currently at 15K, but planning to add many tens of thousands more. Not sure that’s really relevant to a transmission I don’t own, but wouldn’t hesitate to run that transmission on the OEM intervals. I do run more hours with an unlocked torque converter than most do too, and I’m still not concerned.

A transfer case still has bearings and generates heat in 2 Hi, why wouldn’t you service it? Low volume of fluid that isn’t cooled or filtered.

Not trying to call you a pilgrim, lol, but pointing out that even thou things may be similar they don’t all require the same level of maintenance. A tractor hydraulic system isn’t the same as a modern HD auto trans, nor is a modern auto trans the same as an older HD auto trans.

 

[Diesel85]

I know it's not a 2500/3500, but my EcoD needed new fluids at only 50k miles.

The colors and smells told a huge story.

I changed the front and rear diff fluids, transfer case fluid, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. Next year will be the coolant, because the Nitrite levels are getting into the "Service" area on the test strip.

Also includes proper oil/filter changes, fuel filter, air filter, etc.

Take care of any vehicle, and it will take care of you.

 

[Regen]

I run my truck pretty hard. I run hot shot in South Texas. I run in mostly hot and dusty conditions. I tow regularly and sometimes don’t shut my truck off for 20hours straight. I change my oil every 7k. Fuel filters at 15k. Air filter from 12-20. transmission gets flushed at 30k intervals. I’m at 78k miles with absolutely no issues since I purchased the truck. At 100k I will change out the diffs and transfer case fluid, the belt and the antifreeze.
Maybe overkill but that’s what I do. I average around 8,300 miles per month.

 

[AH64ID]

I run my truck pretty hard. I run hot shot in South Texas. I run in mostly hot and dusty conditions. I tow regularly and sometimes don’t shut my truck off for 20hours straight. I change my oil every 7k. Fuel filters at 15k. Air filter from 12-20. transmission gets flushed at 30k intervals. I’m at 78k miles with absolutely no issues since I purchased the truck. At 100k I will change out the diffs and transfer case fluid, the belt and the antifreeze.
Maybe overkill but that’s what I do. I average around 8,300 miles per month.

I hope you have changed your transfer case and differential fluids already, at least twice.

You’re perfectly safe to run your oil to 15K, it won’t do anything but make your wallet heavier.

 

[NIsaacs]

Yes hydraulics are hard on fluids, but you have to consider the fluid as well. Hydraulic pumps don’t have a lockup converter and are always pumping, unlike a modern automatic transmission running a modern fluid. This is why I prefer to change the PS fluid more often, but the trans isn’t a concern.

Currently at 15K, but planning to add many tens of thousands more. Not sure that’s really relevant to a transmission I don’t own, but wouldn’t hesitate to run that transmission on the OEM intervals. I do run more hours with an unlocked torque converter than most do too, and I’m still not concerned.

A transfer case still has bearings and generates heat in 2 Hi, why wouldn’t you service it? Low volume of fluid that isn’t cooled or filtered.

Not trying to call you a pilgrim, lol, but pointing out that even thou things may be similar they don’t all require the same level of maintenance. A tractor hydraulic system isn’t the same as a modern HD auto trans, nor is a modern auto trans the same as an older HD auto trans.

I am not interested in "10's of thousands" I insist on 100's of thousands. I have 900k on my three older trucks without one major component failure. Change all gearboxes at 36k, front axle at 50-100k. I expect the same out of my '21.

The first fluid change on the 68RFE is the best quality change it will ever see. It goes downhill after that. Yesterday, I hauled three heavy loads To Showlow, and one backhaul of cinders home. One load I hit the noon rush hour traffic. Loaded, the direction I was going, is uphill. I hit the lights wrong, In less than 10 minutes my transmission was 200.

The tq converter, unlocked, on a Cummins is tight, so think about what it was doing to the fluid to heat up 4+ gallons with an oil cooler, that quick. Nothing magic about ATF+4. Ram recommends it for the G-56 I will likely go another 30k on the fluid change. If I don't like the looks of it, I will change it sooner the next time. I fully expect 500k out of it.

There is no torque applied to the t-case anywhere in 2 hi. Empty is no different than loaded. No severe duty about it. Two quarts of fluid is plenty and it for sure don't need a cooler. The heat sink off the transmission is the majority of it's temperature. Very little is generated on it's own.

For my use, no 15k engine oil changes, 10-12k fits me. Keeping the batteries charged in my dump, I idle a lot plus I do a morning warm up. Like you with transmissions, I am not concerned about my engine.

As a military person, I figure you are top notch, also in computer/electronics, above reproach, but your mechanical engineering...you could use a small tweak

 

[AH64ID]

Good luck getting 500K from a 68RFE, that’s just based on its history and nothing else. Over-servicing can’t fix that. Don’t be scared of 200°, be scared of what the 200° is sitting in.

I’d save my money on over-servicing equipment and upgrade the weaker OE parts, thou the 19+ 68RFE does have a better track record than its predecessor.

G56, really… many of your comparisons leave me scratching my head for relativity. Ram also puts ATF+4 in lots of other things that are more relative to the 68, but placement in the G56 means nothing for this discussion (we also know why they did it and know what the proper fluid is).

With all this mechanical knowledge you should know that there is a lot more to fluid than color and smell, why not sample it at the next change and see how it’s doing.

How many hours in 12K miles? Since you idle a lot I’m guessing they are up there.

I get the impression you want to do it differently just to do it differently, which I’ve done with many things as well. There comes a point when it becomes more money than the method is worth, that’s all.

Have you considered a DC-DC charger on the dump trailers to improve battery charging while driving? The 7-pin only puts out a few amps at idle, and not even that many at cruise rpms. Even a small 18A one would double to triple your charge rate, have better voltage for battery life, and can be installed without any additional wiring.

 

[NIsaacs]

I’d save my money on over-servicing equipment and upgrade the weaker OE parts, thou the 19+ 68RFE does have a better track record than its predecessor.

My original point was "Rams service schedule is generic" you say it is fine. You are also quick to tell us "you just lightened your wallet".

I believe you posted an early engine oil change as well as an air filter, front and rear axles and t-case.

My '91 and '01 has no schedule for an oil change on the manual transmissions, period, normal or severe.

Did you ever change your '05? What does the '05 book say?

Not sure why it bothers you when we adjust Rams maintenance schedule to fit our use or belief.

 

[AH64ID]

My original point was "Rams service schedule is generic" you say it is fine. You are also quick to tell us "you just lightened your wallet".

I asked you why it was generic, you never responded. Nothing you’ve said about the maintenance schedule indicates anything “generic”. You have expressed that it’s inadequate, but not how it’s generic.

I believe you posted an early engine oil change as well as an air filter, front and rear axles and t-case.

Nothing early on oil, simply a break in change. My recent change was at 12 months, max allowable per Ram and I want to keep my warranty in tact. It could easily have gone longer. That doesn’t have anything to do with routinely shortening the service intervals. Air filter needed it, lots of dusty roads and the intake setup on the 19+ trucks is good for not preheating the air but it sucks up a lot more road dust and bugs. Diffs did get dumped a little early based on known crappy OEM fluid, they won’t get dumped early again and will probably go longer than OEM intervals. T-case fluid is still OE, as is trans.

I’ve done the “feel good” lighten the wallet changes before, they just lighten the wallet.

I dumped the trans and transfer case fluids early on the 18, in the long run likely just a waste of money…. Especially now that I don’t own it anymore, but that wasn’t the plan at the time.

My '91 and '01 has no schedule for an oil change on the manual transmissions, period, normal or severe.

Did you ever change your '05? What does the '05 book say?

The 05 was the same as the previous NV5600, no published interval. When I installed fast coolers I obviously had to drain it, so it got topped off with Amsoil Syncromesh. That fluid had a 50K service interval, so the fluid got changed every 50K.

I certainly don’t subscribe to the fluids for life in any piece of equipment. Our current trucks don’t have a published brake fluid change interval, but I’ll be doing that as part of my maintenance routine.

Not sure why it bothers you when we adjust Rams maintenance schedule to fit our use or belief.

Doesn’t bother me in the least, your time and money. Just having a fun discussion. Thou it would be more fun over a beer.

There certainly are plenty of ways to improve things, and we’ll all have our own opinion on what that is.

Over-servicing is generally not a bad thing, aside from cost, and much better than under-servicing equipment. I just don’t think you ever get the perceived benefits of over-servicing certain items thou.

 

[Regen]

Nope not yet. This is the 9th CTD and have never changed the diff and transfer cases before 100k

I hope you have changed your transfer case and differential fluids already, at least twice.

You’re perfectly safe to run your oil to 15K, it won’t do anything but make your wallet heavier.[/QUOTE

 

[Diesel85]

I certainly don’t subscribe to the fluids for life in any piece of equipment. Our current trucks don’t have a published brake fluid change interval, but I’ll be doing that as part of my maintenance routine.

Bingo.

People have told me they never flushed their brake fluid for over 15 years or some have never heard of it. Then they wonder why they end up with stuck calipers and other odd brake related problems.

I do my brake fluid ever 2-3 years depending what it looks like.

Believe it or not, a properly working/non-dragging brake system will save you fuel costs in the long run.

 

[AH64ID]

Nope not yet. This is the 9th CTD and have never changed the diff and transfer cases before 100k

Interesting, the gear lube used the last decade, or more, has been known to be junk and cause issues. There is even a TSB for 4th gens basically telling dealerships to change the fluid before doing any diagnosis of the rear axle, the OEM stuff is that bad. The stuff that came in my 2018 was toast in 15K light miles, the 2022 was better but still not great at 13K miles.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I proved mine was garbage with an oil report. No way would I consider going past 15k with OE lube no matter the loads.

 

[NIsaacs]

I asked you why it was generic, you never responded. Nothing you’ve said about the maintenance schedule indicates anything “generic”. You have expressed that it’s inadequate, but not how it’s generic.

Dang! You always have to pick little black specs out of pepper. Generic, inadequate, funky...you know dang well what I mean/meant.

"Generic:

1. of, applicable to, or referring to all the members of a genus, class, group, or kind; not specific; general."
   2. "shared by, typical of, or relating to a whole group of similar things, rather than to any particular thing:"

Police/taxi, this from the 70's-90's, automobiles, not Cummins Diesel trucks. They need their own specific schedule. Never mind the "cops and robbers".


My Ford Escape severe duty is relevant. A roof top carrier for it is the same as an overhead camper on a truck. Wind resistance is a big a player as towing weight. Yet, no mention of it for Ram, just towing. So to answer the OP's question. yes, you are severe duty.

The G-56 comment is also relevant. It shows Rams recommended maintenance schedule is obsolete/questionable.

20K for the front axle, severe duty??? Even the rear axle, 20K??? The t-case??? I call BS! So do you, yet here you are ...a champion of Rams schedule.

You did an early engine oil change as I did. It is not even recommended, never mind required. I think most would agree it is not a bad plan. Here we go, adjusting Rams schedule again.

You say I can't tell when oil/fluid is questionable....but you can..."my '18 rear axle oil was toast" ..."my '22 was better but not great" Your power steering fluid...How do you know this? Did you taste it?

You say I would be better served to spend money on up grades v/s early oil/fluid changes on my transmission. Like what? I can say this: Early fluid changes is better than the schedule or late. It will pay off. Like I said, the fluid quality is going down hill at every change. Who wants that? It is inevitable but I can mitigate it some. ATF+4 is cheap when it is on sale.

Even you say, 500k for a 68RFE is reaching for the stars. I agree, if you follow Rams schedule...that's why I don't and consider it "Generic" your pet peeve

 

[slowmover]

Schaeffers #204SAT All-Trans Supreme
https://www.schaefferoil.com/204-atf-supreme.html
https://www.schaefferoil.com/204-atf-supreme.html
https://www.schaefferoil.com/documents/90-204SAT-td.pdf

https://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/schaeffers-supreme-trans-fluid

Intervals one thing, supplier fluid quality another consideration.

.

 

[NIsaacs]

https://www.schaefferoil.com/204-atf-supreme.html
https://www.schaefferoil.com/documents/90-204SAT-td.pdf
https://www.schaefferoil.com/documents/90-204SAT-td.pdf

Intervals one thing, supplier quality another consideration.

Yup, that's what the AMzoil guys say...but yes I agree, there is low quality out there if you choose it.

 

[AH64ID]

Dang! You always have to pick little black specs out of pepper. Generic, inadequate, funky...you know dang well what I mean/meant.

"Generic:

1. of, applicable to, or referring to all the members of a genus, class, group, or kind; not specific; general."
   2. "shared by, typical of, or relating to a whole group of similar things, rather than to any particular thing:"

Police/taxi, this from the 70's-90's, automobiles, not Cummins Diesel trucks. They need their own specific schedule. Never mind the "cops and robbers".


My Ford Escape severe duty is relevant. A roof top carrier for it is the same as an overhead camper on a truck. Wind resistance is a big a player as towing weight. Yet, no mention of it for Ram, just towing. So to answer the OP's question. yes, you are severe duty.

The G-56 comment is also relevant. It shows Rams recommended maintenance schedule is obsolete/questionable.

20K for the front axle, severe duty??? Even the rear axle, 20K??? The t-case??? I call BS! So do you, yet here you are ...a champion of Rams schedule.

You did an early engine oil change as I did. It is not even recommended, never mind required. I think most would agree it is not a bad plan. Here we go, adjusting Rams schedule again.

You say I can't tell when oil/fluid is questionable....but you can..."my '18 rear axle oil was toast" ..."my '22 was better but not great" Your power steering fluid...How do you know this? Did you taste it?

You say I would be better served to spend money on up grades v/s early oil/fluid changes on my transmission. Like what? I can say this: Early fluid changes is better than the schedule or late. It will pay off. Like I said, the fluid quality is going down hill at every change. Who wants that? It is inevitable but I can mitigate it some. ATF+4 is cheap when it is on sale.

Even you say, 500k for a 68RFE is reaching for the stars. I agree, if you follow Rams schedule...that's why I don't and consider it "Generic" your pet peeve

Don’t confuse early changes to get rid of break in wear and low quality OEM fluids with modification/disregard of an entire maintenance schedule. The initial change may be out of sequence, but the remainder are followed. This doesn’t have anything to do with published maintenance schedules, but rather break in wear and low quality fluids.

But, we’re not getting anywhere Nick, and I don’t want it to get to the point of not a fun conversation. We’re not going to change the way we do anything or think at this point.

So to keep it in the best interest of the generic, , forum members, I say we table this until our paths cross in person over a nice glass of ATF+4, I never liked how gear lube tasted. I’m sure we’ll be able to continue it and get a good laugh from it as well.

 

[NIsaacs]

We’re going

You forgot "not", see I read and comprehend

Good conversation, thanks.

 

[AH64ID]

You forgot "not", see I read and comprehend

Good conversation, thanks.

whoops

 

[Topzide]

The ability to agree/disagree helps others see where we all come from on our trucks. I commend @NIsaacs and @AH64ID for being gentlemen in the differences and would love to be able to be at the table for the discussions. I long said that if you'd like to learn something, find out where the "ol' timers" hang out in the morning and pour the coffee, sit, listen and learn! There has always been a grey area in the maintenance schedules that they provide. It's almost like a hidden gotcha moment! Follow till out of warranty and then do your own thing as you wish. Just enjoy and you these trucks for why we got them!