2004 Dodge CTD

[DJaquez]

I am new to the Diesel Truck arena.

I am wondering a few things:



1. ) Do I need to install gauges now even though my truck is stock?



2. ) I have ran it for about 750 miles empty (Speed /RPM varied). Should I load the bed with weight and haul it around now? If yes how much and for how long?



3. ) Is Geno's Garage the Best place to buy filters? Should I use Rotella oil? How soon should I change the initial oil out.

 

[RM]

reply to first timer

welcome aboard let me try and answer you're questions. in my opinion. 1 no you don't need Gage's on a stock truck. egt will never go over temp on a stock truck unless you have a problem but i like to use egt for how long to idle till shut down more turbos have been lunched from early shut down than any hot rodding. oil will coke up at 300degrees i like to wait until 200 to shut my truck off and the boost gage is fun to watch and on a new truck you have a base line. 2 i don't think you need to haul any weight around to brake in but diesel love work and hate to loaf the harder you work a diesel the better they like it. and 3 i like to buy my filters from Geno's cause i get what i want delivered to my door and i get 4 at a time in a kit with 2 fuel filter and a air. and any name brand oil thats api certified ci-4 is good oil in my opinion. hope this helps

 

[DJaquez]

Thank you

I appriciate the input and will consider the Pyro gage, just for kicks if nothing else as I can not hear when my Turbo kicks in. I think that this is due to the silencer.

 

[Peterbilt379CJ]

If you want to hear that turbo scream you need to remove the tube between the turbo and airbox. This tube has baffles to silence the noise but when it is replaced it does get to be very loud. Genos sells the replacment tube with no baffles for $50. 00.



Also, if you remove the hose from the compressor side of the turbo you will see a kinda concave ring in the housing. It has a snap ring around it that needs to be pried out with a small screwdriver (do not insert screwdriver into compressor wheel... very fragile... ) pull out the snap ring, pull out the silencer ring put hose back on and drop the hammer and let it sing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DJaquez]

Thank youfor the reply. I sure do appriciate the information that I have received from this board and the TDR mag.

 

[rbattelle]

I'm running stock, but have boost pressure and oil pressure, soon to have post-turbo EGT for shutdown purposes. I tow/haul nothing at all. I have 10,000 miles on it now. There is no reason to have to haul anything heavy... it's just that the engine will take a bit longer to fully break in with no load. I don't beat on the engine, and usually consider myself a conservative driver. But at the same time I do wind it up with full-throttle every now and then!



Personally, I like to buy my filters right from a local Cummins shop. Just personal preference. I also buy Valvoline Premium Blue from the same shop, plastered with the Cummins logo and endorsement.



Welcome aboard!