first Cummins/first post here

[Rustytruck]

Needing to do routine maintenance. CCV question. Amazon $29.99 unknown maker or Fleetguard $73.99. For an old fart living on Social Security I have to watch my spending very close but don't want to shoot myself in the foot either. ie I've used only T6 since first oil change. Just want to know if any y'all have had problems with the "budget" CCV filters? (2012 3500 limited srw crewcab) The older I get the worse mechanic I am so will likely be seeking advice and deferring to the experienced expertise to be found here. Thanks all!

 

[Walker111]

Fleetguard. Don’t skimp on filters for these trucks.

 

[HPSimpson]

Welcome to TDR Folks have great knowledge of the Cummins engine and Ram truck, may you drive your Ram a million miles!

 

[Topzide]

Welcome @Rustytruck! You don't won't to put anything other than a Fleetguard filter. The last thing you would need to happen is a filter come apart and fill up the engine with crap! How many miles on truck? With the finance constraints, you don't need any extra surprises to deal with, you need that truck to last you! You'll find the help you need on TDR. Don't be afraid to ask whether a large or small issue.

 

[bcbender]

Welcome to the TDR...

You cannot find a better reliable source of filters than the folks at Genos Garage. Maybe not always the cheapest but hands down the best customer service on the planet. All the folks here typically know their stuff and are very helpful.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Lots of fake parts out there. Geno's sell the real deal. Ebay is notorious for fake parts.

 

[Jim W]

Rusty, I am retired too but I can't afford another truck or Cummins engine. So, I only use Fleetguard or Mopar filters that are from the OEM, not from any aftermarket sellers on Amazon. Either Geno's Garage or I buy once in a while from the local dealer.

To save cost on shipping I try and buy several different filters at the same time this spreads the shipping cost over the entire lot. Also, Geno's Garage offers filters on sale about 10% off and I try and buy all of my filters when Genos has them on sale.

 

[endoscott]

Plenty of fakes on Amazon too, stick with Genos!

 

[Rustytruck]

WOW!!!! First post on this forum and I did NOT expect such rapid and enthusiastic replies!!You folks are super!!! Will certainly be following the advice to stick with the Fleetguard filters. I'm not very experienced with forums. irv2 and ice shanty are the only ones I occasionally participate in. A little history for what it's worth. My first diesel was a used '08 F350 with about 80K on it. Had it a couple years with significant transmission problems. Traded in 2013 for new 2012 Ram 3500 limited srw. Went with the 2012 'cause I didn't want to deal with the DEF. Now have about 130K on it. Since about 60K has had intermittent problems where it would lack power for several minutes and check engine light would display. Not always, but mostly, while pulling my camper in cold temps. Next day the engine light would be gone and normal operation for up to several weeks. Took it to dealership but they couldn't do anything 'cause engine light not on. I came to assume this was a "regen" problem and learned to ignore it. A week ago it did it while pulling my backhoe on trailer and I was able to get an Irish parts store to put a code reader on it and showed P0299, P049D, and P046C. So, plan to do EGR clean. Don't know if I want to tackle the EGR cooler clean (as said before I'm not much of a mechanic. Especially in sub-freezing weather in the driveway). Dealership never mentioned routine maintenance of these parts when in for the lack of power problems and oil changes. So now I get to do the "catch up". Hope I haven't killed something. Thanks for reading. I look forward to y'all's input as I learn. Many thanks!

 

[Topzide]

The EGR cooler clean is pretty simple job. I did mine in driveway but wasn't as cold as it is now. You could pop off the pipe from cooler to EGR to see how much soot is in there. Filter is super simple! If EGR is really dirty, do you have a buddy with garage or at least a lean too that you could hang some tarps to get out of the weather? We can walk you through whichever way you what to go. On Geno's site, there is info about doing the EGR clean. I got the kit from them and printed the directions. Filter should be done every 67.5K and EGR clean every 130K. Glad to see we surprised you with the replies you received! TDR to the rescue!

 

[Jim W]

Rusty, I would check out the LH column on the home page. Therre is a lot of good information on our trucks plus some helpful hints for you.
Just saying and good luck.

 

[Rustytruck]

Thanks all for the great replies! Got the EGR valve as clean as I could with Brakeclean but not as clean as I'd like but needed to be back together before the snow hit. Like y'all said eze peeze! Hard part was locating gaskets. Local NAPA wanted $88 for gasket kit for valve and cooler and had to order it. Didn't bite on that. Called a few places 35 miles down the road and found the ones I needed for the valve for $16 and buttoned up just as the snow started. Would like to find something better for cleaning fluid before I try doing the cooler. Any y'all got some ideas on that? Watching Motor City Mechanic u-tube vids on these and he's using a mopar cleaning fluid but thinking that would get pricey. Thanks again all. Stay warm and safe out there!

 

[Topzide]

@Rustytruck, When I did mine, got the kit from Genos, had all the pieces needed to do the job! For the cleaning fluid, I used Purple Power to soak and clean the cooler and valve, soaked the cooler overnight and that did the trick with minimal effort on my part!