G 56 Trans and towing

[Dean Arthaud]

Interesting comments and analysis by both above...I am going to rethink my K&N opinion and I am going to talk to cummins...I have a good shop here and they are very versed on the "B" engine; to include the natural gas version..the comments on how it works (the K&N air filter) are exactly true...I keep mine oiled and cleaned; even more so on the 6.7...However there are several other ads in Geno's that offer air intakes and filters....and aren't they cloth filters too? Just curious if the objections are based on K&N or the idea that was stated in Geno's about too much hot underhood air causing a derate condition and the dpf becoming clogged...The people at H&S stated that if you keep the stock exhaust you will have a piece of junk by 50-70,000 miles due to the engine/exhaust system being clogged due to EGR cooler and dpf backpressure...If I am wrong I will admit it and go back to the original filter which has less than 5,000 miles and is not ruined by any means...More to follow...I will say this is my first cummins and it is a great piece! I have had detroits, cats, etc in 18 wheelers and they don't hold a candle to this motor.

 

[rscurtis]

I'll ask you a question about your K&N: If it's so good, why isn't it standard equipment on OTR trucks, portable air compressors, and construction equipment?

 

[Killgore]

Dean, what you got was a sampling of the expertise that is on this forum. And by the way, welcome! We are all here to learn and share knowledge. One thing that most of us share in common is that we don't take short-cuts as far as maintenance; shucks, none of us can afford that luxury. Oil analysis, extra filtration, additional after-market fuel pumps, etc. are all just the tip of the iceberg that is daily kicked around. You will see some very long posts on different brands of oil, dino verses synthetic, the advantages for and against the use of fuel additives and many other open topics that typically start wars on here, without even going to the 'politics' section, LOL. This forum has contributors that include everybody from the new owner to some who have owned CTD's for over thirty years. Their occupations include engineers and accountants who run feasibility studies and engineering justifications on everything they do, to tech's that work on them daily. There is not a more loyal, devoted customer base than the membership of TDR; and, of course, we're all glad to welcome you aboard and are only trying to help you avoid making some mistakes that we have already made ourselves.
- Ed

 

[Dean Arthaud]

I don't use my truck in off road conditions...It isn't subjected to dust (at least not much) Each to his own...I use K&N filter # E-0787 on my 2011 dually 2wd....It is still clean and has only been in the truck about 7,xxx miles...My use and filtering are different than some on here...
As to the orig equip question...do you really think every thing put in a "new" vehicle is the best that can be used?...Look at the comments about the auto trans fluid put in the trans by Ram...Most know it is inadequate and at best shortens life of the trans; every comment on this forum admits to changing to a synthetic or to the recommended Mobil 50wt synthetic trans fluid.

K&N is a good filter for air filters...that I know for sure...It may not be the best for every situation. Neither is the original "paper air filter"..I did check a little but am not done researching this...
I can tell you that K&N does not void your warranty on the truck...and any dealer in Texas or anywhere else cannot "legally" void your warranty due to the installation of a K&N "air filter" especially # E-0787...It is a very good piece and I have a hunch several on here are arguing from experience with other "older" filters....

and one of the comments made about people complaining about the K&N made me think: Do these people have any K&N experience? Secondly is the filters that they are saying don't measure up being used and serviced properly? They must be cleaned and reoiled/serviced to filter correctly. I don't have "dust" in my intake tract; ANYWHERE...and I won't have any there...

IF you don't use any product as it is supposed to be used you will more than likely have a serious problem....Last summer after I had told a construction /builder owner about my experience with the cummins diesel he commented he "wouldn't have one". When I asked why he told me he had one but it burned up and the dealer wouldn't make it good...Come to find out he had bought the truck and never changed the oil! Drove almost 20,000 miles before it ate itself up! I changed the oil at 900, miles, 2700, miles 7,000, 11,000 etc...Oil is cheap! He said he and the dealer had a "disagreement about oil changes" and he "didn't have 18-20000 dollars for a rebuild on the cummins diesel. What is it that fram used to say" pay me now or pay me later"...Maintenance is the lifeblood of anything you want to keep using...I will talk to the cummins people next week to see what they feel is acceptable or best. As Patrick Swayse said in Roadhouse; "opinions vary".

 

[Dean Arthaud]

Thanks Ed. This cummins forum is interesting...and I can learn...As far as the truck.....Man is it a hoss! Drives great, stops great, and gets better mileage than anything I have pulled with.....I know opinions vary and enjoy the discussion...and plan to do some more research...I feel if most on here could physically see the K&N E-0787 filter I am using and compare it to the factory piece they might rethink their opinion...but before I go out on too skinny a limb I am going to check more.

 

[Cummins12V98]

If you have a sensor issue under warranty and have a K&N they may not cancel your warranty but they will have the right to make you pay the service bill.

I run a AFE on my 98 12V and have had good oil reports. But there is no way I will use anything other than stock on this 11 RAM. They have the air intake systems figured out on the newer trucks.

Pulling a combined load of 28K border to border on I-5 at no less than 55mph. I don't think I have an air restriction.

 

[Killgore]

Hah! Dean, you evidently don't have an issue spending money on maintenance as evidenced by the fact that you change oil every time you drive around the block. Why would you even consider using a filter that is questionable at best and requires periodic maintenance, to one that is proven and made/recommended by Cummins? I have run two gas-burners in the past with K&N; no problems. However, I only kept them until they were old and worn out at 200,000 miles.... My truck is a member of the family, just now broke in at 200,000 miles, and I intend to see it out-live me.
- Ed