Maintenance intervall question

[BGParks]

I have an 04. 5 600 cummins. When I bought my truck I was in the dealership looking at a sales pamphlet on the new 600 where it stated it was cleaner, quieter, and had extended the maint. interval from 3,750 / 7,500 to 7,500 / 15,000. I would have sworn that I also read this in my owners manual somewhere although I can't find it now. I'm taking my truck in for its second service and once again they are telling me I should be changing my oil every 3,750. When I site the new maint. schedule they say they've never heard of that. My truck rarely see's hard service. I almost never tow with it and so I'm disinclined to pay $150 or so every 3,750 mi. for no reason. Am I losing my mind or did they change the maint. interval on the new 600? If they did does anyone know where I can find this in writing so I can show the dealership because it seems like we are going to have this argument every time I take my truck in for service. On my first service I went into the showroom, picked up the sales pamphlet on the new 600 and took it back to the service dept. and showed it to them. All they could say is hmmm, they weren't aware of that. Since then I've moved and am dealing with yet another dealership that "isn't aware of that". What gives? Am I losing it or are they just trying to make more money off of me by charging for more frequent oil changes than necessary? If there is a new schedule does anyone know where I can find that in print? Thanks for the help.

 

[VStahl]

It is basically the case of playing dumb to it and hoping to fool the customer into bringing it in for service and making more money.



The department that created the maintence schedule, the sales department, the parts department, and the service department are all under an umbrella together but actually function seperate from each other quite a bit. Some service departments make it a practice to say "3750... " But I doubt that they would actually put that into writing because of the posted maintence schedule that you have is for real.

Vern

 

[BHanks]

My service manual states that if I tow to change oil and filter every 7500miles and without towing 15000miles. . I believe that they call it tier 1 and tier 2 service.

Bill

 

[DFrank]

Are you really paying $150 for oil changes?

 

[Tony T.]

I agree with the playing dumb bit. Preying on those that never read the owners manual,or access to the TDR. I have ask several Cummins owners if they have ever heard of the TDR an try to explain to them about all the information this site has to offer, mostly end up getting a blank stare.



Seems like a lot of owners are in a big rush, don't have time to do there own maintainance or cannot do it or have the place to do it and rely on the dealership to take care of it for them. I would like to believe most of the dealerships are honest with their service and price's, but I'm sure there's serveral that are not.



If this $150. 00 bucks is for a oil change and lube only well that is highway robbery,stabbing you in the back and breaking it off, or what ever other saying you want to come up with. JMO



Tony

 

[DocDetonancour]

Are you really paying $150 for oil changes?

We can do it ourself for less than $30. It's very easy. Doc

 

[DJennings]

There are two plans for service. Plan A and Plan B. 1 of the plans is for what I would call normal use -- towing, city driving etc. That is oil change at 7500 miles. If you go to the other plan, I think they expect you to drive in a vacuum to extend the interval to 15,000 miles.



The 7500/15000 service intervals are also called out on the cummins website. One confusing thing is that I got 2 service interval schedules in 2 different books (owners manuals). One listed the old intervals (3750/7500) and the other listed the extended intervals.



FYI -- Valvoline Oil change center will do an oil change for $46 between 8-10am. If you bring your own oil filter they will take the cost of their filter off. Valvoline 15w-40 has the cummins logo on the bottle and is certified for use. I take my Fleetguard stratapores to them. If you want to do it yourself, you can get Valvoline, Rotella, etc for ~$8 a gallon.

 

[BGParks]

Still looking for it in writing

First off I agree that 150 for an oil change would be highway robbery. It was actually a quote of $120 for the second service (oil & filter, fuel filter, tire rotation, check all fluids, and I think there was something else in there too). I just figured that when they add tax if any it could go as high as 150. Yes, I could do it myself but I'm over 50 years old with a lot of back trouble and just don't want to have to crawl around on the ground doing oil changes any more. I don't mind spending a hundred or so if the interval is 7,500 miles. For me that means I'd probably only be having it done 2 or 3 times a year. My problem is that when I take it in they give me crap about how I'm supposed to be changing oil every 3,750 mi. They say in Texas with our hot climate you need to use the shorter interval. I then go into my speel about how I am using the shorter interval, i. e. 7,500 rather than 15,000 and then here we go again with the dumb looks and the argument about what the interval is really supposed to be. That's why I am trying to find it somewhere in writing. That way when the argument starts I can just show it to them and shut them down before they even start. So, once again, if anyone knows where I can find this info in writing please tell me.

Also my truck just started the shaking rough idle and white smoke at start up. The colder it is, the worse it is. It only does it on the first start up of the day and only for 30 - 45 seconds or so. I'm thinking injectors. Anyway going to have them check that out also.

 

[MMeier]

BG, I think there is a TSB out on the white smoke thing, but based on your experience at your dealer you may have to pull teeth to get them to do that!! Oh yeah how much do the thieves want to do a fuel filter change if you have not done so yet ?????

 

[Trophy1]

I would say you are safe changing your oil at 5000 miles no matter how you use the truck. My dealer will change the oil and filter for $68. 00, they use 15-40 oil and a dc oil filter. They also rotate my tires at the same time for $12. 00. You can also do it for $30. 00 with filter yourself. I would change to fuel filter now and keep one as a spare in your truck in case you get some bad fuel. Changing the fuel filter is a piece of cake.

 

[VStahl]

my dealer charges $8 for gas engine oil changes and $28 for diesel engines. They do it at cost so that they can gain you as a customer for all your other needs. I guess I better tehank them for that after seeing what ya'll are being told to pay.

 

[BGParks]

my dealer charges $8 for gas engine oil changes and $28 for diesel engines. They do it at cost so that they can gain you as a customer for all your other needs. I guess I better tehank them for that after seeing what ya'll are being told to pay.

VStahl, who's your dealer? I live NE of Mckinney on 121 so a N. Dallas area dealer wouldn't be too far for me. Might help me save a little money and aggrivation. Thanks

 

[BGParks]

BG, I think there is a TSB out on the white smoke thing, but based on your experience at your dealer you may have to pull teeth to get them to do that!! Oh yeah how much do the thieves want to do a fuel filter change if you have not done so yet ?????

Already had the TSB (reflash for white smoke and fuel economy) done. Don't know how much for the fuel filter by itself, it's part of the $120 quote. I think a lot of the cost is what they are charging for the price of filters. I purchased an oil filter and a fuel filter as extra's to keep on the truck and the cost of just the two filters was right at $40. As far as the reflash I think it was worthwhile, I picked up between 1 to 2 mpg at highway speed but seems by my seat of the pants dyno that I may have lost just a little bit of acceleration (only enough to be barely noticeable not enough to be a problem).

 

[CAKUZ]

they are telling me I should be changing my oil every 3750. I'm disinclined to pay $150 or so every 3,750 mi. for no reason. Am I losing my mind or did they change the maint. interval on the new 600?





BG;

The factory recommends to change the Oil & Filter every 7,500 miles under SCHEDULE B (Applies to most everyone) and replace the fuel filter every 15,000 miles. DC says you can use Schedule A, (15,000 miles) but applies only for highway trips with NO towing, stop & go, short trips etc.



Dealers that attempt such a deceptive rip-off as this should be driven out of business by everyone boycotting them! They know it is totally dishonest,... . then pretend to have no idea why customers don't trust them.

There are some good dealers around, but I would not let this one touch my truck. One reason I do ALL my own service work is to know it's done right, and I am over 60 with arthitis but I take my time and get it done. Not a big deal as I have done mechanical work since about 1953.



I suggest you get the quality Fleetguard Stratapore oil & fuel filters that are approved for your Cummins and better than the 'Standard' filter you will get from the dealer, and get someone else to service your truck as others have suggested. Geno's (1-800-755-1715) has good prices on them.

 

[JVolpe]

I have went round and round about the maintenance schedule for my 04. 5 600. My dealer service department noted schedule B every 3750 miles for oil changes in my service manual and in their computer. I asked why not 7500 like I thought it read. They said it was because of South Texas driving conditions and the fact that the 600 has all the emission equipment, Cat, 3rd fuel event, etc. and that should be serviced just like the CA emission equiped vehicles.



It does become a warranty issue if you do not meet the DC maintenance specifications. I am still trying to decide when I just forget the D@M warranty and do everything myself.



Dealer oil change for me is about $52.

 

[EEdmondson]

That's why I am trying to find it somewhere in writing. That way when the argument starts I can just show it to them and shut them down before they even start. So, once again, if anyone knows where I can find this info in writing please tell me.

On page 388 of the "second edition" 2004 owners manual you will find the schedule B maintenance schedule. If you have an 04. 5, you should have the second edition manual. If your manual doesn't say "second edition" on the rear cover then you have the wrong manual.

 

[BGParks]

Thanks for the help

On page 388 of the "second edition" 2004 owners manual you will find the schedule B maintenance schedule. If you have an 04. 5, you should have the second edition manual. If your manual doesn't say "second edition" on the rear cover then you have the wrong manual.

Rick, thanks for the help. I guess I've been having one of those oldtimers brain farts again. I've looked at that schedule in my manual several times and only noticed that the intervals on the top of the page were 3750 without noticing that the oil change wasn't checked on all of them, rather it was checked on every other one, making the interval 7500. Oh well, guess it's time for new glasses. Anyway thanks again for pointing out my error. Now I know where to refer them in print when they start that argument with me again. Thanks, Brian :-laf

 

[Ftuttle]

My Experience

My local Dodge dealership: when I went in for 30K service, the service writer wanted to charge me for changing the spark plugs! He didn't have a listing of what was supposed to be done (I had to get my manual from my truck to point out what was supposed to be done). Luckily for me, there was a tech standing there who was as ticked as I was that this maroon even suggested changing spark plugs.



My question: Is there a listing anywhere of which dealerships have diesel certified techs? The oil, fuel, and air filters/fluids I'm willing to do, the rest I'll pay someone to do, but want someone with experience, but don't know how to find them.



-f

 

[klenger]

Spark plugs? At 30,000 miles? Even IF it had spark plugs, they shouldn't need to be changed till around 100k. Of course, if it's the Hemi, you need 16 of the darn things. I suppose he thought you need new points and condenser too.

 

[Ftuttle]

dealership

And I'm also surprised he didn't want to check the hand-crank starter in the front... . Of course, I did have them change out the left-handed-smoke-shifter along with fixing my OEM snipe cage. :-laf



What really ticks me is that they are less than 5 miles from my house - there are a couple others in the central ohio area, hence my question about the listing of certified techs.



-f