My first Dodge Diesel

[TBarrett]

Just bought a 2001 Ram diesel quad shortbox slt. I am confused on oil type and weight. Want to use Castroil per what the dealer said but not sure for the weight, cannt find I think they said 15w40. How important is it about the vac/air pressure gauge. My friend has a 96 and the plug is right there, on my 2001 cannt find a plug anywhere. Lastly I have a 5/set of 285-75r-16 avon a/t sxt

I wanted to put on, but I have been told wait till warrenty is up. Sad part I put extended on 7/100,000 so to long to wait. Was told black box ??? is good, and all the computer has codes to be changed, cannt get a straight answer from the dealer to run 285's. So, I guess I'm going to sell the set, first $500. 00 talks. The tires are sold thru les schwab tire stores. Oh, is the smell from the break in oil or what. Just turned 1500 miles, I'm so happy so far and this site is really cool. For sure knows more then the dealers or is it as customers its a need to know. Thanks for the help. Terril

 

[socal_rattler]

Congratulations for your new truck! This site is the best source of info on your truck you will find... it is the best $35. 00 I ever spent!



As to your oil... do not use Castrol... you will find plenty of discussions if you do a search on oil and filters... .

My suggestion is to use Chevron Delo 400 and Fleetguard oil filters. The Fleetguard filters can be purchased thru either Geno's or at your local Cummins outlet. The Delo can be bought at Walmart, Costco and many other places.



As for gauges, again use the search and you will find many discussions, but I think you will find that most TDR members have Turbo boost, EGT, and either transmission temp or fuel pressure.



As for the tires, it should not make any difference as far as warranty goes... . IMHO.



As per 'Black Box'... . again do a search and you will find discussions on products such as the Poweredge EZ. These are fueling boxes, not chip sets... . be advised that this 'may' affect your warranty.



Good luck and I'm sure you will love your truck as much as I love mine. Just be sure and read the TDR as much as possible, you will learn more about your truck than you ever thought and be able to make much more informed decisions about how to BOMB your new baby!



P. S. update your signature so your questions can be addressed more accurately!

 

[Sky]

Ditto on above. Dealer cannot viod your warranty with different tires. I got new tires the first month I got my truck. Put on those tires and be happy! A box such as a EZ just plugs right in, and thats it no changeing codes etc and you just added an extra 60hp. So that means is also un plugs just as quick, if you go back to dealer.

 

[BCFAST]

Welcome!

I agree with the choice of Delo oil... . also, dont be afraid of most any diesel-formulated oil... like Rotella, etc. NO CASTROL!! and especially no Q-State!!! have fun with your new obsession.

 

[John_P]

TBarrett:



Welcome to the TDR Website!! Congratulations on getting

your truck.



I would agree with what the other members already told you.

Delo, Rotella or Cummins Premium Blue but DEFINITELY NOT

Quaker State!! Also stick with the oil filters made by Fleetguard

Cummins or Mopar.



Good luck!



---------

John_P

 

[Archive]

Welcome to the TDR!



I see you purchased your tires from Les Schwab... you must be from the northwest. Watch other signatures and find a couple of guys in your area to have a cup of coffee with. Between them and this site, you will get plenty of answers.

 

[Joe G.]

If a Cummins dealer is not near you try a big rig shop that does Cummins work. They may have Fleetguard filters at about the same price as Geno's.



Welcome aboard our TDR playhouse and liar's club!

 

[Mr. Brewski]

What kind of Les Schwabs are they? Wild Country TXR's??? (Pleeze?)

 

[Ken B]

TBarrett,



Fist off, Welcome! I would echo all that everyone has responded. The onlything new point I could add is that I have the same exact tires from LS that you have and have had them on my truck since it had 8k miles (now over 40k, minus approx. 10k miles in the winter with "snow tires". . which are 285's as well). I have never had a Dodge dealer say anything to me about any violation of my warrenty. Nor, have I read anything in my handbook that states that I'm in violation.



Good luck, -Ken

 

[Mundgyver]

Ahhhhh! Gwas-hoppa, welcome to the DARK SIDE. You sir have made the right choice. My self - I use Amsoil with a dual remote bypass filter. They make a very good full synthetic oil for Diesels. 15W/40. I have used it in my truck since I flushed out the break-in oil at 1500 miles. Repeat after me - Doooooooooooooo-Noooooooooooot uuuuuuuuuusssssssssse Castrol or Quaker. First lesson. Read and study, What you see within these hallowed confines that we call TDR, are many cumlitive years of experience. The knowledge base here is huge and is waiting for you to take advantage of. I have not put bigger tires on yet as I have not wore out the factory ones that are at 38,000. I will go with the biggest size that I can get on the stock rims though. I run the EDGE EZ and a full set of gages. Dealer has not given me any grief. If you have a stick, invest in a Jake-Brake. If an auto then you will have to decide. Dodge will not warranty a Jake on an AT, and they will void the warranty if they find one on an AT as I understand it. They sweat the transmission repair. As for the oil, what you are avoiding is the ash content. There are threads devoted to this subject. I run Amsoil because I like it and have 15 years worth of use on my other rigs with it. Others run the Delo and such. They like their oil and that is good. Point is that you read, read and read somemore and then make a decision based on all the data that you have. You are in good hands as some one said. Enjoy your truck and have fun.

 

[Batman]

TBarrett

Welcome aboard! Watch that first step on the slippery-side Once you start BOMBing there is no returning. I too have bought the extended warranty. I now have 27k miles on the truck. About 1500 miles ago I said aw F*^k-it... ... ... ... ..... read my sig. If you have an auto and are not going to do any work to it, don't install more go-fast parts other than the Edge-EZ. I noticed some TC slippage with the box and DDII's. (at least I was told it was TC slippage. )

Good luck and Happy BOMBing.

 

[Sky]

I have a question? How much oil does our trucks take, when changeing the oil.

 

[socal_rattler]

11 quarts total - including filter.

 

[TBarrett]

Thanks for the welcome

Tires 285-75R-16 avon at sxt d rated. Yes I was Delo Chevron at costco. I looked at the posted and still confused on tire size, because I have a 88 Ford F250 4x4 460 auto loaded, now trying to sell that I had these tire on and screwed up the computer/fuel/timing real bad. Now my Dodge has so much in it, I really scratch my head. I just want the basics. The power and torque is all I can handle as it is stock. I'm quite happy. Thanks all.



2001 Ram Slt 24valve quad cab short box 4spd od auto light bright met silver camper/tow package 265 tires.

Just Love It

Terril

 

[Doc Tinker]

I don't know what Joe G. is talking about when he speaks of the "Liar's Club"



I use Delo 400 and that's no lie! You guys might like to know that I paid more for the Delo at the distributor than what WalMart charges. Sure bums you out when you find out you got stiffed by the company where you buy bulk oil for the fleet you work on.



Doc

 

[JMoglia]

Welcome !!! now aren't you glad you didn't get a powerchoke ? i'll bet they don't have a great bunch of guys like we do. any how go straight to the dello 15/40 if you don't believe us just try this,put some grease in the palm of your hand then put some dello on it check out how it cuts the grease. also no blow by,odor or additive,I noticed the first time I had mine changed at the dealer the had to use additive with there crap oil. any how that is my 2 pennies,welcome aboard.



good luck with your rig,

Joe Moglia

 

[Mundgyver]

One other thing to think about. I'm sure that everyone will agree. If you do your own oil change and I'm taking the first one here. Be prepaired to bang your knuckles hard when trying to the filter off. Cummins has a robot that installs it and it is torqued like a bugger!!! I carped at the Cummins rep when he was up here for the Show & Shine at Timber Line Dodge last month. Thats when he told me that they are put on to a set torque by a robot. It will be a real bugger your first time.