New owner maintenance guidance

[TSLanier]

I have recently purchased an 06 Dodge 3500 Cummins Quad Cab, my first truck, to pull my Airstream travel trailer as well as double as my "business car", and I love it.

I have received different advice on maintenance and service. I would appreciate guidance from this forum in reference to frequency of service, transmission maintenance, towing tips etc

SLanier

Greensboro, N. C.

 

[DrDiesel]

I change my oil every 5K

fuel filter every 10K without fail. Or you will have problems.

trans service(not a flush - ever)transfer case and diff`s every 30K

tire rotation per front tire edge wear(everyone is different)

I use Valvoline Premium Blue 15-40 oil and Fleetguard oil and fuel filters.

I run 65 PSI front and 50 rear unloaded.

Flush brake and coolant fluids every 2 years.

I run an Amsoil NanoFiber drop-In air filter with a Cool Hose.

My only mod is the TST R49 and Cool Hose.

The truck runs great and has Zero loss of reliability with these mods.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Follow the maintenance schedule in the owner manual best suited for the mileage you will be putting on (or how hard you are working it). The dealer you bought it from and Dodge would prefer 3000 miles oil changes after the warranty runs out you can stretch the oil change intervals and other required/recommended maintenance procedures.

 

[ScottLewis]

As you can surmise from just the 2, now 3, responses so far you are going to get as many different recommendations as you do responses. Your '06 owner's manual recommends oil changes at 7500 or 15,000 mile intervals dependent on type of use. 15K is pretty high, particularly with dino oil. John Holmes at Carson Dodge is acknowledged by most on this site as a primo authority as well as a goto service guy on our trucks. His Rx is to change oil based as much on time elapsed as on mileage. That is to change it every 3 months regardless of miles unless you are really stacking on the miles. Extend miles when you're making long highway trips and reduce when your runs are short or city driving. This makes sense to me and is the way I'm going to plan my service intervals.



Dan

 

[rotohead]

Another item to consider including in your maint schedule is a oil analysis with a lab. I use Blackstone, you can buy pre-paid kits for around $20 w/postage. I run my oil 7500 mile intervals (stock filter setup) and do the analysis every other oil change. Great piece of mind when you can read the analysis sheet from the lab that says everything is looking good and you could go to a longer interval if needed. I keep a 3-ring binder of everything I do to my truck and if I sell it the analysis sheets should make my case of a sound engine easy.
Chuck