Newbie questions

[Troy S]

I'm new to the forum (and to the diesel world) so I thought I'd introduce my rig and at the same ask some basic questions (I'll try and dig up as much info. as I can from the search function). I purchased a 2001. 5 Ram 2500 automatic transmission recently...



A. I plan on getting a factory service manual for the vehicle as they can help out tremendously as I've found with my Jeep so some of these questions may be answered there too; or am I wasting my money?



B. Gauges: Who makes good ones (specifically looking for fuel pressure, exhaust temperature and boost)? Web links and/or phone numbers would be great.



C. Standards: I'm trying to figure out what my gauges, once they're installed, should read. What's the normal boost, exhaust temp, and fuel pressure for this vehicle, both at idle and at throttle?



D. Filters and oil changes: I recently changed the engine oil with Rotella T and a Fleetguard 3935. Does the Fleetguard Stratopore filter really help out? I don't plan on running any synthetics. Also, when I changed my oil I put in exactly 11 quarts (filled the filter before installing it so 1 quart in filter then added 10) and the dipstick seems to be a bit over the full mark. I've seen some of the discussions on the 24valve forum about oil levels and how the dipstick can be off. Should I be concerned that the dipstick is reading high?



E. Automatic transmission: The truck has 30K on it and I'm not sure if the transmission fluid has been changed. The fluid does not seem burnt at all and has the normal color to it. How do the automatics in the 2500's hold up? What signs or symptoms should I watch out for? Should I religiously change the transmission fluid? BTW, the truck's got 3. 55 gears and I generally drive with O/D off unless I'm on the highway at 50+ MPH. I plan on using the truck to tow my Jeep to/from offroad trails.



Thanks for any help!

 

[JR2]

Troy-

First off welcome aboard, this website along with a service manual should be all you ever need to work on your truck. Now I will attempt to answer all your questions... .



A. Get the service manual ASAP. Do not get it from Dodge, look in the back of your owners manual (or maybe one of the guys can post the #) for the 1-800 number to order the manual. I got mine for around $100, Dodge wanted $200+.



B. Guages... there are lots of them. . Digital or Regular?? SPA makes nice digital ones..... For reqular Analog... . there are too many to list... . check out Genos Garage for guages and just about anything else you need.



C. What your guages should read... . Fuel press should be 10 or more at idle and not go below 8 at WOT. Boost on a stock truck runs 0 at idle and will max at 21. EGT will hover around 250-350 at idle, run 600-900 at cruise and should not go over 1250 under load (assuming the probe is pre turbo).



D. Filters and oil level. I use the stratopore filter, it is the only one my Cummins shop will give me if I ask for a filter for my Dodge. They are only 8 bucks so what the heck. As for the oil level the dip stick is not very accurate. If Dodge says to put 11 in that is what I do. I fill the oil filter and then add till I have reached 11 and that is good. If the dip stick reads high, so be it.



E. I too have an auto. I believe the manual says to change it at 25K. I had some transmission work done at 8K and then swapped fluid at 10K just to be safe. This fall I am going to drop the pan, chage the filter, add some update parts, do the bands and then add a double deep pan. That should set me up for a while. I think the stock transmission is fine if you do not add any HP. If you are going to add power you need to look into a transmission upgrade. I personally would reccomend DTT.



Good luck with your new truck and welcome aboard.



JR2

 

[Pit Bull]

Welcome, I agree with everything JR2 said. I also have the auto. Change the fluid every 20K miles. Good insurance

 

[pwknapp]

Welcome. Let the bombing begin.

 

[klenger]

W E L C O M E



I'm from the hospitality dept, not the service department, so that's all I have to say about that.

 

[Troy S]

Thanks everyone for your input. You quickly learn how valuable internet forums are, especially when it comes to something you don't know much about. I've learned a lot and continue to learn alot about my jeep through forums. Hopefully the same is true about this forum for my truck, but I have the feeling I will learn everything I need to know after reviewing a bunch of posts. I like the fact that you have to subscribe to post here (did I actually say that?). That keeps the forum from being overrun with garbage as I have seen too many lists do. Thanks for the answers!



I have this number 1-800-890-4038 which is the one I ordered my Jeep manual from so I'm going to give them a call and see if they have the Dodge manual. I agree not to buy it from the dealer. They really rip you off.

 

[Shovelhead]

Welcome Troy,

Nice to see more "Right-Coast"ers on the sight. (especially VA guys)

Good advice from the guys so far.

The factory manual is worth every cent.



If you're looking for analog gauges, check out Isspro's EV line.

They look great, work great, and are very readable at night.

That's what I went with.

I got mine from www.wildcatdiesel.com talk to Rod, He knows what customer service is all about.



Beware of the "Dark Side" of the TDR. (BOMBitis)





Gentlemen, start your charge cards!

Oo.

 

[abledog]

Welcome Troy



Your best bet on finding what you like or works best for you is to go to "Local And Regional Events" and find out whats going on in you area, then go meet and talk with the locals but more important is to look at what others have done and see what you like.



Then let the fun begin!!!! I had to go to a TITANIUM credit card because the plastic ones were melting!



Terry

 

[Troy S]

Hmmm... Plastic melting. I seem to remember the days of doing that just a few years back, but back then it was on the Jeep. Hopefully the truck won't become as much of an addiction. I'm still in the process of building up my trail rig so hopefully not.



I've checked out what a few friends and fellow club members have on their Rams. Hopefully they'll provide as much guidance as this forum.

 

[FParisi]

Welcome!

What they all said plus ,since you are doing gauges you might want to go with transmission temp also. You probably don't need it now but these trucks do seem to last a while.

Frank

 

[rrausch]

Welcome Troy! Hmmm... Plastic melting. I seem to remember the days of doing that just a few years back, but back then it was on the Jeep. Hopefully the truck won't become as much of an addiction.



Ahhh yes we all remember the old days before our trucks took over our lives! LOL!



I recently had my trans rebuilt by ATS and had their Stator & TripleLok TC installed and I can't believe how much faster my truck is now. But that's not what I wanted to tell you, what I wanted to say is that when my trans was being dissassembled, after 107,000 bombed and 5th-wheeled miles, the guys who took it apart kept saying, "Oh... you must have changed your trans fluid regularly!" (I did) It really does make a difference! I changed every 12 thousand miles as I was on the "Severe Duty"schedule! It does pay. I got my ATS upgrade because I was tired of the TC slipping, but more because I wanted the truck to GET UP AND GO! It does! Trust me!

 

[Joel Richards]

WELCOME!

Originally posted by Troy S



A. I plan on getting a factory service manual for the vehicle as they can help out tremendously as I've found with my Jeep so some of these questions may be answered there too; or am I wasting my money?

Get the manual. It's invaluable!

B. Gauges: Who makes good ones (specifically looking for fuel pressure, exhaust temperature and boost)? Web links and/or phone numbers would be great.

I have AutoMeter and love 'em. There are some nice digital ones at www.dakotadigital.com too... Isspro are quite nice as well.

C. Standards: I'm trying to figure out what my gauges, once they're installed, should read. What's the normal boost, exhaust temp, and fuel pressure for this vehicle, both at idle and at throttle?

Depends... See my sig for mods - at 70MPH, 2x2 on the UFM, locked TC I run 850* egt, 130* trans temp, 9# boost, 180* engine temp - not sure about fuel pressure yet... At idle, egt's are 400*, trans is at 130*, 0 boost, and about 170* engine temp.

D. Filters and oil changes: I recently changed the engine oil with Rotella T and a Fleetguard 3935. Does the Fleetguard Stratopore filter really help out? I don't plan on running any synthetics. Also, when I changed my oil I put in exactly 11 quarts (filled the filter before installing it so 1 quart in filter then added 10) and the dipstick seems to be a bit over the full mark. I've seen some of the discussions on the 24valve forum about oil levels and how the dipstick can be off. Should I be concerned that the dipstick is reading high?

I will only use the Fleetguard in my trucks. I have used Rotella in this truck - the other one has Delo. Never had a problem with either. Both of them (my other is a 98 24v) take 11 quarts exactly.

E. Automatic transmission: The truck has 30K on it and I'm not sure if the transmission fluid has been changed. The fluid does not seem burnt at all and has the normal color to it. How do the automatics in the 2500's hold up? What signs or symptoms should I watch out for? Should I religiously change the transmission fluid? BTW, the truck's got 3. 55 gears and I generally drive with O/D off unless I'm on the highway at 50+ MPH. I plan on using the truck to tow my Jeep to/from offroad trails.

I just replaced my transmission/TC/VB (again, see my sig). At 11,000 miles (last week), I was there when they took my stock (except for a TransGo shift kit) transmission apart. I was absolutely floored when I saw the overdrive clutches. They were so worn the steels were almost see-thru . I drive with the OD turned off most of the time as well. The sun gear was worn beyond belief - it was scored about half way through! The tech thought that I had over 100,000 miles on it, but no - only 11,000. My fluid was in perfect shape too, so it can be deceiving... Definitely get the trans done if you have the means.



Joel