"Oil change required" please help

[Dabbelt1]

Hello,

Joined the forum last month and this is my first post. I purchased my vehicle also a month ago it is an 08 mega cab Ram 2500 4x4 Vin#3D7KS29A08G247168. I have already changed the oil twice and have only gotten about 2600mi out of both oil changes. I am taking the truck to my dodge dealer tomorrow for a new fuel filter and was wondering if there is an updated flash for my truck that would help it achieve more miles between oil changes. Any help would be appreciated.



Thanks,

Mike Dabbelt

 

[2Rowdy]

I did many oil analysis's on my truck and I totally ignore the over head now. I change my oil every 10,000 miles whether it needs it or not. I drive more miles than most.

 

[jelag]

Mike... we have an 08 5500 and we drive it like we stole it... we change the oil at 10K intervals like 2Rowdy and haven't seen the oil message come on... But we reset it with each change...

Are you resetting the clock?

There is a software upgrade that addresses this but I can't remember which it is... What you need to do is make sure that your not going into re-gen often, where you might be flooding back some fuel into the crankcase...

You might consider the installation of a primary and secondary filter mounted on the frame... we've done this to all our trucks when the ULSD came out to protect the injection system... our primary filter is 10 micron and the secondary filter is 2 micron... we change them once a year regardless of mileage... . usually 30-50K per year. . and haven't done much with the factory installed filter... as we're sending clean fuel to it... . and we have the benefit of draining and checking for water in the primary filter... I'm suggesting the added on filters because I'm guessing that the filter change will cost you$125-160... share with us what they charge you... .

One last thought, when they pull the cartridge out, if they don't drain the bowl first the diesel can tend to wash down the cartridge and leave very dirty fuel in the bowl... where when you change the spin on filters, you've eliminated the wash down dirty fuel in the bowl... and I'll bet the dealer won't bother to drain the bowl before changing the filter... takes too much time. .

Hope this helps. .

 

[CUMMINZ]

Mike, don't sweat, This is very simple.



There is no sensor or sampler of any kind on your engine. This message that comes up is simple a computer generated message. Depending on your driving style and engine operation is what generates the message. When you take your truck into the dealer ALWAYS have them show you the percentages of load in which your truck is operated. There are readings of 10% to 90% of full load on the engine. My tech told me mine runs very low numbers at 10%. He said most trucks run 60% of running time at 10% load. That is bad for your DPF. This also forces computer calculations to demand oil changes sooner. Have your dealer show you how to reset this message. You can do it with your turn on switch and fuel pedal.



Good luck with your truck.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Engine oil bypass installation

AMSOil Remote ByPass Filter Install - 2007. 5 Dodge RAM 3500 6. 7L Cummins Diesel

 

[pwr2tow]

Hello,
Joined the forum last month and this is my first post. I purchased my vehicle also a month ago it is an 08 mega cab Ram 2500 4x4 Vin#3D7KS29A08G247168. I have already changed the oil twice and have only gotten about 2600mi out of both oil changes. I am taking the truck to my dodge dealer tomorrow for a new fuel filter and was wondering if there is an updated flash for my truck that would help it achieve more miles between oil changes. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike Dabbelt

First off are you resetting the ECM when you change your oil.
Key on but not start, press accelerator pedal slowly to floor three times within ten seconds, turn key off, oil change counter cycle has now been reset.

 

[Hoefler]

How much are you letting your truck idle?? This will call for more frequent oil changes as well.

 

[sag2]

Hello,

Joined the forum last month and this is my first post. I purchased my vehicle also a month ago it is an 08 mega cab Ram 2500 4x4 Vin#3D7KS29A08G247168. I have already changed the oil twice and have only gotten about 2600mi out of both oil changes. I am taking the truck to my dodge dealer tomorrow for a new fuel filter and was wondering if there is an updated flash for my truck that would help it achieve more miles between oil changes. Any help would be appreciated.



Thanks,

Mike Dabbelt

Mike, welcome to TDR, a great resource for you and your new truck. The oil change message is turned on by an algorithm based on YOUR driving conditions. The light comes on about 500 miles before it is actually required, so you don't have to drop everything to get it changed. Do not exceed the interval on the overhead unless you back it up with oil samples to prove the oil condition is still OK. The message usually comes on when there is about 3-6% fuel dilution in the oil (as verified by many oil samples on many trucks). You will notice several of the posts above indicate the intervals for them are very long, but that the oil change light still does not come on. This is because THEY have much different drive conditions than you do.

You can extend the interval by having the latest flashes, minimize cold starts, excessive cold idle, low speed operation, low load operation, excessive hot idle. Avoid excessive temp extremes. Driving the truck harder will generally result in longer oil life. Follow what Dodge owners manual says and use common sense.

 

[Dabbelt1]

yes i am reseting the ecm to get rid of the "oil change required" message.

 

[Dabbelt1]

i do idle my truck for maybe 10mins each morning before i leave for work. i live in indiana and the mornings are quite cold. is this to long to keep my truck idling?

 

[Hoefler]

i do idle my truck for maybe 10mins each morning before i leave for work. i live in indiana and the mornings are quite cold. is this to long to keep my truck idling?

In my opinion, yes. Use the block heater, get in, start it, and go. It will warm up much quicker with a load on it. I change my oil at 7,500 miles, some times I forget to reset the ECM, it will go off around 9,000 miles when I don't reset it. I rarely ever let it idle, when I do it is while hooking up a trailer.

 

[Jim W]

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your truck. , you will learn a lot here.

I would listen to Sag 2, he and another mechanic on this forum are very knowledgeable in working on the 6. 7L engines and offer good advice.

If you are going to idle for any time, I would ensure that the High Idle feature is enable. If not have the dealer enable the high Idle feature for you. You will then set the cruise control to on and hit the set button, this will then idle the engine at 1100 RPM's, which is better for the engine. I would also drive with the exhaust brake on all the time except in the winter when icing on the roadway is present. This will help the turbo from building up soot in it and warm the engine up faster. ( You may know about this already)

I too live in a cold climate, IL. and I do not idle my engine at all except at stop lights. I use to have to change my oil every 2,500 to 3,000 miles during the winter months. I used to drive between 80 and 90% city driving and 10 to 20% highway during the winter months. I bought the truck to pull my 5er and in the camping season my oil change interval was 4,000 to 5,000 miles. Truck was worked harder and drove on the highway more.

Since I have done my mods I now change at 5,000 mile intervals.



Good Luck

Jim

 

[jeepit]

i do idle my truck for maybe 10mins each morning before i leave for work. i live in indiana and the mornings are quite cold. is this to long to keep my truck idling?

Like others have said, use block heater. When you are ready to go in the morning don't bother idleing. The only way to get a diesel warm is to work it. So as soon as oil pressure is up I wait a minute and then drive.

 

[Dabbelt1]

I really appreciate everybodys help with this. The cost of the fuel canister and filter change was $121. 55. I was told by the mechanic that it will not be so costly on the next change because the canister is reuseable. I will no longer idle in the morning just plug it in the night before, i will see if that extends my oil change interval. Again I thank everyone for there genuine concern, really makes me appreciate becoming a member.



Thanks,



MIke Dabbelt

 

[PFranzese]

Use a timer on the extension cord, I turn mine on for 2. 5 to 3 hours in the morning with the timer. I just plug the truck in when I get home from work and let the timer take care of the rest. Its certainly not that cold here in norther NJ but it does help on the colder mornings, cold for us anyway.

 

[Jim W]

I really appreciate everybodys help with this. The cost of the fuel canister and filter change was $121. 55. I was told by the mechanic that it will not be so costly on the next change because the canister is reuseable. I will no longer idle in the morning just plug it in the night before, i will see if that extends my oil change interval. Again I thank everyone for there genuine concern, really makes me appreciate becoming a member.



Thanks,



MIke Dabbelt

Mike,

You can now change your own fuel filter for a lot less then what the dealer charges you. You can buy the reusable filters from Geno's Garage for $36. 95 plus shipping. Part number for the filter that uses the reusable filter housing is FS43258. I would order several and keep one in the truck as a spare in case of filter plugging do to bad fuel.

There is a very good post on how to change the filter, I would do a search on how to change a fuel filter. The search should be in the 6. 7L post section.

Good luck.