TDR Issue 101 is in the Mail, and the 2019 TDR Calendar Contest has Begun

It is that time of year again. Time to clean up the truck and send us your best photo. The deadline is Friday, September 7, 2018. It is hard to believe we’ve been doing this contest for eleven years. Yes, time flies.

The rules are simple. Post photo(s) of your truck at https://turbodieselregister.com/threads/2019-tdr-member-calendar-contest.264172/ by September 7, 2018. Be sure to post your name and a few details about your truck.

Or you may email your photo(s) to rpatton@ix.netcom.com.

Of if you prefer to mail in your photo(s), please mail to:

Turbo Diesel Register
Attn: 2019 TDR Member Calendar Competition
1150 Samples Industrial Drive
Cumming, GA 30041

Large digital file size? We can provide you with an FTP link to upload your photo directly. Simple make the request to rpatton@ix.netcom.com.

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What will you find in Turbo Diesel Register’s Issue 101?

• “Putting an old Dodge/Cummins to work.” New TDR writer, Peter Monshizadeh tells us about his 2001 Turbo Diesel and his trip to the Radwood 2 car show in Anaheim, California. Upon return to his Kansas home, he must replace a front wheel bearing.
• The editor-dude looks back ten years and finds the audience was faced with diesel fuel that was $5/gallon. Then the market/banking system/economy crashed.
• TDR writer, Andy Mikonis, gives us his impressions of the new 2019 Ram 1500.
• The usual fix-it correspondence from TDR members as selected from our website by writer, Greg Whale. Thanks TDR members!
• The “BITW” section has several articles about the ever-changing automotive and truck marketplace(s). Yes, China is in the news.
• Writer and oil guru, John Martin, talks about lube oil (again).
• TDR writer, Greg Whale, takes several pages to spotlight TDR members that are our “TDR Forum Heroes.” Congratulations to John, Scott, Bob, Don Fitzwater, Gary Ames, Casey, Mike Wilson, Nick Isaacs and Mark.
• The usual fix-this, break-that, add-this correspondence from writers Wale, Holmes, Holmes, Donnelly, Dalgleish, Gozzi, Ludel and Redmond.

As always, we hope you enjoy this edition of the Turbo Diesel Register. And get those iPhones and cameras out. We want your photos!

Robert Patton
Editor, Turbo Diesel Register

 

Robert, I couldn't find how to refer to an article but I wanted to note a discrepancy for oil change intervals from what you stated in your article "Technical Topics" in TDR 101. I do read the owners manual for my 2005 2500 Ram 4X4 and the Schedule B service tables show no check mark for oil and filter changes on any intermediate 3750 mile interval, only on the 7500 mile intervals (page 402 as an example). The Schedule A service tables has no check mark for the 7500 mile intervals, only the 15,000 mile intervals (page 412). However there are so many weasel words directing the owner to Schedule B that I can't imagine anyone using Schedule A but that's my two cents. The service record book that came with the truck, which no dealer has ever filled in, did suggest the shorter oil change intervals that you stated but it also had dates and references to the 2004 HO in the 2004 model year; I assumed that Dodge/Chrysler just failed to reprint the service book with the proper date and service intervals and used the previous models to save money. As a result I have religiously followed the Owners Manual rather than the wrongly (is that a word) dated service book. Currently putting on miles towards my next service at 202,500.

 

Robert, to followup, the the Maintenance Logbook, possibly from the dealer rather than Dodge/Chrysler, showed oil and filter changes at 3750 for "California LEV (235H hp) engines only". The 7500 mile oil/filter service interval was noted for the "Tier 1 EPA (250 hp or 305 hp)". One has to conclude that this logbook was for 2004 and earlier since I believe that all 2005 5.9s were 325 hp. I'll admit, I did make an exception; I did have the oil and filter changed at the first 3750 miles to make sure that any foreign materials from manufacture and break-in were removed fairly early.

I can copy the appropriate pages from both Owners Manual and Maintenance Logbook if you like.

Please move my posts to the appropriate forum or routing regarding the article.

 

Robert, to followup, the the Maintenance Logbook, possibly from the dealer rather than Dodge/Chrysler, showed oil and filter changes at 3750 for "California LEV (235H hp) engines only". The 7500 mile oil/filter service interval was noted for the "Tier 1 EPA (250 hp or 305 hp)". One has to conclude that this logbook was for 2004 and earlier since I believe that all 2005 5.9s were 325 hp. I'll admit, I did make an exception; I did have the oil and filter changed at the first 3750 miles to make sure that any foreign materials from manufacture and break-in were removed fairly early.

I can copy the appropriate pages from both Owners Manual and Maintenance Logbook if you like.

Please move my posts to the appropriate forum or routing regarding the article.

 

Don, no need to post Owner's Manual information.

I'm glad that you (and others?) have done that level of detail work. That was the purpose of the article.

That said, you know what the factory suggested in 2004-2005. However, the engine has long past its warranty-days and it is yours to maintain. I am comfortable to move to a longer drain oil interval. That's all.

Ultimately , you have to do what you are comfortable with. If my "comfort" helps you to make a change...okay we saved some money and time?

RP