Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) valve adjustment

[6btsmoker]

hi,i am new to the td site and just recently purchased a 98 ram 2500 with the 12 valve. the truck has 155k on it. i have been in the mechanic buisness for 30 years,heavy trucks and equiptment for 20, and automatic transmissions for the last 10. so i wanted the engine checked by a shop that has had experience with this engine family. just had the valves adjusted,new vc gaskets,fuel press checked,idle set. and new fuel filter installed. i have adjusted the valves on many heavy equiptment diesels and otr truck diesels with jake brakes. should it really take 6 hours to do that work on this engine ? or,did i just take it hard ? the bill was double the estimate with no explination for the additional cost. once,shame on you,twice,shame on me. does it sound like i need to find another shop ? thanks for your help,john in barre,vermont

 

[EBottema]

It does not take 6 hours to adjust valves, maybe like 2 hours max. If your are a mechanic like you say, why did you not do it yourself????

 

[DragonflyDriver]

It does not take 6 hours to adjust valves, maybe like 2 hours max. If your are a mechanic like you say, why did you not do it yourself????

Dang! Smack the first time poster upside the head why don't ya?

 

[sam616g]

so i wanted the engine checked by a shop that has had experience with this engine family.

I think that's why he didn't do adjust them himself.

 

[6btsmoker]

i did not do the work myself as i have not yet purchased a service manual. also i have been doing auto transmission work for the last several years. i thought it would be a good idea to get the engine checked by a "cummins" shop,thats all. sounds like i should have done the work myself. just as i thought,i got screwed. beware of the cummins shop in barre,vermont is all i that i can say. thanks,john

 

[GAmes]

I'm guessing that like most shops they charged for the time alloted in their book, whether it took them that long or not. Each job probably had a 1 hr min. I would take them to task for the giant overage on the estimate though. There may have been a disconnect somewhere. Every Cummins shop I have ever dealt with has given me excellent service and help, the one in Phoenix even lended me tools to replace a water pump because they couldn't get it in their shop that day. If you had said a Dodge dealer then I wouldn't have been surprised.

 

[JDougherty]

geez for that much money i would have left those old valves out of adjustment, i was quoted 195 by my local diesel shop.

 

[AMink]

Welcome aboard, Bakerjohn! You'll find more info on here than you need, and all you'll ever want. Like how to make your truck do a quarter mile in 11 seconds! I don't know how much it should cost for that service, but in a lot of places if they are going to go over the estimate, they need to let you know and get your permission. I'd definately ask them about that and maybe even check with the BBB in your area and see what "DA RULES" are. Good luck!

 

[6btsmoker]

for that much money i would have left them out of adjustment too. i am waiting for a call back for an explanation. i will post the results. thanks all.