2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Yup, me again... Workin on the truck this weekend... help...

[DavidPope]

Hi again all... My questions today are regard regular maintenance...



- oil changes

- other fluid changes

- any other preventative maintenance I forgot



If you have the time to answer all of my Q's THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!



If not please feel free to answer any you feel like, and THANKS!!!



I have an 01. 5' 4x4 auto sport, with 19k miles on her... thus far I have changed the fuel filter, put in a K&N box filter, and put new tires on her.



This weekend I plan to do an oil change and put red line synthetic in her



I used the search feature... but after an hour or 2 you get frustrated... sorry... it took me over an hour to find a link on how to change my fuel filter (more time than it took to do)



My Questions are:



1. When doing my oil change from regular to synthetic is there anything I can do to essentially "flush" most of the other oil out?



2. Does anyone have a link to a "proper" oil change, I've done many before, but this is my new baby and want to dot my i's and cross my t's?



3. What other fluids & filters should I look to change this early in my trucks life? I will have her till she dies and don't know how the prior owner drove her...



4. Do you have a link to the "proper" way to change those fluids and filters?



5. What is considered regular maintenance? ie oil every xx mi's, fuel filter every xx mi's, transmission fluid xx mi's, adjust the valve's every xx mi's? My owners manual is worthless...



6. What else should I have asked???



thanks everyone, lookin' forward to gettin dirty and cuttin my knuckles up this weekend Oo.

 

[Grayhackle]

Hi David



this site was recommended in another thread. It's great with pictures too for us shade tree mechanics.



http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/index.html



Hope that helps!



Bill James

 

[DavidPope]

thanks, I will bookmark it this time... I found it a week ago, but then couldn't find it again... Should probably buy a maintenance manual...

 

[dezeldog]

David, You might want to hold off on the synthetic switch for now as the recommend that you have 30k on the truck before switching over.



Jim

 

[Joe Mc]

Dave,



Your owners manual is good for at least one thing, the last page has the number to call to order the shop manual - it's worth it's weight - spend the $100 or whatever - it will repay you the first time you "don't have to pay someone else" to do a simple repair.



Did anyone mention gages? Most of us (with Auto Trans) go with: EGT/Boost (combo), Trans. Temp and Fuel psi. - best place is on the "A" pillar - MHO. Plan on about $500 - $600 and a good weekend to do a quality install. Also you can get the spray bomb to match your interior @ the local Dodge Dealer - usually in stock for about $10 or so.



As far as the valve adjustment - recommended interval is 100k! I did mine @ 101k and they were still within specifications!!!! What a machine we all own.



Enjoy your truck - treat her well and she'll do likewise.



Joe mc

 

[illflem]

There really shouldn't be any set number of miles for a fuel filter change. One bad tank can clog it or fifty good tanks can leave it still clean. A fuel pressure gauge to monitor the filter will pay for itself in a couple saved filter changes or just one stuck in the middle of nowhere filter plug up.