Newbie w/ a '01 Ram 2500 CTD and some questions

Going to pick up my '01 2500 in a few days! Can't wait to get more familiar with it! It has 57k miles on it.... It's just a baby!

I've got a few questions though...

1) What kind of initial servicing should I be doing to it? What brands of fluids does the CTD like the best? It has barely been driven for the last 6-8 months while it waited for me to adopt it

2) I see posts make reference to a 12V and 24V model CTD. which do I have, and what should I know about it?

3) I do see what looks like a slight leak at the front of the oil pan. Is this common, or is that indicating something amiss?

The original owner said he towed a camper with it.

Thanks for any help!
-Frank

 

congratulations on the new truck! i think the 2001 would be a 24valve motor but im not 100% sure. regarding fluids your owner's manual should tell you what grade of oil to use and whatnot i think its supposed to be 15W-40 in normal weather. in my owner's manual, it says you are supposed to change the oil every 7,500 miles (i do every 5,000), change the front and rear diff fluid and the fuel filter every 15,000, and the transmission and t-case every 30,000. mine is brand new so it might be different for the 2001's. i would check w/ the previous owner and figure out if he has been keeping up w/ the fluid changes and everything. if it were me, i would probably go change everything just so i could start fresh and know for sure when it was changed last waytogo

 

You have a 2nd generation ISB 24 valve engine. The later fuel rail 24v found in the 3rd gen body style is technically an ISBE. Yours is an electronic engine, but uses a rotory injection pump, which is a fine setup. THe problem is that the Bosch VP44 electronic injection pump is known for being too weak. It is a finiky pump, if it gets dirt or water run through it, it will die. Dodge and CUmmins has had a lot of problems with this injection pump and there isn't much for fixes for it from Bosch. But, there are aftermarket parts that can aid in it living a long life.

Things to check for is #1 fuel pressure. There is a small electric fuel lift pump that puts around 11-16PSI of fuel pressure to the main VP44 IP that I mentioned. Without this fuel pressure from the "helper" pump the main IP gets hot and starves for fuel. THe small lift pump "helper" pump is also known for going out prematurely. This has caused many of the main VP44 pump failures. The number one thing to making your injection pump last the longest it can is with

1. ALWAYS having adequet fuel pressure, between 11-16 PSI regardless of throttle. THe second thing is to always use clean fresh fuel.

CHANGE YOUR FUEL FILTER! Change it, it should be done about every 20K. A filter changed on schedule is well known for keeping the "helper" lift pump alive, along providing the cleanest fuel it can to the main IP.

Have your transmission serviced. Most people don't even know there is oil in a transmission, even less actually think that it would ever need changing.

With only 57K I would probably leave the rear end alone. I pulled my differential cover to inspect the insides and to change the oil, but I bought my truck at 101K. I refilled with 75w-90w Mobile 1 synthetic.

Outside of that I can't think of much. Your valves won't need adjusting for another 100K. waytogo

As far as the oils I would use a good brand of oil that is a diesel specific 15-40. I use Exxon XD3 Extra but I don't think it really helps much in a pickup. It's 50K oil but thats in a commercial application. It's kind of expensive and is aimed for OTR applications. I use it because we get it by the 55 gallon drum and it's cheaper for me to just buy 3 gallons from our company and pump it out of the barrel. I'd change somewhere between 7-10K depending on the type of oil you use. From what I gathered you won't be working the truck real hard so I'd think you should be able to get some mileages out of an oil change.

Delo is a good oil too. If the previous owner didn't use synthetic than I wouldn't use syn. I have always been told that a motor needs synthetic from the beginning of it's life to actually be worth the extra cost.


Your oil leak could be because the truck sat so long. Not really sure.

 

Ok, point me to the "Cummins Diesels for Dummies" page... rotfl

...What does ISB mean?
...How do I check that fuel pressure? Is there a gage on the dash that I didn't notice, or do I need to have that done under the hood?

If you guys have any links that would clear up alot of basic diesel questions, feel free to point me to them so I don't clog up the forum with typical newbie questions!

 

Hey, thats what this site is for, ask away.

 

Ram with a cummins, YUK!!!!! Guess someguys like to settle for second best

Nah, Im just kidding, just a little humor

Congrats on your new truck, between your new truck and this site you will have a ton of fun waytogo

Seriously, was just kidding about the YUK part imp:

 

Congrats

An excellent resource for information on Cummins powered trucks is the Turbo Diesel Register. http://www.turbodieselregister.com/ There is more knowledge, tricks, fixes, and fun than you can imagine.

 

Yeah but TRC is Cooler :stir:

 

You shure spend a lot of time outside the Ford forums posting jibber jabber that causes commotion then actually posting in the Ford specific tech forums. Go make your first post in the Ford forum, this is the Dodge specific tech forums you wondered into.

 

I honestly don't know what "ISB" means. I do know that the "b" stands for the series. Cummins makes a bunch of "IS" engines, the four I know of are the ISB(5.9L) ISC (8.3L), ISM (11.1), and the ISX (Big....?)

You have to have the fuel pressure checked with a special guage that plugs in on a port that is located on the injection pump itself. I would take it to a dealership or someone you know that knows how to work on diesels, not a gas/car shop only. A good diesel savvy shop should be able to get your pressure read in a matter of minutes with the hood up.

No, there is no guage inside the cab, but there should have been one from the factory. It would have saved Dodge/Cummins/Bosch a lot of money.

Ask ANY questions you may have, I don't care how silly you may think they are. I'm fairly savvy with the 2nd gens and will give your questions my best shot. waytogo

 

ISK= 15L/815ci

 

Dang, you again .... I know your not talking..... you cant be serious.... with all the posts you have in the Ford fourms I think that you wish you had a Ford....shhhhhhh, i wont tell anybody rotfl

 

I post everywhere, and try to keep the jibber jabber to a minimum from myself. If I post in the Ford or GM forums it will probably be me aiding in a question or asking one. I'm not a fan of the jibber jabber....

 

On your oil leak, there are a couple things to check.
From underneith the rig check the two lines on the drivers side, there the trany cooler lines and tend to leak a little right there at the front of the pan. Also the crank case vent is on the front of the engine and the hose points down. Take a look under there if you can tell where it's comming from take it to a car wash get on your knees (leave it alone guys) and wash that area well, raise the hood and wash the front of the engine as best as you can also. Let it dry on the way home then take a nother look, maybe get a rag wipe it off a bit also then go for a short drive and take another look. I'll bet it's the vent dripping down the front on the engine.

Congrats on the truck

Dan

 

You kinda remind me of a spoiled kid, if it aint the way you want it, you whine about it! I see nothing wrong with mingling with fellow diesel owners and cracking a few jokes now and then. No one took my post serious about the "Yuk " but you, everyone knows im being sarcastic! maybe you take your truck more personal than evryone else, if so , buy it a ring and marry the thing!

From this point on, i will no longer respond to any of your foolishness about these trucks or your personal attacks towards me!!! The people here too nice and this forum is too nice of a place to be to fill it up with the crap your starting!

Ps, find something else to do, get a hobby, rather than whine about jibber jabber.

If you dont like "jibber jabber", the dont participate, or better yet, Dont respond to it!!!!!!!!!


To all the the Cummins, Powerstroke and Duramax owners in this forum, it is not my intent to disrespect or insult you in any way, shape or form.

 

Well right now the forum is new and needs a little jibber jabber from time to time to spark conversation, as long as it doesn't get out of hand I'm cool with it. waytogo

 

How about this:

DON'T TAKE EVERYTHING SO PERSONAL!!!!!

No one is out to attack anyone so everyone needs to just CHILL OUT!!!!!waytogo

END RANT

 

I never attacked you personally. I just get tired of useless posts in a tech specific forum, especially from someone that doesn't even directly belong in that group. General discussion, brand wars, and off topic are great places for the usuall "jibber jabber" and poking at other members. The brand specific tech forums are just that, technical informative forums for one brand.

 

An answer to the newbie

The engine you and I have has got a vent on the front of it, towards the drivers side of the engine. It comes out of the engine with a black hose goes up then makes a turn down ad might be about 7-8 inches long. There also might be what looks like a plastic bottle hanging from the hose. This puts a lot of oily residue down the front of the engine and in turn the oils pan and power steering lines. Just keep a good eye on your oil level and determine any leaks.

 

I agree with these guys that the "leak" is probably just the vent tube/bottle. Since you don't say if its a 4X4 or not, if it is then you might be getting some puking out of front diff. breather tube. If its not a 4x4 disregard. Also another suggestion is to look at the front of the engine below the injector lines and above the power steering pump, you will see an engine tag. Copy all the information down from it. Its difficult to see and you'll need a flash lite. It has the engine HP, engine serial number, etc. This is helpful, and necessary, when you go to your local Cummins dealer for parts. If you know anyone thats a Dodge dealer, they can also run a readout of your truck that has build information on it. Some dealers won't do it so don't get upset. Hope it helps.

Jib jabber on guys :stir: .