Advice for a new Diesel owner?

schickdecision · Aug 30, 2011

I am looking for any advice I can get being a new owner of a 2011 Dodge 3500 with a 6.7 Cummins Diesel. I have never owned nor been around many diesel trucks so any advice could help. Such as, is there a right way and a wrong way of using the exhaust brake? Do you leave it on while driving or just put it on when you need it (I mean when towing that is)? Is there a certain way of keeping the DPF clean? What kind of break in period am I looking at for the engine? Is there a right and wrong way of breaking it in?
Thanks Guys!

suzuki_ryder · Aug 30, 2011

My friend always has his exhaust brake on so i guess use it when ever you like. There's no real influence on the DPF, other than fuel additives. You should run diesel fuel conditioner as ULSD has no lubrication, and the conditioner helps prolong fuel pump and injector life. As for break in, give it a couple oil changes, and find something heavy to pull when you can. Some guys say the best way is to work it from day one.

It's going to be hard getting better fuel economy, since DPF deletes and chips to delete the regen cycle have been banned.

sled-fiend · Aug 30, 2011

Riding with the exhaust break on will help keep your regen cycles down if you do alot of city driving. I'm not sure how your lenient dealer is with warranty or if your worried about having a warranty, but the best thing you can do for the longevity of your truck is take all that dpf crap off. The majority of warranty issues that arise on these cummins trucks are due to all the emissions stuff. I've got a 2011 3500 Laramie and installed an H&S minimaxx tuner, 5" TBE (removes all the dpf stuff) at 1000kms, I'm almost at 10000kms now and not a single issue. The truck runs like it should now, my mileage is up and its a night and day difference in drivability. Check out cummins forum and you'll find tons of info on your truck there. I'll also add that I have the overdrive software from H&S and no more lugging around town in 5th-6th gear, firm crisp shifts now and always in the right gear

MATTIAC · Aug 30, 2011

congrats on the bad ass truck!! break it in like you would normally use it. a cummins wont be truly broke in for many many thousands of km. Exhaust brake should be on whenever you drive it but be careful in winter as it could cause your back end to get loose, though its never happened to me. why because the turbo is a VGT, variable vains, so it slides up and down, by keeping the exhaust brake on it keeps the turbo cleaner. depending on your dealer for warranty, the best thing to do to these trucks out of the gate is a H&S tuner, like a black maxx or mini maxx with the Overdrive transmission software. it will add power, get way better mileage, delete your DPF and delete your EGR. the overdrive software is transmission tuning which changes your line pressures to better suite the power and not risk blowing up your tranny under normal conditions. in the end your foot is the deciding factor of how things will last. so my opinion is add a tunner by H&S, add a cold air intake by S&B and do a turbo back exhaust by Flo Pro and you my friend will love your truck!

jaredszakacs · Aug 30, 2011

I agree with mattiac here best thing to do is drive it like you would normally right off the bat and delete all the emmissions crap it is well worth it in the end i had all the emmissions crap taken off my dmax at under a 1000 km and now at 82000 and still havnt had a single issue talk to chad from www.alligatorperformance.com he has a 2010 6.7 for his tow rig with all the crap taken off and it works awesome!!! congrats on the new ride

sledhead_2002 · Aug 30, 2011

suzuki_ryder said:
It's going to be hard getting better fuel economy, since DPF deletes and chips to delete the regen cycle have been banned.

??? Banned???

arff · Aug 30, 2011

I have left my 3500 all stock. Use the engine brake for towing and on long trips. 110,000 km and no issues. Tows the toy hauler no problem and the power is good. I don't check fuel mileage so not sure what I get. It's empty I fill it.

Summitric · Aug 30, 2011

sledhead_2002 said:
??? Banned???

\

more or less in the u.s.a......... Superchip, edge, diablo etc have all been served notice by the government and are trying to redesign "legal" systems, so if you have access to a system and are thinking about chipping and doing away with anytype of dpf delete system, you should jump at it now....... There are hardly anymore "chips" available at the big warehouse i deal with, and can't even get the one for my truck.

P.s. ....... Don't use synthetic engine oil until at least 15000 kms, as the cummins cylinders are very hard and require lots of breakin mileage, before a synthetic oil should be used.

schickdecision · Aug 30, 2011

So what is the best tuner out there (that can be hid from the dealer) so you keep warranty? I hear Bully Dog and Edge are pretty good. I had a superchips cortex for my old truck and that worked well but they do not have a program in place for the 2010/2011 Cummins. As for now, all I might be interested in is that. Not much for taking off the DPF by changing the exhaust or anything like that. My cousin is a heavy duty mechanic and tells me (because we are up north in Fort McMurray) that a cold air intake freezes off very easily in our climate. Keep the info coming though. This is great!!

sled-fiend · Aug 31, 2011

The dealer can find pretty much any tuner that gets put on your truck. IMO the only options are H&S or Smarty.

suzuki_ryder · Aug 31, 2011

sledhead_2002 said:
??? Banned???

In the states, but all the diesel performance companies come out of the states. Was told a while back if I wanted to do the DPF delete, to do it then. I kinda wish I did, but my power stroke still has warranty.

Advice for a new Diesel owner?

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