Cummins longevity and maintence

Whatever year truck you're hypothetically talking about, there are no additives needed for anything.
Engine oil in the engine, diesel in the fuel tank, gear oil in the diffs, ATF in the trans, tcase and hydro pump and brake fluid and washer fluid where they go.
The only "additive" I would consider is 2 stroke oil to older pre-ulsd trucks to help injector life, but even that is suspect.

OR, you can buy fuel treatment for every tank and that Archoil **** for the engine and super luber duty additive for the diffs. Truck will run the same.

I am on my third RAM/Cummins. I having always done my own routine maintenance. I only beef I have with the new gen RAM's is the 15K/6 Month/500 Hours oil change guidance. For someone that does not drive a lot, the 6 month part is a bit of a waste of good oil.

I change the oil filter from the top by removing the intake duct between the filter box and turbo. Some do it through the wheel well.

I use only Fleetguard stratapore LF16035 oil filters, ordering them from Geno's Garage or Amazon. the LF16035 is better filter than the best one RAM has in there line up. BTW Fleetguard is a Cummins company. I use 15W/40 dino oil.

To change fuel filters, there are two, I use a length (18-24") of clear tubing that fits the drain on the rear filter will help to drain the filter in a container. The same tube will fit inside the tube of the engine mounted secondary filter drain also.

The Turbo Diesel Register is a good site for RAM/Cummins info.

I used Amsoil in the diffs at the first change. Your 68RFE tranny uses MOPAR ATF+4.

The AAM axles are torque biasing differential and NOT limited slip with clutches that need an additive.

I have always used Peak Blue DEF in the 2.5 gal boxes, adding one when gauge is at 1/2 full. Tip hold the box so the host is at the top of the box and the black vent quacker is on the high side. This is kind of reverse of how you use a gas can. If you hold the box the way you would use a gas can you will drip DEF fluid from the quacker.

Peak Blue DEF has a date code that has to be decoded.

The date code on the BlueDEF box

GA202320089

break this down into 4 groups of numbers:

GA: The designator of the plant that manufactured the DEF
20(fixed typo): The year of manufacture plus 1, so this DEF was made in 2019
232: 365-232 = 133, so the 133th day of the year, or May 13th.
0089: The batch code.

So this box of DEF was made May 13th, 2019.

Chris

Turbo Diesel Register is a good resource. Google it. Geno's Garage too.

No additive needed in the coolant like the 7.3L Fords.
Differentials need servicing more often than one might think according to the manual. A critical part of owning a diesel is looking after the fuel filters.
They are not to be forgotten or neglected.

OK guys, need some sage advise from previous and current owners about scheduled maintenance. New to the diesel scene and I want to make sure I do what I'm suppose to...so asking for help. I've done research online, but I can only find part of the answers so I'm turning to y'all. The owner's manual tells me some of it, but are there any tips and tricks that can be shared.

So far I've found that there is an additive that I'm suppose to put in the differentials when I change the fluid since it's a limited slip, and I know that the old 7.3L Fords had something that was put in the antifreeze to prevent cavitation, but I can't find any information like that on current engine. Is there a holy grail resource site that can help?

Please fire away with all your help. Thanks

Follow the maintenance schedule in the owners manual. Many Cummins engines have gone 500,000 miles and some over a million miles without being taken apart. The engine will outlast the truck if taken care of.

Fords last longer so their maintenance intervals are better?

Cummins longevity and maintence

Follow the service schedule in your year model Dodge/Ram truck owners manual for the Cummins and drive train components.
Forget what Ford says about their engines/etc maintenance schedules or special additives.

Bringing up Ford is germaine...no difference than mentioning Amsoil, Mobil, Michelin, Weathertech, etc, etc, etc...

Please provide vehicle info. Maintenance intervals change depending on year.

As far as diff fluid, friction modifier is not needed on 2003+ trucks since they have a gear style limited slip, not a clutch style limited slip like your old Ford.

I'm confused. Why bring up Ford when the title is about Cummins. Ford has its own issues which are not shared by Cummins.

As far as longevity the Cummins is in a class by itself in pickup based diesels. Not to be confused with Ford.

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