Questions about a 2012 Dodge 2500HD / Cummins

2010 Ram trucks had upgraded steering from "gen 3" trucks and resolved most of the emission issues. These trucks get better fuel mileage because the 6 speed automatics shift quicker at lower rpm's when empty allowing the engine to run slower. This reduces the engines ability to built heat and burn off excess carbon (soot) which is trapped by the dpf and eventually burned off so we can't see it. No brand of diesel was exempted from these emission and technology growing pains. DEF was supposed to cure them but created some new ones which the manufacturers are working they way through. Dodge(Ram) can with a 15 minute scan can tell you the entire history on that truck from updates done to programmers to abusive conditions the truck encountered. We have 2 and they like to run hot and run hard, 1 is a company truck and 1 is my sons daily driver. Lack of horsepower-they could put 1000 hp in a pickup and somebody would complain they were not going up a hill fast enough with 20k+ going up a mountain grade. Depending on where you live climate wise will depend on how much you will have to learn about keeping it clean internally. We prefer non DEF engines here due to the severe cold as it will freeze if the tank heater is not working. The absolute worse thing you can do with any diesel is baby it. It is governed for a reason, the manufacturer sets the governor so drive accordingly.