ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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We bought our 2008 Dodge Ram 1 ton dually last Dec. 28th...almost a year ago...wow...Anyway - The oil has been changed twice. Yesterday when we had it changed the sign on the wall at the dealership said $59.95 for oil change on a diesel...ok, no problem. The final bill? Over $82.00. Why I asked? Well, ya gotta use this special oil in the '08's. What if I don't use it? "Then your in danger of having your warranty voided." What? Ok, so now I'm on the hook for this 'special oil'...what's this about? Anyone know?
Also, I haven't been using the exhaust brake enough and the turbo needs to be cleaned - it's under warranty, so that's good. So do you use the exhaust brake all the time? The dealership said they didn't know...maybe yes, maybe no...Some have said "Sure, use it anytime, any speed" and then others have said "Not at high speeds." So which is it? Thanks in advance!
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
2008 Silver Dodge Diesel Dually 3500 - "The Silver Bullet"
Towing 1998 35 ft. Newmar 5th wheel
20K Husky Hitch & Blue Ox Bedsaver
Handheld Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS AND Sat. in dash mounted GPS in the truck
READY TO ROLL!
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jim87vette
Arizona
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Joined: 07/25/2008
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Engine Oil - Any CH-4 or CI-4 designated oil. 15W-40 is the recommended viscosity of oil, a synthetic may carry a 5W-40 viscosity rating. It is allowed to use a 10W-30 viscosity oil when temps will be below freezing. Do not use other viscosity oils.This is for a Duramax though but it hasn't changed for the years the Duramax has been out as far as I know?They should post a difference though or let you know I think its BS myself.
08 GMC 3500 Dually Duramax
96 Chevy 2500 6.5
05 Yamaha Rhino
04 Gearbox 335FS 5er 14k wet
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hook47
Olympic Peninsula, WA, USA
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Joined: 10/27/2004
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Check out the Amsoil website and it will tell you, as will your owner's manual, that you must use a CJ-4 rated oil because of the emissions stuff. Not a dealer, but I do use the stuff. Might also do a search for a website that specializes in your truck for more good info. You are lucky that the oil change guys knew what you needed, if in fact they used a CJ-4 oil.
2008 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 4X4 CC Duramax/Allison & 2007 Mobile Suites 36TK3
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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Contrary to popular belief you must use the correct oil. So the dealer is correct! If you use the old CH-4 it has a much higher ash content and is suppose to cause problems. So far I have not seen the price for the new formula more than a couple of dollars a gallon higher. Also, if you go over to cumminsdieselforum.com and do some reading you will find that two things are causing most of the problems. One is excessive driving in town and not allowing the motor to get warm enough to go through a regen cycle. and two is NOT using the EB on a regular basis. All of these problems and believe me it is across the board on all of the 2008 diesels, can be traced to two added components mandated by the EPA courtesy of the environmental wacko movement. First is the DPF (diesel particulate filter) and the second and probably the worst problem is the EGR (exhause gas recirculation) This piece of engineering nightmare pumps too much exhaust gas back through the engine and causes all the carbon buildup on the Turbo and sliding plate. Do away with it and the DPF and the problems also go away. On top of that your fuel economy goes up by anywhere from 1 to 3 MPG
Donn
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CumminsDriver
Newcastle Calif.
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Joined: 09/09/2006
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Actually what your truck requires is a CJ-4 rated engine oil because of the emissions system it has. The CJ-4 is a low ash oil to be used with diesel vehicles that have the DPF(diesel particulate filter) which became mandatory on the new diesel trucks beginning Jan. 1st of 2007. This oil is backwards rated, meaning it can go into the older diesels. The CJ-4 oil has been out for at least 2 years now and is just about all you can find now.
Also, don't be afraid to use that exhaust brake. I use mine all the time, even empty.
Rich
'07 Dodge/Cummins 5.9 3500 Quad Cab DRW SLT Big Horn 6 speed manual, Pac Brake Exhaust Brake, Timbrens & Overload Bump Stop Spacers; Tork Lift Super Hitch, Tiedowns and Fastguns
'04 Arctic Fox 990
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kmh3212
Georgia
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Joined: 01/21/2007
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The CJ-4 oil requirement is also lower in sulfer as well. Any sulfer that gets into the exhaust will ruin the catlyst in the exhaust system that will create DPF problems. The same effect as not using ULSD.
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jim87vette
Arizona
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Joined: 07/25/2008
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Cj-4 should of been included in my orig post but I think it got covered,Diesels have changed a bit over the years.
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RRUGG
Newaygo, MI,USA
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Joined: 08/08/2003
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You must use the right oil but I didn't pay any particular premium price. My dealer charged me $52.47 for the last one. My fuel filter charges are much less with my 2008. I was paying eighty some dollars on my 2001 and forty something for my 2008.
RRUGG
2008 Dodge 2500 QC 4x4 SB Cummins 6 speed auto 3.73
1997 Holiday Rambler 29FK travel trailer
2006 Summit 22RB travel trailer
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport
Bob & Grace professional retirees
Good Sam life members
Camped in 49 states. Missing Hawaii.
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ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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Thanks to you all - 1 thing I did forget - there was a charge for an air filter in that final amt. Still seems too high to me.
PROBLEM: We have this 1 piece of transportation and we are stationary in Texas, so it gets used to do all the in town running around...toodling back and forth. So what to do? We will be hitting the road in the Spring, hopefully. But when we start it up and run a couple of miles and back, should we let it sit and heat up a bit?
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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Since this is your one and only transportation:
1) Do not idle it for long periods of time.
2) use the EB all the time
3) Make sure to drive for about 45 minutes at highway speed with out the cruise control on once a week or so.
4) Get to a good Dodge Cummins dealer and have them do the latest flash and O2 sensor update. This should eliminate your major chances of CEL's
5) Have the dealer turn on the high idle feature and teach you how to use it.
6) At the same time, they can turn on such niceties as DLR's, fog lights and high beams. A good dealer will do this for free for you.
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