Zooka

Howdy all, Just got my first CTD in an 01 HO, has a Power Puck and 4 in exhaust.
But no owner's manual! So9 here are a few dumb questions, sorry.
1. How do I check for water in the fuel filter, lift that little lever on it I presume, do I need to do that after every fillup?
2. It has the wandering thermostat. I have a replacement, just wanted to check there were no unexpected surprizes, looks pretty darned easy to pull the housing and replace.
3. Engine number is too high for the dealer to replace the transfer pump, so I'm looking at the Bullydog Big Fuel kit, just as preventative maintenance. Not going to bomb this truck any more than the Power Puck, so is that overkill?
4. As it is a standard, and I'm not towing backhoes over independence pass or anything, I'm thinking the only gague I really need to add is a FP gague. Or is an EGT gague needed with this mild of a setup? Any good and inexpensive FP and other gagues to recommend?
Many thanks for all the great info here, folks.

dssimecek

Zooka,

Welcome to the site. Enjoy your truck. Dealer should be able to get you an owners manual. My truck, purchased used did not have the manual and the dealer was able to get it for me, free because it was missing.
Would recommed a FP, EGT, and Tranny temp gages. Look on this site for the setup you want. Many pix in the members photo gallerys.

Mike D

What is a wandering thermostat? Having a egt gauge is cheap insurance when pulling.

Zooka

My temp gauge will go up to almost 190, VERY slowly, then will drop almost to 140, then bounce back up, sort of wanders a lot. I had read that a lot of CTD thermostats were going bad and doing this behavior.
BTW I just got an email about some genuine rock rails for Dodge trucks, will post pictures and info in the non-drivetrain forum.
THanks all,
Zooka

xtoyz17

That's common behavior for these trucks, but a new t-stat can't hurt. I'd skip the trans temp gauge and get a boost gauge.

RowJ

That's what it does when it first opens!
But if it does not settle in 1 or 2 needle widths below 190* on a hwy drive, after fully warmed up, probably needs changing.

RJ

Zooka

Went ahead and changed it, as after a 180 mile hwy drive in ice and snow, about 28 degrees, it was settled in about 1 needle width above where the solid line begins after 140, except for a couple of times when it would jump up to 185 or so for a couple of minutes.
Easiest T-stat i ever changed too!
New one was like 26 bucks at O'Reilly's. Now it actually will settle in and stay at 190 for extended periods. Sure does take a while to warm up all that iron, though.
THanks for the advice yall!
-Z

dssimecek

Zooka, did youever get an owners manual? Just courious. There is/was a lot I did not know about our truck, so I found it usefull.

Zooka

Davey,
I ordered the factory service manual for an 02, as mine is an 01.5, plus a couple of other books, but still need to get the owners manual. It is on the list though!
-Z