Hello, I recently bought a 1999 ram 2500 diesel. I currently own a 1997 ram 1500 with the 318. I don't have alot of experiance with diesel engines. I would appriciate any advice on how to maintain this engine and what to keep my eye on. I am an electrician and average between 50 to 100 miles a day with a pretty heavy load of parts, tools, motors, etc...
Thanks

 

Hey I got a 99 too, congrats!

Ok, I'm no expert but this is what I've gathered.

Do a search for 53 motors, read up on it. It's just something to be aware of.

Fuel pressure gauge, must have! The lift pumps on these can go without notice and you'll never know till something else go wrong, most likely a $1200.00+ injector pump. I've replaced mine once already, the previous owner had just replaced it before I bought it and luck for me had put in a fuel pressure gauge.

You dashboard will crack, if it hasn't already. Once it starts, it just keeps cracking!

Well, that's a start for you.

 

Dashboard is cracked. Someone else with a 99 told me about the pressure gage also. Do you mount this in the cab or engine compartment?

 

Be sure to keep your oil and filters up to date.It is more important on a diesel than a gasser.As was stated above the IP are known to go bad.I don't really think you can do anything to prevent it either. And do a search on the "53 BLOCK" On here or you can Google it.Its something you should know about.

 

I think 99's don't have the KDP, but you might want to verify that.

As for a fuel gauge, I'd put one in the cab. At least a warning light to come on if lift pump pressure drops below 6psi...

 

Like bumpytruck mentioned, pay attention to your change intervals for oil/filter and fuel filter. Diesel has traditionally been a dirty fuel resulting in having to change your fuel filter much more often than gas powerd engines. I don't know if the new ULSD fuel is any cleaner than the old diesel it's replaced, but, I suspect it is based on the condition of my fuel filter when I change it out. I believe my 97 says to change the fuel filter every 12k miles. I normally put between 12-15k miles on a year. I change my fuel filter every 6 months regardless of milage...better safe then sorry, especially since my fuel filters are only around $15 ordered off the internet.

 

Thanks for everone's help! I am checking to see what I can learn about the 53 block.

 

This website provides a pretty good explanation of the 53 blocks weakness, and repair options. http://www.locknstitch.com/cummins_5_9_block.htm

 

Where do you live? They take a LOT longer to warm up.

 

I'm in Kansas. How long should I let it warm up at say 40 degrees? Also I see alot of diesels left running outside stores. What's the rule on idle times?

 

It's better to just leave them running for short periods of time than to shut down and restart. They don't eat much gas at idle.

I would say to let it idle for a minute or so and drive EASY for the first few minutes, til it's warmed up. It would take forever to warm up at idle in freezing temps.

 

When it gets down in the 40's i would just plug it in all night if you can.

 

Don't follow the 3000 mile oil intervals. Read the owners manual. I know on my 07 it says 15,000 or 7,500 for severe duty.


Get use to changing fuel filters a couple or so times a year. And don't skimp on it.

 

Thanks again for everyone's input!
How about spare parts? Anything a guy should carry with him. I do a lot of work at farms where I miles from a parts house.

 

Fuel filter, for sure.