Diesel Truck / Pick up Questions

[lenny]

I keep my truck in the garage all night so I may be a few degrees warmer out of the wind. It's a 94 dodge with 5.9 Cummings, starts well with no plug-in. Little rough and noisy for about 10 sec than smooths right out. If I leave it out I will plug it in though. 177k and runs like new.

 

[700classic]

I plug my F250 in with weather below 20 degrees F as well. Weight, especially since you have an open bed (right?) just get some sand bags tubes (50 lbs ea.) from Fleet Farm or the like. Build a quick frame out of 2X4s that fits between your wheel wells in an "H" pattern to hold the bags from sliding fwd and aft of your bed.

Then cover with a sheet of plywood. You will have the weight and a flat platform to carry all your goodies

 

[chad66]

Cuzz, tons of info on cummins forum. I've never used "anti-gel" Always 2 stroke oil, if yours is the 2nd generation (24 valve) with a vp-44 injection pump, you absoultely do not want any anti gel, for these are made up with naptha, toulene, & other solvents... great for stripping paint, not so good for your vp-44, & there about $1200.00 apiece before labor.
If your on the third gen 02-09 your pretty much golden. If your on a 94-98 you got a sweet 12 valve, a couple of turns of the screw, some grinding on the fuel plate & your making some serious power. Welcome to the CUMMINS! 280,000 on mine & still pullin everyday! Oh yeah plug it in & run synthetic your batts. will love you for it & never use starting fluid!

His truck is a 3rd gen with Common Rail injection...no VP44. Anti gel is never a bad idea and it wouldn't hurt to pick up a bottle of 911 diesel emergency. You'll be traveling a fair amount and fuel is anything but consistant these day's wether it be gas or fuel. Even fueling up in town at the same place I've run into bad batches of fuel...it happens. Do you HAVE to plug a Cummins in...not really if you have good batteries but it never hurts.

Chad@M&M

 

[yamadooed]

Buy a 12/3 100' led lighted end cord and use fuel conditioner and use both religiously...Good luck...

 

[jonesin]

I plug in my 01 dodge if convenient, but it has always started anyway, heater definately warms up quicker inside if it was plugged in.
don't forget that anything you put in the back for weight becomes a missle if you are in an accident, I would rather just put it in 4WD on the fly, just saying....
150k so far on mine and other than the body rusting away, mechanically absolutely no complaints
enjoy!!!!

 

[winter_time]

cuzz

it doesnt hurt anything to plug it in it will make the fluids become a little bit less thick and it is easier on the truck in the long run it should fire up without doing that too. as far as adding weight i would say you dont need it i run a f 250 and dont have any extra weight i run 4x4 quite a bit but dont go over 50mph just for respect to the truck. a lot of the time i could get away with two but i still like to take it easy and make sure i can get some feel of the road. hope this helps.

joe

 

[blob]

I park my 6.0 ford inside at home so need to plug in there. I will plug in if convenient when traveling, but have let it sit for days out west at 25 below and it always has started when not plugged in. A sled deck on the back of the truck makes great weight and great way to haul the sleds. Deck also makes a secure dry place to store gear in the bed of the truck.

 

[smokin440]

Plug it in anytime you can below +25*. Its a lot easier on the truck and if you want it to last a very long time ya got to be nice to it. Sure you can not plug it in and it might start, but dont you move easier when a little warmer in the morning vs cold? The truck will do the same. No sense in making it work harder then it needs to. Another thing you can do is run 5W40 oil in place of the 15W40. Mobil1 makes a diesel 5W40, so does AMSOil. That will help out cold starting also.

You shouldnt need weight in the bed, just use 4x4 a little more and go a little easier on the skinny peddle. But if you are dead set on putting a little weight w/o sacrificing space - http://www.shurtrax.com/

 

[sabercat]

Dear Cuzzinolaf,

Make sure you have good batteries.

Sabercat

 

[formula_ss]

I agreee with most, I bought an 05 cummins brand new, now has 102,000 miles on it. I never did plug it in, still have the orig batteries. However this winter i started to plug it in. I noticed it heats up so much quicker and I do not have to wait to scrape the windows. Maybe I am getting older and the heat feels much better than toughing it out in a cold cab on the way to work, haha, although the heated seats make it so much better.
As far as an additive in the diesel, I have not used any. So far no gel ups or water. It has been a very reliable truck.
I pull a 2 place enclosed and have never had any weights in the back.

 

[arctiva]

Mines not a cumming but a 03 duramax and ive found over the years as it gets older it dont start like it did when it was new so plugging it in now below 0 is a must or it wont start without killing the batteries and putting a charger on it. I know many guys with dodges/fords and duramax and there all the same new start 20 below no problem older and a 100,000 miles equals no start good. Could be batteries/starter/injectors you name it i supose. I also find driveing them every day helps imensilly versus them sittin days on end not being started.

Weight in the back. I recomend it. This is the 1st truck of many ive had problems in 2wheel drive breaking the rear tires free on the interstate just cruiseing down the road easilly. Just happend last weekend on the interstate when i hit a small patch of black ice. The front ends are heavy and make the back ends light and loose in my opinion.

Goodluck and welcome to the world of diesel power!!! LOL

 

[lvr1000]

Good info here for me as I am new to diesel (automotive) and I want my baby to last a long time.

 

[smokin440]

Good info here for me as I am new to diesel (automotive) and I want my baby to last a long time.

Look up 6.5L overheating and do EVERY MODIFICATION. Those things love to overheat and need all the help they can get. Also the computer loves to crap out from the heat. I know there is a relocation kit out there for them.

Hummers are very very cool vehicles, but its a shame they have the 6.5L in them. Should have been a Cummins, they would have sold like hot cakes lol.

 

[lvr1000]

thks 4 peeing on my parade

Dear mr smoken440, thanks for the negative comments on my ride. If you reread my post, I was commenting on the good, useful content of the tread. I didn't ask for any issues with the 6.5. I researched this vehicle for over 3 years and test drove 33 units and am a member of Diesel Place and have the 6.5 discussion saved on my favorites : (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21)

I am VERY familar with the PMD - Pump mounted driver - aka FSD issue and have seen them relocated in a WORSE location. I'm suprised as knowledgeable as you are with the 6.5, you didn't bring up the #8 cylinder issue, VERY expensive fix.

By the way, in the beginning, they did put the cummins in the hummer. (watch to the end) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh9sMxVVVpw

Thanks again all for the useful tips!

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=31188

 

[smokin440]

Dear mr smoken440, thanks for the negative comments on my ride. If you reread my post, I was commenting on the good, useful content of the tread. I didn't ask for any issues with the 6.5. I researched this vehicle for over 3 years and test drove 33 units and am a member of Diesel Place and have the 6.5 discussion saved on my favorites : (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21)

I am VERY familar with the PMD - Pump mounted driver - aka FSD issue and have seen them relocated in a WORSE location. I'm suprised as knowledgeable as you are with the 6.5, you didn't bring up the #8 cylinder issue, VERY expensive fix.

By the way, in the beginning, they did put the cummins in the hummer. (watch to the end) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh9sMxVVVpw

Thanks again all for the useful tips!

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=31188

I wasnt trying to be negitive. You said you wanted "your baby to last a long time" so I gave a few tips. Sorry if I came off the wrong way....
Got a video of your train horns?

 

[lvr1000]

I wasnt trying to be negitive. You said you wanted "your baby to last a long time" so I gave a few tips. Sorry if I came off the wrong way....
Got a video of your train horns?

We're good. Sorry I didn't realize they were tips. Funny how something can be read by four different people and have 4 different meanings. Video (with audio), hmm, something I didn't think of. Don't think the video could do the sound justice though.

 

[smokin440]

We're good. Sorry I didn't realize they were tips. Funny how something can be read by four different people and have 4 different meanings. Video (with audio), hmm, something I didn't think of. Don't think the video could do the sound justice though.

Very true. Ive got a set on my Kenworth at work, 1/2" line on a ball valve. lol
We have a set of UP rail lines right by work and one day as a train was goin by he hit the horns then I did, he hung out the window and gave me a thumbs up. haha

 

[dlange]

give me a call on your new ride k. I can help ya with anything you got on that ride. those are my specialties.