2007 and later Cummins Owners

[mustang]

I just experienced an $ 3,200.00 lesson in Cummins Diesel Engine Maintenance. I was informed that over filling the crank case plugs up the emissions system. The mechanic said it is much better to keep the oil level a quart low than over fill. I found out that when the engine is hot there is approximately 1/2 quart of oil in the upper part of the engine. When the truck was serviced, they would fill it to the full mark. When I checked in the morning the level was 1/2 quart above the full mark, which got expensive.

They also said that City Slickers like me shouldn't drive Cummins powered trucks. They were designed to work, and idling around town isn't much work. They recommended I keep the transmission in a lower gear and the RPM higher.

I only post this in hopes it saves others a similar bad experience. I suggest anyone with a 2007 or later cummins verify this information with their Dealer. So,,, take it for what's it worth.

 

[Faster horses]

I just experienced an $ 3,200.00 lesson in Cummins Diesel Engine Maintenance. I was informed that over filling the crank case plugs up the emissions system. The mechanic said it is much better to keep the oil level a quart low than over fill. I found out that when the engine is hot there is approximately 1/2 quart of oil in the upper part of the engine. When the truck was serviced, they would fill it to the full mark. When I checked in the morning the level was 1/2 quart above the full mark, which got expensive.

They also said that City Slickers like me shouldn't drive Cummins powered trucks. They were designed to work, and idling around town isn't much work. They recommended I keep the transmission in a lower gear and the RPM higher.

I only post this in hopes it saves others a similar bad experience. I suggest anyone with a 2007 or later cummins verify this information with their Dealer. So,,, take it for what's it worth.

So sorry to hear of your troubles. If the service people caused it, wouldn't they have some responsibility in the repair cost?

We have Dodge Cummins that just about goes nowhere without pulling a trailer of some sort. We see people driving them around town all the time.
Your dealer is right, that's not what they are designed for. Lots of people tend to drive them like a gasoline outfit, then are upset when they have problems. I'll remember that about keeping the transmission in a lower gear.

I'll pass on to Mr. FH about overfilling the crankcase. Never hurts to stay informed!

Good luck! Hopefully everything is right with your Cummins now!

 

[Zilly]

Thanks for the heads up, Mustang. I have a 2010 and like you, I don't do much pulling. With all the emmisions requirements, combined with the lack of really working the motor, mine "makes" oil thanks to fuel dilution (DPF regen) and the exhaust being reintroduced to the motor.

I purchased it few months back with the intentions of pulling a 5th wheel out to Nebraska, but that didn't work out. I ought to sell it to avoid any expensive issues, but really like the truck and dont want to take a huge loss on it.

 

[3 M L & C]

The engine holds three gallons. So I would be curious why they would be so concerned when it was a half a quart low when you had it serviced. Especially since the engine was hot. Anyway good info to know. Thanks

Also for those in town. It is better to shut off one of these style engines than to let it idle as a lot of people do when they run into a convenience shop or what not. Mine has 70000 mile on it and has only done the dpf regin once. It happened when I was feeding with it one winter right by the house. After a few days of just putting around the light came on. So that's something I have avoided since. If you go down the highway once in a while that gets it working enough to avoid problems. If you live in town and don't get on the road much I can see the issue of not working it enough.

 

[LazyWP]

I know 2 guy that run the 6.7. Well really, I know lots of people with the 6.7, but 2 well enough to know pretty much everything that they have done to them. 1 has an 07 with about 100,000 on it. A year ago, he had all the exhaust removed, and new installed from the turbo back. Put a programmer in, and claims his mileage went up to close to where my 06, 5.9 is. I can get 22 mpg running empty. The other one has a 2012, and it kept doing its emission thing in the hills. With under 20,000 miles on it, he totally removed the exhaust, and put the programmer in. He still was only getting 12 to 14 mpg.
When I was looking at a different pickup, they told me, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE 6.7 PULL, otherwise you will ruin them.

 

[3 M L & C]

When I was looking at a different pickup, they told me, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE 6.7 PULL, otherwise you will ruin them.

I would have to disagree with that. Mine is a four door long bed with a hydra bed on it. It weighs about 10,000 pounds without cake feeder tool box's or anything on it, so it has a small load all the time. But how many do you see running around that are a four door short bed that is basicly a farmers car. And gets hooked up to a trailer maybe three or four times a year. There are way more of those out there than ones that pull a lot. Also like with anything else when they first went to the bigger engine your bound to have some small problems. Mine in a 2009 and they have had an update for the engine computer probably 3 times.

 

[Silver]

Also for those in town. It is better to shut off one of these style engines than to let it idle as a lot of people do when they run into a convenience shop or what not. Mine has 70000 mile on it and has only done the dpf regin once. It happened when I was feeding with it one winter right by the house. After a few days of just putting around the light came on. So that's something I have avoided since. If you go down the highway once in a while that gets it working enough to avoid problems. If you live in town and don't get on the road much I can see the issue of not working it enough.

If they are not run at operating temp for good periods of time they regen all the time. Where we calve out is 1 mile from my house, so when I make those short trips regularly my 2010 regens every 2nd day or so. Just what you want to do at 2:00 am is drive up and down the road until it finishes. Especially irritating is the fact that it only cleans down to 60% then quits.
Personally (and I guess I've said this on here before) I'm not a fan of the trucks. We have pretty tough country up here and the Dodges tend not to stand up as well as their competition. Mine has acquired the Dodge Death Wobble now, even after new ball joints, tie-rod ends, u-joints and steering shock. Now apparently I need to replace the steering mechanism with an after market one with different geometry.
Have I mentioned how much I like my '13 Ford? :lol:

 

[Faster horses]

Silver: "Have I mentioned how much I like my '13 Ford?"

Probably as much as we like our 2011 Dodge. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Don't have to add uretha (or whatever it's called) either...

Those new Fords are really pretty.

Mr. FH always pimps his up. I'll have to take a picture of it and post it here. He has chrome stacks on it :roll:
He drove into a friends place and their little boy was standing in the yard. He ran into their shop saying, "Daddy, daddy, the guy with the blowers is here!" :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Silver]

Silver: "Have I mentioned how much I like my '13 Ford?"

Probably as much as we like our 2011 Dodge. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Don't have to add uretha (or whatever it's called) either...

No urea for me, and no more diesel either. After much soul searching and figuring I couldn't justify owning one. I don't pull many heavy loads like Mr. FH does, and for the odd time I do it may take a little longer and burn a bit more fuel but it still works out in my favour.
I was kind of sad that the 6.2 liter Ford gas does equally as poorly on fuel as the Dodge diesel though. And extra irritating is the fact that about the time I made the switch to gas is when gas suddenly became more valuable at the pump :? I guess I can just console myself with the thoughts that I do get paid by the kilometer to drive it for my day job.

 

[Denny]

Silver: "Have I mentioned how much I like my '13 Ford?"

Probably as much as we like our 2011 Dodge. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Don't have to add uretha (or whatever it's called) either...

No urea for me, and no more diesel either. After much soul searching and figuring I couldn't justify owning one. I don't pull many heavy loads like Mr. FH does, and for the odd time I do it may take a little longer and burn a bit more fuel but it still works out in my favour.
I was kind of sad that the 6.2 liter Ford gas does equally as poorly on fuel as the Dodge diesel though. And extra irritating is the fact that about the time I made the switch to gas is when gas suddenly became more valuable at the pump :? I guess I can just console myself with the thoughts that I do get paid by the kilometer to drive it for my day job.

That's what happened to me bought the gas truck in December and gas began to climb. I prefer the gas less purchase price plenty enough power. If I need to haul a big load a long ways I'll hire a semi. I like the V-10 well enough I guess. I haven't had a diesel in 6 years and don't miss them.

 

[Faster horses]

We advised our daughter NOT to buy a diesel. They aren't for everyone.
We couldn't hire a semi for what we haul. When Mr. FH goes out of here with 7 ton of mineral in his stock trailer, a trucking company wouldn't be interested.

There are reasons to have a diesel and there are reasons NOT to have one.
I think this one will be our last one, unless I can get Mr. FH to travel and bit and pull the travel trailer. So far we don't have many miles on the travel trailer, but a heap of miles on the Featherlite Aluminum Stock Trailer. He loads with a cart and ramp and unloads the same way. Works good.

 

[leanin' H]

The problem is you all bought the wrong truck. My 2001 has 286000 miles on it, gets 25 mpg stock and has all the torque and power a guy ever needs. No stupid political exhaust fluid needed. :roll: I have replaced the front wheel bearings, tie rods and ball joints. That's a small price to pay to not have to drive a chev or ford. :lol:

 

[Faster horses]

The problem is you all bought the wrong truck. My 2001 has 286000 miles on it, gets 25 mpg stock and has all the torque and power a guy ever needs. No stupid political exhaust fluid needed. :roll: I have replaced the front wheel bearings, tie rods and ball joints. That's a small price to pay to not have to drive a chev or ford. :lol:

Ha! Ha! Funny!

 

[cure]

Everything that you said Mustang I have been told as well but I was also fold that as soon as your warranty is up go to a mechanic and have all the filters cut out and that will solve the problem to good luck with the truck and just think it could be worse you could be driving a ford

 

[Faster horses]

Everything that you said Mustang I have been told as well but I was also fold that as soon as your warranty is up go to a mechanic and have all the filters cut out and that will solve the problem to good luck with the truck .

That was our thought too, but you can't find anyone to do that work around here. The guy that was going to do ours, was warned by the government that he would face a BIG FINE if he was caught doing that work, so he won't do it any more. Anyone else have this happen? We have heard of it several times since. :x

 

[Silver]

Everything that you said Mustang I have been told as well but I was also fold that as soon as your warranty is up go to a mechanic and have all the filters cut out and that will solve the problem to good luck with the truck .

That was our thought too, but you can't find anyone to do that work around here. The guy that was going to do ours, was warned by the government that he would face a BIG FINE if he was caught doing that work, so he won't do it any more. Anyone else have this happen? We have heard of it several times since. :x

There's shops around here that make a living cutting the junk out from under Dodges. Even some of the dealers will do it. I always meant to do it to mine, but $1,900 seemed like too much. In hindsight it would have paid for itself but it seemed like a lot to spend on a new vehicle that really shouldn't need to be modified in the first place.

 

[3 M L & C]

Everything that you said Mustang I have been told as well but I was also fold that as soon as your warranty is up go to a mechanic and have all the filters cut out and that will solve the problem to good luck with the truck .

That was our thought too, but you can't find anyone to do that work around here. The guy that was going to do ours, was warned by the government that he would face a BIG FINE if he was caught doing that work, so he won't do it any more. Anyone else have this happen? We have heard of it several times since. :x

There's shops around here that make a living cutting the junk out from under Dodges. Even some of the dealers will do it. I always meant to do it to mine, but $1,900 seemed like too much. In hindsight it would have paid for itself but it seemed like a lot to spend on a new vehicle that really shouldn't need to be modified in the first place.

That's what I plan to do when the warenty is gone. Had a budy do that when his was gone. His pickup also has a bale bed so its pretty heavy. Right after he put it on he went on a 150 mile hiway trip and got 20 mpg. Prior to that 16.5 was the very best he had ever got and usually right around 16 on the highway. The exhaust kit is cheap. All it is is a bent pipe with a crappy muffler so its not screaming loud. The programmer is where it cost a bit. But you can get one to do the dpf code for around 400 I think if I remember right if that's all you want to do. The exhaust is about the simplest thing about anybody could do it. The problem is going to be if they start testing exhaust to get your tag renewed. I think they do it in California and Colorado, but not 100% sure. I have also heard that if done on a new pickup the fine is 2500 for the owner and 2500 for the mechanic that did the work, plus you have to buy and put back on the factory exhaust. I can kind of see the reason for the filter, it does cut the fumes basicly to nothing. But at what cost. You use 25% more fuel for a little less fumes. :?

 

[jodywy]

The problem is you all bought the wrong truck. My 2001 has 286000 miles on it, gets 25 mpg stock and has all the torque and power a guy ever needs. No stupid political exhaust fluid needed. :roll: I have replaced the front wheel bearings, tie rods and ball joints. That's a small price to pay to not have to drive a chev or ford. :lol:

Dodge Death Wobble has change a few back to Chev and fords

 

[Faster horses]

That was our thought too, but you can't find anyone to do that work around here. The guy that was going to do ours, was warned by the government that he would face a BIG FINE if he was caught doing that work, so he won't do it any more. Anyone else have this happen? We have heard of it several times since. :x

There's shops around here that make a living cutting the junk out from under Dodges. Even some of the dealers will do it. I always meant to do it to mine, but $1,900 seemed like too much. In hindsight it would have paid for itself but it seemed like a lot to spend on a new vehicle that really shouldn't need to be modified in the first place.

That's what I plan to do when the warenty is gone. Had a budy do that when his was gone. His pickup also has a bale bed so its pretty heavy. Right after he put it on he went on a 150 mile hiway trip and got 20 mpg. Prior to that 16.5 was the very best he had ever got and usually right around 16 on the highway. The exhaust kit is cheap. All it is is a bent pipe with a crappy muffler so its not screaming loud. The programmer is where it cost a bit. But you can get one to do the dpf code for around 400 I think if I remember right if that's all you want to do. The exhaust is about the simplest thing about anybody could do it. The problem is going to be if they start testing exhaust to get your tag renewed. I think they do it in California and Colorado, but not 100% sure. I have also heard that if done on a new pickup the fine is 2500 for the owner and 2500 for the mechanic that did the work, plus you have to buy and put back on the factory exhaust. I can kind of see the reason for the filter, it does cut the fumes basicly to nothing. But at what cost. You use 25% more fuel for a little less fumes. :?

Isn't it stupid to burn more fuel for a little less fumes? And we think those people can run our healthcare?

We have a nephew who owns an Auto Repair Service and he is going to do ours. In fact, we have a 1948 Farmall H that Mr. FH father purchased brand new; it's always been in the family. It has a stacker (not sure that is the right word, but it's not a true loader) on it. It has stacked a million miles of small bales through the years but we don't use it any more. It runs fine. Our nephew wants it, with plans to restore it and put it outside his shop-so those two guys made a trade. The tractor for the work on our pickup. He's already got the stuff, got it out of Utah. It won't happen til this fall, though.
He's really well thought of in that business so we have all the confidence that he knows what he is doing. He has gauges and everything. It sounds like that you can cause problems to your pickup if you don't have the temperature gauges, etc. Outside of the fuel mileage, this pickup is great. It's the first automatic Mr. FH has had and he's very happy with it. I imagine at our age, it will be our last one. But we said that when we bought the '06.

Silver, he wanted me to ask, how old is your Dodge?

We've never experienced Dodge Death Wobble. What is that?

 

[jodywy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6H5EH261gw