Nick's new Ram 2500

Yes, I have a shelf full of the StratPores, been using them for 10y, I was asking about the oil analysis kit that Geno's has, vs. another? Pro's / Con's, Ive never done it so was thinking about doing it on the new Ram. I assume I can snatch a beaker full while draining on the lift and mail it off? Looks like the Geno's Fleetgaurd kit is pre-paid but wasn't sure what you all are using>

 

Blackstrone

 

I use a local lab Lab One, Inc and buy 10 at a time for $95 (with TBN). I pay like $5.00 to ship the sample in. I also use a vampire and 1/8" tubing on the end of the 1/4" tubing to get past something in the bottom of the 2018 dipstick tube.

Vampire:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224169150499

I also cut open my used fuel filter with a filter cutter to better drain oil from it (I am a little Eco Enviro Green HAHA), make sure it wasn't defective like missing a pleat crimp (and effectively useless), and that it didn't fail in any other way.

 

I bought the Fleetguard oil analysis kits and filters from Genos since way back when and have been completely satisfied. Not saying there isn't better, just it works fine, I have 5 kits left, so ought to last a couple years with 5500 and MH (also Cummins).

A year or so ago, I bought 6 Donaldsons for my 2017 Ram 5500, the first I've deviated from using Fleetguard in over 20 years of trouble free service and on 6 Ram Cummins trucks. Bought FL3970s Stratapore for my MH. Didn't worry about finding better.

BTW, Cummins installs Stratapore oil filters on their non-Ram applications, at least the 6.7Ls.

Good luck figuring it all out... for the most part, you can't go wrong with changing fluids and filters at the proper intervals and fixing stuff when it breaks.

Happy Trails, Ron

 

Boy! You guys are all way more OCD about all this stuff than I am, and my truck works pretty hard and has lasted for 595K miles so far.
15K oil/filter/fuel filter changes and never any oil analysis.
I usually buy whatever oil I can find cheap, short of no name brand, and have used a few different oil filters, last was stratopore bought in case quantity, next change will be donaldson that I found for less, bought three.
Most important is just that the maintenance gets done regularly.

 

Dealer just called and said my truck spec's out perfect, even down to the same temps as I got, 58 degrees out the vents @90 ambient What a joke!

 

I wish I could say I'm surprised

 

At least it's white!

 

There's still the 01. Reliability

 

Yes, I drove it down to pick up the new one and it was comfy, 97 degrees now. The new one, not so much. I sure am glad it is not a $85K Limited, then I would be torqued for sure

 

I'd take it to an independent shop that does lots of a/c work and have them check it.

 

And / or add an extra ounce or three of refrigerant.

 

The Ram spec sheet says 64 degree vents is okay for 110 ambient. AZ is having a heat wave this coming week, Phoenix 117, Parker 122 and 103 for Snowflake. My son better not ask me to haul out of Phoenix this coming week

 

ASSuming they checked his pressures to ensure he has a ball park correct charge, doing this will make the system less efficient and possibly blow warmer.

The only real way to know it has the correct charge is to recover and add back but I'd bet a fat steak dinner they didn't get this far into it.
Once the tech put his little thermometer on the vent and saw it made Stellato's range it was probably all over but the crying....Nick's crying...

 

Remember when they had real service manuals...
I was just going through the system on my VeeDub. Lots of good info. Some you can actually see through the VCDS, some requires some extra equipment, but it's all right there in black and white when you have a problem to chase.

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You don't want to go confusing the dealer tech with facts...
And, showing them a book would just confuse them more...

 

Is your system R134a or did they switch to the new flammable stuff? It would be "self-serv" but I would hook you up if you need to go to Phoenix. You blow by my place on the 87 going toward Phoenix.

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The tag says R134a, 1.31 lb. Seems like a small system?

Thank you for the offer I will ask my son if he knows anything about the new Rams with customer complaints on the A/C system.

 

Tell this to 3rd GEN MegaCab owners that added a few additional ounces of refrigerant.

 

There seems to be a lot of complaints on the '19-'20's, not much on the '21 yet that I found. This quote is from another forum on a '19.

"Update:
I took my truck to a different dealership and asked them to evaluate my AC with the idea that the TSB would be a solution. The tech checked and the TSB did not apply to me. He verified that the A/C out of the vents was too high. It was coming out at 62F. The selling dealer told me the temperature was within spec. The new dealer vacuumed out the system, weighed it, and found it 1 lb low. He did not find a leak. He refilled the system with the correct amount of Freon and suddenly it is down to 52 degrees. We took the truck to Las Vegas the next weekend and the truck was much better."