I'm looking into buying a 98-02 Ram2500 with Cummins 5.9L I6 Turbo Diesel an i'd like to know more about the engine's wintertime needs?

Heres temps the truck would see during winter time.
(Temps are rough estimate for areas ranging from mid/lower Canada to mid/lower New York State)
Daytime: -15 to 40 Degrees
Nighttime: -50 to 25 Degrees

Thanks for any input on this subject, Mike

 

There are other members here that experiance those temps. A cold weather front and a block heater are all you should need. These trucks will not warm up idleing you have to drive them. Some guys drive them in a lower gear for a while to aide warmup. You can also enable a high idle feature at the dealer to aide warmup.

 

So keep engine warm we'll off an keep rpms high to help engine heat up, ok i can do that now just need to find affordable Diesel Ram.

 

Secrets to these trucks is transfer pumps. I have an 02 and have worked on these for 18 years. I recommend Amsoil 10-30 HD diesel oil and fuel additives. And you can use a Holley fuel pump (PN 12-802-1) as a good back-up transfer pump.

 

The dealer can enable a 3 cylinder high idle for that year range. I would not recommend driving the truck in low gear to try to warm it. I would let it sit and idle for a few minutes maybe 10 and then just drive it easy until it warms and it will but may take a while. There are aftermarket chips that will let the truck idle at 1200 rpms until it warms up to operating or until you hit the brake. This is an alternative if you want the truck warmed up before you leave with it.

 

The guy i talked to at my local dodge dealer recommend i get a BD Diesel Governor Controller from summitracing, he said he bought his about year ago an it's been the perfect add-on to engine heater since just start truck select rpm level and wait 10-15mins, the guy also said if can't afford to get governor controller, driving the truck in 2nd gear on 35mph roads is the safest & easiest way to help engine heat up.

I'm holding off on buying a diesel ram for a little bit got some other things need to get before winter.

 

Rimesm,
I just replaced my lift and injection pump. The lift is the stock new style w/bypass, however I would like to see more pressure, (drops to 5 lbs on hard acceleration). If I leave my existing lift pump and install that holley between my tank and existing pump will it improve my fuel pressure?

Thanks

 

Absolutely, I just went though this same situation with my 02. I had put the "chrysler fix" in tank pump in about a year ago now and back in the middle of summer I started haveing an issue with my injection pump. I heard of this fix through a friend and put this pump in line. Before pump in line I was seeing my pressure drop to 1-2 under light load with needle bouncing; after 9psi FULL LOAD. After Chrysler replaced both in tank and Injection pumps I left the in line on and now I see 22 at idle and 14 Full load.

 

I have a 2003 ram 2500 should i see this problem and how do i fix it with what parts? this is my first diesel, and i plan keeping it for a long time.

 

Thanks Rimesm, Cumminsman, I'm not sure if this is an issue with the '03 but I know it is with the '98-'02. The problem is low fuel pressure which eventually ends up in taking out the injection pump due to the injection pump starving for fuel. I just have a low pressure warning light which comes on if pressure drops to 5lbs. Obviously it would be best to have a fuel pressure gauge and make sure your pressure stays up.