I posted on the new guy thread - then I found this one.

I just took posession of a 1997 Ram 2500 With a Cummings. I drove it home (3.5 hours) and it runs strong. I am thrilled with my new truck 127K. Some things puzzle me and I would like to ask questions prior to opening up a can of worms I dont know anything about.

When I first start, the temp is slow on the rise. If I start my gas engine it heats up in 5-10 minutes max, the diesel runs for 10 minutes without the temp guage budging. It does come up to normal on the highway. Are thease engines slow to heatup? Is this normal or should I start looking for the thermostat?

If I hit the throttle while parking or starting off it often dies. I'm able to avoid stalling by feathering the peddle or treating it with a real light touch. Is this an adjustment I need to make or is something wrong?

Who makes the best shop manual & how do I find, buy one?

 

Its a diesel thing. They naturally take longer to warm up than a gasser.

You have a manual or an automatic?

You have a rare bird, with the Cummings. Most other Dodges have a Cummins in them...

 

Cummins - Thank You - It just rolls off the tongue the other way. I am from Brooklyn.

Thanks for the info on the slow warm up.

It's an automattic.

Thanks again Tom