Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins-opinions

[deserteagle71]

For the free spin kit it just goes into 4low like normal, but since the front hubs are not locked it only powers rear tires.

The newer trucks just leave one axle unlocked so the spiders in the diff spin instead of powering the front tires.

I just hope this system in the new trucks is more dependable than what they used years ago. I had that in a GM rig, and my wife had one in her Cherokee. Both had to be replaced with aftermarket cable actuators because too many times when you wanted 4wd the system failed to work!

 

[RyeThomas]

The newer CAD system is reliable, will it have failures sure what doesn’t.

The other nice thing about CAD or Free spin kits is the ease of getting to the grease zerk fitting on the front driveshaft. I marked mine on all my third gen trucks with paint pen and it was still a giant pain to grease.

Per the manufacturers web site for the newer trucks and 2wd low kit.


Installation is simple, the kit plugs in below the glove box
No wire cutting or splicing and no wires through the firewall
Kit comes with an illuminated rocker switch for control and to indicate when the front axle is being overridden
Designed to allow the operator to manually disable the front wheel drive mechanism by holding the hubs in the free (2WD) mode with the transfer case in 4WD low range
By allowing the front wheels to be disengaged, maximum torque is available to the rear wheels
This will also allow for sharp "All The Way Over" turns without the front axle u-joint hopping or binding
With this kit installed, the front wheels will NOT be driven through the transfer case
Allows to have full power and torque while in a high gear reduction applied to the rear axle(s) only

 

[deerefan]

Got it now. Thanks!!

 

[deerefan]

Curious on oil temps-saw 200 degrees the other day. Was running about 80 with cruise on. What is normal for this truck?

 

[RyeThomas]

1-Oil temps are a computer based algorithm, not a true gauge on these trucks.
2- your oil temps and coolant temps will be relatively close. The oil cooler is in the block behind the oil filter and draws coolant in from the radiator around the cooler thus cooling the oil.

I wouldn’t worry about oil temp, run the truck. Let her warm up a bit before a hard pull, let her cool a bit after, follow the intervals in the manual and enjoy it for 100’s or thousands of miles.

 

[deerefan]

1-Oil temps are a computer based algorithm, not a true gauge on these trucks.
2- your oil temps and coolant temps will be relatively close. The oil cooler is in the block behind the oil filter and draws coolant in from the radiator around the cooler thus cooling the oil.

I wouldn’t worry about oil temp, run the truck. Let her warm up a bit before a hard pull, let her cool a bit after, follow the intervals in the manual and enjoy it for 100’s or thousands of miles.

Thanks. I plan to switch to synthetic at the next change. All my other trucks were analog gauges. So far it has been great, put 10k miles on it since buying it November 1, including several 10klb+ pulls.

 

[BigBlue1]

1-Oil temps are a computer based algorithm, not a true gauge on these trucks.
2- your oil temps and coolant temps will be relatively close. The oil cooler is in the block behind the oil filter and draws coolant in from the radiator around the cooler thus cooling the oil.

I wouldn稚 worry about oil temp, run the truck. Let her warm up a bit before a hard pull, let her cool a bit after, follow the intervals in the manual and enjoy it for 100痴 or thousands of miles.

I agree with your #2. On my 2010 Ram 1500, which is the only vehicle I've had with actual numeric readouts for both, the oil temp was typically just a tick below the coolant temp once the vehicle was fully warmed up. Makes sense, really, since the coolant is the regulated part of the system that is keeping the entire engine at a certain temp. For the oil to be much different while flowing through the same block would be odd (again, assuming everything is fully warmed up).

Rob

 

[deerefan]

Washed the truck by hand for the first time today. Took a little longer than the Tundra

 

[heavy hammer]

Nice truck deerefan, keep it clean she will last a long time.

 

[deerefan]

Nice truck deerefan, keep it clean she will last a long time.

Thanks. I hope so. Longevity is the main reason I decided on Cummins. I worked as a pile driving equipment mechanic from 94-2000. Some of the power units for the vibratory hammers had Cummins engines, both 4&6 cylinder, some naturally aspirated and a couple with turbos. There were a lot of Detroits and a couple Cat engines. I do not recall a single major mechanical failure with the Cummins units. I recall one with over 10k hours and still no blow by. These things were rental units and the customers were rarely easy on them. This is the first diesel I have owned since 2008, having owned 2 6.0 Fords. I am aware of the issues with the 6.0, but mine were free of issues.