Good advise VS Bad advise / 2022 Cummins

I've recently been asking around for advice on how to care for my new truck?

The truck is a 2022 / 2500 Tradesman 4x4 cummins turbo diesel.

Current miles 350

I'm overwhelmed with the information I'm receiving in regards to diesel engines.

So what's your personal advice for a 1st time diesel owner?

I've been learning about diesel engines only AFTER I got the truck. I mean, what's there to know...right?

Here's a short list of questions I'm getting mixed answers on.

Let's start with my location & weather conditions because that matters:

Location / Northern California
Temperatures; Lowest 32° Highest 105°
Common temperature 55° to 75°
Today's temperature 90°
Low elevation / no snow / sunny

●Warm up / Idle
•Don't let a diesel idle.
•Warm up for 2 minutes and drive.
•Use high idle when idling over 5 minutes.
•Don't high idle during breaking in period.
•Drive after you reach oil normal pressure.
•Bring up engine temperature before driving.
•Never idle, drive to bring up temperature.

●Engine cooling / Turbo
•Let idle for 1 to 2 minutes.
•Idle 5 minutes under load.
•Normal idle for 10 seconds.
•Not necessary if taking short trips.

●Exhaust brake
•Always use it.
•Only use it half the time.
•Use auto exhaust brake.

●Engine break-in
•No towing / hauling under 500 miles.
•After 500 miles drive under load.
•1,500 to 2,000lbs for 5,000 miles.
•2,000lbs 72hrs straight.
•Drive up hill.
•Increase loads.
•Dyno Tuning.

●Driving recommendations
•No short trips.
•Don't lug.
•Dont baby it.
•Don't drive over 65mph

Can't buying a new diesel truck be simple?

If you have all the answers to proper maintenance regarding this new 2500 Tradesman, I would love to hear it.

All advice will be greatly appreciated.

Any other basic information I'm unaware of, please inform me before it's too late.

Thank you everyone for your advice and support!

Don't baby it

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Yes this is correct, not saying driving like you stole it but you're not going to hurt the engine by hitting the go pedal.

Don't drive over 65mph

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Who's the old fuddy that said this, it's probably past their time and should stay off public roads.
Now if your towing that good advice, a lot of trailer tires are not rated for higher speed traveling. Also the faster you go more fuel is consumed and there is that the trailer has more kinetic energy but up that if something goes wrong hopefully you can control it.

The rest of the advice you received in your other thread is a lot of hogwash.
About as much ideal time you'll need to warm the truck up is time it take to walk to the truck, buckle the seatbelt, check the mirrors, and proceed down the driveway. It's a good idea to take it easy for the first few miles when towing.
As for cool down the time you drive through the parking lot or up the driveway and taking of the seatbelt is good. Unless your coming off the freeway or towing/hauling a load then let the engine idle several minutes before shut down.

here is a great resource for diesel break-in period.
I don't know where the never let a diesel idle came from, but you can let them idle, just not for long period. If your at a stop light you do not need the have your foot on the brake and your gas pedal to the floor-it is perfectly OK to let it idle at a red light or stop sign. What you don't do is let it idle for long periods (over 5 minutes). I see some good and some bad advice in the above post but I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings as we all have different ways of breaking in our Cummins. Cummins engines are not puppies or infants, they do not break easily. Read your Manuel and follow it and apply common sense.

First of all there is a Lot of bad/false information out there in regards to modern diesels. My first piece of advise would be to avoid recommendations from social media platforms. I have never seen so much bad information in my life then what is spewed on those places.

The manual is a great resource for information, read it, follow it, drive it and enjoy it. It's as simple as that.

Congratulations on the new truck!

.

Interesting read on advise here in Oz my Cummins has only 91,000 kms on it thus far, but I do start the Truck put on my seat belt check my area and then of I go, I like the quote don't drive till Oil Pressure is normal, that happens in straight away once the engine starts.


Short trips, whats a short trip! I use my Exhaust brake ALWAYS in Auto and full when towing but without fitting Airbrake system in OZ we can only legally tow 9920 pounds.

Don't fancy Dyno Tuning and the reason is simple the engine is tuned by RAM if you play with the tune which is via way of manipulating the RAM's program the Dealer won't have access to the OME Tune most likely, Other issue is the person tuning the Truck what degree does he hold on engine tune. I mean a lot of propeller heads at Cummins and Ram sat down on how to get the best economy and service life out of the engine and some pelican with a laptop and enough knowledge to be dangerous and you're going to let them play with your Truck.

In Oz there are more Toyota Landcruisers than horses and many adventurers go off to dingo **** creek have their Cruisers, Dyno tuned and some not all blow their engines and the Tuner says TFB and Toyota says TFB and it's a $20K replacement.

Idle down if I am driving into our Estate, I normally get caught at the traffic lights and then it's a 25mph speed limit for around 2 miles to my driveway and then I just turn her off, now if I have been towing at Hwy speed 65mph here (it's the Law) I give her about 2 minutes at the Gas Station to let the turbo wind down.

One issue not covered is AdBlue, I never buy at the Gas Station Store I always fill at the pump at Truck Stops. reasoning is simple the AdBlue is fresh as AdBlue does have a storage life. Not certain about the States but here in OZ 90% of Hwy Trucks use AdBlue so Truck stops have numerous bowsers for AdBlue, my Truck is 4 years old now and never had any issues with the fuel system.