A Lot of Weird Service Suggestions?

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John W in So OR

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Just got my 2017 Bighorn 4x4 back from dealer doing regular pre-paid oil change (What a bargain that turned out to be, I take it in every 3k miles just like my Dad taught me!) They always say you only need it after 5k miles, but the service is covered at 3k, so I say why not!?

Anyway, I'm at about 73k miles, and they are recommending a lot of "odd" services I can't find in the standard maintenance schedule
  • Crankcase Cleaning $100
  • Service Fuel Injection System $255
  • Ethanol Defense Kit $50
  • Cabin Air Filter "Service package" $92 (I know the answer on this, just putting in 'cause its funny)
  • IR Conditioning Oil $80 (What is the IR?)
  • Battery Protection $80 (Put in a new battery last December for <$200)
  • Brake Fluid Flush $251
Are any of these worth it? The didn't want to talk about it much beyond that these are all "recommended".

Much appreciation for anyone who has any wisdom to share. Best to you.
 
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John W in So OR

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Thanks, that is the one my research has shown is legit.

I've been continue my research and found:
Cabin air filter is 5 min job, ordered on Amazon and will do myself $7-27 depending on quality of filter you want.
AC Compressor oil explicitly not called for unless you are recharging the coolant / have a leak.
Crankcase cleaning - Not only is it usually a waste of money, sometimes it can actually cause engine problems.

Still investigating the rest.
 

Ramagain

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Thanks, that is the one my research has shown is legit.

I've been continue my research and found:
Cabin air filter is 5 min job, ordered on Amazon and will do myself $7-27 depending on quality of filter you want.
Do 2017 Rams even come with a Cabin air filter? I had to purchase an aftermarket kit and cut out the opening in my blower box for my 2013 Ram.
 

GTyankee

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Battery Protection, i believe that they clean your battery terminal & put anti corrosion felt pads on the 2 posts

I believe in the owners manual, you may find a time or mileage Brake Fluid & Power Steering Fluid flush

You yourself can change the Cabin Air Filter
Fram Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter, is as good as any

Fuel Injection Service, there is a mileage service period
Is Ethanol crappier than gasoline ? I think that i waited until 100,000 miles before doing it to my 2009 Hemi,
before that i used Berrymans every few tanks
 

06 Dodge

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"Ethanol Defense Kit $50" <=== What a joke and what is there idea of said kit? As for injector cleaner take you pick many on the market but a bottle or two of Lucas injector cleaner @ $6 each will do what their $255 clean job will do unless yours are really, really bad.
 

ClassicJoe

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If I am not mistaken, the power steering is electronic, at least it is in my 2019 Classic (4th Gen.).
 
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John W in So OR

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Do 2017 Rams even come with a Cabin air filter? I had to purchase an aftermarket kit and cut out the opening in my blower box for my 2013 Ram.
I believe so. i found some youtube videos showing how to replace it. It is hidden behind the glove box, so you have to pop out the glove box, then unclip an access panel. Apparently on some older models you have to cut an access port to get to it, but that was sonly early models like 2013 and before.
 

Docwagon1776

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They might as well be honest and label most of those 'wallet extraction' and be done with it.

Brake fluid is dead nuts easy to do yourself, especially if you have someone capable of following simple instructions to run the pedal for you. One man bleeder kits work fine as well.
 
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John W in So OR

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Grants Pass, Oregon
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Battery Protection, i believe that they clean your battery terminal & put anti corrosion felt pads on the 2 posts

I believe in the owners manual, you may find a time or mileage Brake Fluid & Power Steering Fluid flush

You yourself can change the Cabin Air Filter
Fram Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter, is as good as any

Fuel Injection Service, there is a mileage service period
Is Ethanol crappier than gasoline ? I think that i waited until 100,000 miles before doing it to my 2009 Hemi,
before that i used Berrymans every few tanks
Ah so when I put new battery in, I put pads and electrolytic grease on posts in December, so if they had looked at all would know I don't need that.
That is the exact filter I ordered!
I'll look for Berrymans, not sure what that is but assume some kind of fuel additive. I've done that now and than, but not much lately with the price of just the gas! Yikes!

Thanks much for your time and insight!
 

Ramagain

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All Rams 1500s built after January 2016 had CAF
Mine is a 2016 Ram, but it was built on December 16th 2015

I believe so. i found some youtube videos showing how to replace it. It is hidden behind the glove box, so you have to pop out the glove box, then unclip an access panel. Apparently on some older models you have to cut an access port to get to it, but that was sonly early models like 2013 and before.
I had the unique pleasure of modding mine twice. 1st was the OE blower unit, 2nd was the 2015 dual zone plenum and blower unit I installed last year. Wished I found a plenum from a 2016 ( built after Jan 16) and up model now.
 

Ron Boggio

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DOT 3 and DOT 4 are glycol ether-based fluids making them hygroscopic, meaning they will absorb moisture when exposed to air. Here lately the argument is it will lend to corrosion in your hydraulics system. While that is true, the critical factor for brake fluid replacement is boiling point. As the fluid absorbs water it lowers the boiling point of the fluid. The only true way to know if the fluid is deprecated is testing it. That’s why there is not a specific service interval. The service is relative to many factors, driving habits, environment, how the vehicle is stored when not in use etc.

I have heard all kinds of recommended “flush” schedules over the years. Twelve months to thirty-six. Twenty-four thousand to fifty thousand miles. Heck, one shop recommended it with every brake service i.e., pad or shoe replacement.

The reality, the only way to know for sure is to test it. The rub, there is no question of “if”, only “when”. Many people seem to fall on the thirty-six-thousand-miles schedule. The issue there, if it takes an owner five years to drive thirty six thousand miles…….. Water will be absorbed through brake lines as well the brake fluid reservoir cap even when the vehicle is not driven. The better solution is to put the flush on a time schedule of twenty-four months, if you simply want to do it as part of a maintenance and service schedule. Should it be you only want to do it when the fluid has deprecated, that will require regular testing.

Flushing brake fluid on a regular time schedule maybe somewhat of a hassle. In my experience, the relative cost of the service vs the benefit makes this almost indispensable. This one service will save you from so much heartache in the long run.
 

Daw14

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Just got my 2017 Bighorn 4x4 back from dealer doing regular pre-paid oil change (What a bargain that turned out to be, I take it in every 3k miles just like my Dad taught me!) They always say you only need it after 5k miles, but the service is covered at 3k, so I say why not!?

Anyway, I'm at about 73k miles, and they are recommending a lot of "odd" services I can't find in the standard maintenance schedule
  • Crankcase Cleaning $100
  • Service Fuel Injection System $255
  • Ethanol Defense Kit $50
  • Cabin Air Filter "Service package" $92 (I know the answer on this, just putting in 'cause its funny)
  • IR Conditioning Oil $80 (What is the IR?)
  • Battery Protection $80 (Put in a new battery last December for <$200)
  • Brake Fluid Flush $251
Are any of these worth it? The didn't want to talk about it much beyond that these are all "recommended".

Much appreciation for anyone who has any wisdom to share. Best to you.
Now that your out of warranty it’s time you find a good independent mechanic,and stop going to shady dealers .
 

Dean2

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Find another dealership. You can’t trust that one.
Spot on. If they will try to suck you in on service items just imagine what they will try to do on a repair. It took a lot of looking but I have actually found two good, honest dealerships to deal at. Both are independantly owned, not part of one of the large multi brand, multi dealership companies. I use them till warranty is done, then switch to an independent.
 
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huntergreen

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"Ethanol Defense Kit $50" <=== What a joke and what is there idea of said kit? As for injector cleaner take you pick many on the market but a bottle or two of Lucas injector cleaner @ $6 each will do what their $255 clean job will do unless yours are really, really bad.
Hey , don’t laugh at the ethanol defense kit. It’s as important as changing the blinker fluid.
 
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