60K Diesel Service

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DayRadebaugh

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We have a 2018 Ram diesel w/60K on the clock. Recently got a Service Def System message, and the countdown has begun to vehicle shut off. Took the vehicle to the dealer, who has quoted the following items and costs, with the claim that unless the EGR service is done, the vehicle will shut down.

My question is: are all of these items necessary? Are the prices reasonable?

Thanks

Here is the message from the dealer, verbatim:

Hello,

Here a break down of the 60K mile service and the diagnosis fee for the technicians time of looking at the vehicle. If the EGR service takes care of the check engine light and perform service light you will not be charged for the diagnosis. Let me know if you have any questions, thank you.

Check engine light - Diagnosis is $175.99

Transmission service - $319.99

Front Differential - $148.99

Transfer Case - $154.99

Rear Differential - $178.99

EGR Service With Crank Case Filter $1697.98

Off the top of my head, the EGR Service in particular seems excessive, and the others appear to me to be things that can be deferred.
 

Dennis Shellito

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Sounds like it is time for some junk to fall off your truck. I would check those fluids on the diffs and Tcase to see what they look like and if they look like they are dark/dirty either change yourself or at a reliable private shop unless you want to support the stealership. If your truck is used for severe service the trans service might not be a bad idea, but I read of a Cummins owner that had nearly 700K miles on his with the automatic trans, and he uses it to pull campers, and he has his serviced every 150K with no trans problems. The thing about the DPF getting plugged up is that, IMO, every time it is cleaned the next cleaning will be that much sooner. I have a friend that spent nearly $4,000 having new emissions junk installed on one of his Cummins and it was in the same condition in a short while. Don't get me wrong, I am all for having emission systems on vehicles, but they shoud be something that lasts far longer without spending a bundle of money on them. Something that the dealer didn't mention is the CCV (crankcase ventilation) filter under the top valve cover. The recommended service on this is 62,500 miles. Some owners say there CCV filter was soggy at that mileage, but my filter still looked new when I changed it.
 
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DayRadebaugh

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Thanks for the assessment. This is a truck that literally goes to the grocery store and the dry cleaners. My wife likes to drive a big monster, and that's the way it is. I believe I will defer the driveline stuff, and get the EGR done.
 

18CrewDually

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Do your self a favor and watch some youtube videos to see for yourself what it takes to perform the tasks. Even if you don't do it yourself, atleast you'll be familiar enough to know if a shop is inflating the costs for these services. For instance, the EGR service is an electrical plug and 4 screws. A can of brake cleaner and 15 minutes of your time is all it takes.
If you're not interested in doing it get estimates from other reputable diesel shops.
 

mtnrider

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EGR service is NOT required on your truck, only the older pre DEF trucks. Dealers keep saying it is because its a $$ maker for them. Tell them to show you in your manual where it is required, they can't because it is not there. They are feeding you a line of BS to make money off you. Find another dealer or fix it yourself if you have the ability

What code is your truck throwing? Have you tried resetting it? That service DEF can be a "ghost" code sometimes. (can also be very real)
.
 
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18CrewDually

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Motorcity Mechanic explains all this.

OP, you need to address the MIL and see what the code is.
 

huntergreen

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Sounds like it is time for some junk to fall off your truck. I would check those fluids on the diffs and Tcase to see what they look like and if they look like they are dark/dirty either change yourself or at a reliable private shop unless you want to support the stealership. If your truck is used for severe service the trans service might not be a bad idea, but I read of a Cummins owner that had nearly 700K miles on his with the automatic trans, and he uses it to pull campers, and he has his serviced every 150K with no trans problems. The thing about the DPF getting plugged up is that, IMO, every time it is cleaned the next cleaning will be that much sooner. I have a friend that spent nearly $4,000 having new emissions junk installed on one of his Cummins and it was in the same condition in a short while. Don't get me wrong, I am all for having emission systems on vehicles, but they shoud be something that lasts far longer without spending a bundle of money on them. Something that the dealer didn't mention is the CCV (crankcase ventilation) filter under the top valve cover. The recommended service on this is 62,500 miles. Some owners say there CCV filter was soggy at that mileage, but my filter still looked new when I changed it.
You’re talking about Vern who has an eco diesel 1500 with the 8 speed. OP has either a 6 speed or Asian trans.
 

huntergreen

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We have a 2018 Ram diesel w/60K on the clock. Recently got a Service Def System message, and the countdown has begun to vehicle shut off. Took the vehicle to the dealer, who has quoted the following items and costs, with the claim that unless the EGR service is done, the vehicle will shut down.

My question is: are all of these items necessary? Are the prices reasonable?

Thanks

Here is the message from the dealer, verbatim:



Off the top of my head, the EGR Service in particular seems excessive, and the others appear to me to be things that can be deferred.
Does your truck fall under the EGV recall ? Was it done ?
 
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DayRadebaugh

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You've convinced me, guys. Thanks for the advice, and I won't be using that dealership again.
 

nlambert182

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Moparcitymechanic does a full set of videos regarding EGR servicing... it's basically removing the EGR and running a cleaner through it to "wash" it out.

The emissions system likely has trouble because your wife just uses it to putt around town. These engines have to be worked hard enough to go through the appropriate regen cycles. If this is the only driving it gets, you may eventually get another EGR/emissions failure.

My suggestion (as others mentioned) is to delete the emissions equipment (if your locale allows it) and/or periodically take the truck out on the interstate, lock the cruise on 70, and drop into whatever gear keeps you at around 2k rpms for 20-30 minutes and allow the truck to go through a regen cycle.
 

Raife

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I took mine today to the dealer to have the tailgate recall done and figured since they have it for the day to change the oil and do the fuel filter (I was at 65K and the oil and fuel filters were replaced when I bought it at 50K). They gave me the spiel on getting the EGR done to the tune of $1400 (includes CCV filter - which is noted in the manual as a 75K item). I recalled seeing this thread and said no thanks. I then verified I had seen it here when I got home and watched the motorcity mechanic video regarding it. When I picked up my truck I called them on it and they explained it away as "dealer recommended" since it wasn't in the manual service schedule. They swear there will be a service engine light at 67,700 (that exact milage) that will mean to service the EGR.

They have lost my business again (first time was after my Durango was out of warranty and the service tanked - but that was several years ago so I figured I would give them another go...)
 

WY-Dave

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EGR valve & cooler cleaning ARE NOT part of the maintenance schedule. Now not saying that there is not a benefit to it, but it is NOT in the 2013-18 owners manuals.


Motorcity Mechanic explains all this.

OP, you need to address the MIL and see what the code is.
Dang it I was just going to post that haha
 

Gr8bawana

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EGR valve & cooler cleaning ARE NOT part of the maintenance schedule. Now not saying that there is not a benefit to it, but it is NOT in the 2013-18 owners manuals.



Dang it I was just going to post that haha
And what would that benefit be?
 

Gr8bawana

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It benefits as a reminder of the regurgitation of the exhaust that has been occurring and you should of eliminated its function over 67k miles ago.
You're hilarious! The tiny amount of exhaust gasses being routed through the EGR are of no consequence. There's a reason these new Cummins do not require EGR cleaning, ever.
Also a lot of people live where deleting is not an option.
 

18CrewDually

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You're hilarious! The tiny amount of exhaust gasses being routed through the EGR are of no consequence. There's a reason these new Cummins do not require EGR cleaning, ever.
Also a lot of people live where deleting is not an option.

I'm glad you found it funny because that's the intent. They do get some build up though.
And I also am not deleted either. I run it hard enough I haven't had any issues.
 

nlambert182

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I took mine today to the dealer to have the tailgate recall done and figured since they have it for the day to change the oil and do the fuel filter (I was at 65K and the oil and fuel filters were replaced when I bought it at 50K). They gave me the spiel on getting the EGR done to the tune of $1400 (includes CCV filter - which is noted in the manual as a 75K item). I recalled seeing this thread and said no thanks. I then verified I had seen it here when I got home and watched the motorcity mechanic video regarding it. When I picked up my truck I called them on it and they explained it away as "dealer recommended" since it wasn't in the manual service schedule. They swear there will be a service engine light at 67,700 (that exact milage) that will mean to service the EGR.

They have lost my business again (first time was after my Durango was out of warranty and the service tanked - but that was several years ago so I figured I would give them another go...)
They're not completely wrong. You will get a service light ~67k miles. But, it won't be for EGR. It will be to replace the CCV filter on top of the engine. (Looks like your valve cover, but it's actually a filter). You can swap it yourself for $70 and about 30 minutes of labor.
 

lpennock

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OP may or may not need a Trans service at 60K miles. The Aisan needs a fluid and filter change at 60K while the 68RFE doesn't unless it is used for frequent towing ro police, fleet or taxi service.

Axles are the same as the 68RFE.

The count down timer may be cause the DEF pump has failed or the NOX sensor in the exhaust is bad. Need to pull the code to get an idea of which it is.

With all the services the Dealer is trying to slam I would look for a Indy to check out the truck and see what the OP really needs.
 

NotSoFast

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Teh DPF filter needs a good hard run every now and again to keep it working well. A trip downtown won't get the exhaust system warm enough to bake it out. Towing a moderate load at 70 or 75 mph for about 100 miles is more what it likes to keep it working well. This is the way it was designed.
 

chri5k

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The dealer is full of bovine excrement with saying servicing the EGR system might fix the Service DEF system message. Two different systems. Definitely have an independent shop or parts store read the codes fro you. Report the codes to this thread.
 
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