1998 Ram 1500 Sadly 2wd

[LukeGirard]

Not sure if I can make a build thread here but here's a copy of my introduction post. Hello my name's Luke and I'm from Sunny SoCal =) I traded a 1991 Honda Accord for my 1998 Ram 1500 2wd Extended Cab. Compared to the Honda it's like driving a brand new vehicle! There isn't one thing wrong with the truck mechanically. It's got 180,668 miles on it. I'm not really sure what maintenance I should preform other then the standard oil change and filters. I haven't found a list of preventative maintenance on here yet. Alright now for some pics.

Here she is the day I got her.


This is her a few days ago after I fixed the dents on the drivers side and installed my CB

 

[David H]

Looks like it's been a work truck. What are your plans for it?

 

[LukeGirard]

2500 Springs in the front, some 33's, and off road bumpers. Other then that just drive it.

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[dapepper9]

Preventative maintenance:
1. Plenum (read the sticky in the engine and performance)
2. Copper plugs only
3. Cap and rotor must be brass
4. Check for grease zirks on your front end components, grease what you can every 6 months
5. Trans fluid and filter change every 30k, delete the cooler check valve, and add a bigger cooler

 

[LukeGirard]

Preventative maintenance:
1. Plenum (read the sticky in the engine and performance)
2. Copper plugs only
3. Cap and rotor must be brass
4. Check for grease zirks on your front end components, grease what you can every 6 months
5. Trans fluid and filter change every 30k, delete the cooler check valve, and add a bigger cooler

Can I get most of this stuff at Auto Zone or should I order all of this stuff online? Online is probably cheaper.

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[dapepper9]

The trans check valve you can simply disassemble, put it in a vise, and use a punch and hammer to knock it out.
Plus and wires you can get at local parts stores or online, depends what you get. Plus most suggested are Champion NGK Bosch or AutoLite. I suggest staying with the 1st 2 but others have great luck with bosch or AutoLite. I had great luck with AutoLite, Merc225hp hates AutoLite for example. He can explain more, my memory on it is fuzzy.

Plenum you don't need the aluminum pan, simply the steel reinforced gasket that felpro has is enough. Or you can do both if you feel the steel pan on aluminum intake really has any effect. If you go that route, get the ebay plenum plate. Do not go to HUGHES ENGINES for anything.

Personally you can find good caps and rotors on summit, wires MSD are the best but direct replacement are just fine for stock motor. Plugs I'd shop online and find who has your brand cheapest

 

[LukeGirard]

Just placed an order on Summit Racing for all these parts.
Cap, Rotor, Plug Wires. $58
Summit Racing® Volt Max X-TREME Spark PlugWire/Cap and Rotor Kits SUM-867815CR - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
Spark Plugs $16 for 8
Champion Platinum Power Spark Plugs 3436 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
Transmission Filter $16
Hastings Automatic Transmission Filters TF155 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
Air Filter $8
Fram Extra Life Air Filters CA3901 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing

Total was $99.61 with free shipping!

 

[dapepper9]

Cap rotor and wires i have. Found out later the wires can don't a little on the ends over time. Hasnt happened to me yet but I'll worry about it when it does lol.
Champions are good, what I'm running.

 

[LukeGirard]

Is there anything else I should order? What fluid is the best for the transmission? And what oil should I get? Should I switch to full synthetic? I've ran it in all my other vehicles. And since it's got 180,000ish miles on it should I get high milage oil? Also should I flush the radiator? The coolant looks clean. Also there's no leaks anywhere on the truck that I can find. Is that normal for these trucks? Most of my other vehicles have all had little oil leaks.

Sorry for all the stupid questions. I've had lots of vehicles and have always preformed my own maintenance. This truck is the best running vehicle I've ever owned and it doesn't seem to have any mechanical problems witch is surprising! So I want to make sure I do all the preventative maitinence before things start to break.

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[dapepper9]

Atf+4 only for the trans. Many of us on here are running Rotella T6 oil for its temp range, full synthetic, and being diesel oil has more zinc in it. Mobil 1 zinc formula is good too. If something on my truck leaks we have a problem lol. Coolant flush it a good idea, never know how old it is.

 

[LukeGirard]

Is it okay to run diesel oil in gas engines?

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[dapepper9]

Why wouldn't it be? Diesels operate on the same basics as gas internally so oil is doing the same thing. They get hotter and produce higher pressures though so the oil has to be able to stand up to it. Putting it in a gas vehicle is basically just overkill. Its 5w-40 so it's great for me in iowa winter because it doesn't thicken up like a regular 10w-30 would and has a wider temp range.

 

[LukeGirard]

Well good to know. I guess I'll be getting that at auto zone next week when all my parts come in the mail!

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[dapepper9]

Filters wix mopar k&n are good brands. Puralator is good

 

[LukeGirard]

Okay. And I live in Southern California so it rarely gets below freezing here. It does get into the 100's during the summer though.

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[dapepper9]

The bad rap of switching to synthetic is leaks that it finds that conventional doesn't. I ran a mixed oil with detergents between my conventional to synthetic swap for 3k to clean it out a bit and have had zero leaks that weren't my fault. My intake manifold leaked out the back because i missed some rtv on it when i installed it

 

[dapepper9]

Okay. And I live in Southern California so it rarely gets below freezing here. It does get into the 100's during the summer though.

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You could also run t5 which is 15-40 so it's a little thicker at higher temps but i will say Dodgedude94 is running t6 and lives in Texas and i can personally say Texas gets hot af lol i didn't 4 months there. Hell iowa here gets that got over the summer regularly as well just from mid June to end of July vs late may to early September for Texas.

 

[LukeGirard]

Well this is all good info to know!

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[David H]

When you do the wires make sure to route them per the service bulletin. Heater cores tend to be an issue with these so when you flush, make sure to flush the heater core extra good.

 

[BBartow]

You could also run t5 which is 15-40 so it's a little thicker at higher temps but i will say Dodgedude94 is running t6 and lives in Texas and i can personally say Texas gets hot af lol i didn't 4 months there. Hell iowa here gets that got over the summer regularly as well just from mid June to end of July vs late may to early September for Texas.

T5 10w-30 Florida