Maintenance

[lojanman88]

I finally pulled the trigger on a truck after doing some research and looking for quite a while! Ended up getting an '08 F350 with 34k on it. Very nice truck and after making the long haul back home with it, I am very impressed with it. However, this is my first diesel truck and need a little help/advice on the routine maintenance involved. I plan on adding a Mini Maxx and DPF/Cat delete, egr delete, and intake here in the future, but as for now it will remain stock (atleast for a couple months).

So far I have seen change oil and filter every 5k miles (easily done), but what else is there to change/do and when? I was thinking about running synthetic. Also what about having the transmission flushed completely. Do you guy recommend this? But overall what should I be doing to make sure the truck stays in prime operating condition?

Thanks for the help!

[strokinpower]

I would not run sythetic on a truck with a DPF because of fuel dilution. You wont see any performance gains and DO NOT GO OVER 5K miles on oil with the DPF present so it's not worth the money. I would ust suggest running motorcraft 15W-40. Change the fuel filters every 12k-15k.

[44magnum]

Delete your DPF. Run synthetic, follow the maintenance schedule in the manual, Assume nothing had been done before unless otherwise known.

[WinnerWinner]

I too recently bought my first diesel. I'll add that you need to drain water from the fuel. Also, the truck has two fuel filters; make sure you change both. I don't know about transmission flush, but it sounds good. I'm thinking of installing a coolant filter as well.

[muntu]

i would be checking nitrites in the coolant.if the level is good,you're good to go .....otherwise you need to change out coolant.

[04hdfatboy]

Oil every 5,000
Fuel filters every 10,000
I would just drop the pan and change the transmission fluid and filter.

[strokinpower]

with that low of miles I would go ahead and flush it and keep on top of flushing it every 30k. What I wouldnt do is wait until 130k miles and then flush it for the first time. I made that mistake on my old 7.3

[MD05]

Originally Posted by lojanman88

I finally pulled the trigger on a truck after doing some research and looking for quite a while! Ended up getting an '08 F350 with 34k on it. Very nice truck and after making the long haul back home with it, I am very impressed with it. However, this is my first diesel truck and need a little help/advice on the routine maintenance involved. I plan on adding a Mini Maxx and DPF/Cat delete, egr delete, and intake here in the future, but as for now it will remain stock (atleast for a couple months).

So far I have seen change oil and filter every 5k miles (easily done), but what else is there to change/do and when? I was thinking about running synthetic. Also what about having the transmission flushed completely. Do you guy recommend this? But overall what should I be doing to make sure the truck stays in prime operating condition?

Thanks for the help!

Do the Maintenance on schedule.

Deletes will help in longevity, synthetic oils will help as well but there is a cost tradeoff here and they are not recommended to go further than the OEM recommended change intervals. Look into by pass filters they help keep the fine stuff out of the engine oil.

Do the Maintenance on Schedule

Transmission should be serviced ever 30K miles if it has an external filter great if not consider installing one. Internal filter is a Large piece filter, external is a finer filter.

Do the maintenance on Schedule

Look at a Air Dog or FASS setup , this will cut down or eliminate cavitation in the injectors and make the tips live longer.

Last suggestion, do the maintenance on schedule.

Cheers

[cp2146]

Originally Posted by MD05

Do the Maintenance on schedule.

Deletes will help in longevity, synthetic oils will help as well but there is a cost tradeoff here and they are not recommended to go further than the OEM recommended change intervals. Look into by pass filters they help keep the fine stuff out of the engine oil.

Do the Maintenance on Schedule

Transmission should be serviced ever 30K miles if it has an external filter great if not consider installing one. Internal filter is a Large piece filter, external is a finer filter.

Do the maintenance on Schedule

Look at a Air Dog or FASS setup , this will cut down or eliminate cavitation in the injectors and make the tips live longer.

Last suggestion, do the maintenance on schedule.

Cheers

And be sure to do the maintenance on schedule.

[lojanman88]

Also I was wondering, what is all you'll experts opinions on the "mini" mods that can be done to these trucks to help their longevity and reliablity? I have been looking over the threads and seeing various things, but can't keep up with them all. The things I have seen include:

1. Coolant Filter
2. Water separator
3. CCV reroute

But I'm sure there are more. Do you guys reccommend doing these things immediately or at what priority level? Also are there any others? Just looking for some new guy input and helps.. once again thanks!