I can idle my 6.7s all day long in 108 degree heat, no issues.

If you change oil yourself (6.4s use 15qts, 6.7s use 13qts) and buy filters online (dieselfiltersonline.com) its cheaper than the dealer for oil/air and the fuel kit.

The Ford manual calls for fuel/water filter to be drained every month (valve under driver seat inside frame, just open it with your hand, let some drain, shut it off) and filters (both = frame mounted and top of engine) changed every 20k.

I buy the Motorcraft fuel filter kit from the site above for about $45 (over $100 at the dealer) and the oil filter for $12 (more at the dealer) and Mobil 1 for diesel at Walmart for $25/gallon.

I change the oil every 10k and fuel filters every 10k as well (more than Ford calls for) just for the piece of mind.

DEF? about 5 gallons ($11) every 4-5000 miles. Dodge commercials tell you Ford and Chevy "have to stop for DEF before the job is done", but by then you have stopped for fuel about 20 times anyway. lol

If you take care of it, it will take care of you. I like the maintenance, its part of the fun.

 

Ram switched to DEF this year due to bad fuel mileage, and reliability concerns.

 

Reliability ???????


I think EPA requirements had something to do with it. As far as mileage our Ram3500 DRW gets 13 or better right now on the highway and has less than 2K miles on it. Should get a little better once it's broke in. No diesel gets the type of mileage the older ones got unless all the smog crap is pulled off. My old 5.9 Cummins got right around 20 on the highway. I've found that most people who claimed much more mpg suffered from the same "fuzzy math" most politicians like to use.

 

The regenerative system on the 6.7 was EPA compliant on the 2500 and 3500 series for 2011 and 2012. They have been running the DEF on the commercial line bc of reliability. The regenerative system requires some maintenance once the miles start to get higher. And since the regenerative DPF required more fuel to regenerate bc they were using a regenerating NOX system instead of the DEF NOX reduction. They also sight fuel mileage.

 

The EPA may be indirectly to blame as the Feds require a warranty on the emission systems and with the boost of torque to 850 ft/lbs the old regenerative system would probably require maintenance before the warranty expired.

But I'm a hard sell for the conspiracy theories. I just don't believe that the EPA wants to eliminate combustion engines they just want to service the public and make it safe for all our children to grow up without the threat of ailments and diseases that can easily be avoided.

 

Ram is using SCR technology in 2013. Not using urea means you must use more egr. International found out the hard way that using only egr causes a lot more issues with engine reliability versus incorporating urea and less egr. Recycling exhaust gases back through the engine chokes down performance and mpg and the best thing you can do for a diesel is to remove the egr and dpf. Ram comes in last place in mpg, hp and torque because they have not used urea. To remain competitive Ram had to start using the best technology available to move them out of last place.

 

2012 rams do have an extra NOx adsorbing catalyst made of cordierite. Down stream from the cat and up stream of the DPF. It's considered a NAC system. It regens by making the exhaust "fuel rich" this reduces O2 and makes the barium nitrate react and turn into nitrogen and water. This requires extra fuel just as the regeneration of the DFP. Systems employing urea have reduced NOx and reduced particles so even the regenerative DPF will benefit. It is a much better system and wastes less fuel. Ram thought that regening the NOx would regen the DPF by reducing sulfur but the DPF would slowly degrade from not fully regening and will need replacement sooner.