I just bought a 2001 cummins with 180k miles. I know about diesel farm equipment but I know nothing about diesel trucks. Basically I want to know what it is that I have if that makes sense. I keep seeing VP44 so what is that, how often do you change the oil, how often to change the fuel filter, what else do you do for diesel to keep up on regular maintenance?

 

vp44 is the injection pump on the 98.5-02 trucks. changing oil and fuel filter is kinda whatever you feel is best for you. i change my oil every 5000 and fuel filter every 10000or before just depends. hope this helps

 

Alright thanks this does help, so what happens the fuel pump delivers fuel to the injection pump and that delivers it to the cylinder then?

 

Yes through injectors. I have 304,xxx miles on my 2001. I Change the oil and fuel filter every time at 5000 miles. Also I put a whole can of seafoam in the motor oil before I go to change it.

 

I'm new too but what is the use of the seafoam before oil change why not after.

 

A whole can can thin out the oil. I like to put a whole can in, run 100 miles on it then change the oil. It will clean in that 100 miles and wont have time to stick to stuff. Also make sure to put 2 cycle in your fuel.

 

Whoa wait I thought 2 cycle was a no-no in the tank?

I use diesel kleen in my rig every time I fill up and I can tell a difference if I go without it. I change my oil every 3000 miles because it's pretty black by then (delo400). I flush the water/fuel filter every other oil change.

That's just me but someone tell me about the 2 cycle in the tank?

 

when it comes to fuel additives its kinda whatever you feel works for you. everyone uses something different and everybody seems to say what they use is the best.

 

That's true I was turned on to diesel kleen by a diesel mechanic and I've never had a problem except for bending over at the pump

I guess it is personal preference - all I know is that it works for me so far and you can get it for around $15 bucks a gallon here at walmart.

 

i run 2 cycle if for no other reason it does quiet the motor at idle... i've heard seafoam is bad for a diesel esp through the injection system cause of the seals and stuff... but the way bacon says he does it makes sense that it should work ok doing that