Got me a new truck last week and I'm learning all the in's and out's of it as it's first diesel.
It's a 91 1 ton Dodge 4X4. This truck is super clean (sorry no pics yet) and the best part is it only has 74,000 miles on it. From what I understand this should mean that in about 26,000 more miles it will be broken in, correct?
Have a couple of questions on it though.
It has a "grid heater" what are the in's and out's of this?
If I plug it in at night is it the grid heater that keeps things warm or some other heater?
If I use the plug in at night, when I start the truck in the morning will this allow the defroster/heater to warm up faster?
The original owner used synthetic oil in it. I have been using rotella 10-40 in my other trucks and I understand that this is a great oil for diesels, what are the problems in switching from the synthetic to the rotella?
I'm sure I'll have alot more questions in the next few weeks.
Thanks for the help.

 

 

Got me a new truck last week and I'm learning all the in's and out's of it as it'sy first diesel.


It's a 91 1 ton Dodge 4X4. This truck is super clean (sorry no pics yet) and the best part is it only has 74,000 miles on it. From what I understand this should mean that in about 26,000 more miles it will be broken in, correct?

Damn thats almost like new.....just gettin broke in

Have a couple of questions on it though.
It has a "grid heater" what are the in's and out's of this?

Grid heater is a wire type coil in the intake horn just befor combustion...they draw alot of amps....there is 2 of them, they come on when ya turn the key to the on position and will cycle for say up to 60 seconds pending on ambient temps

If I plug it in at night is it the grid heater that keeps things warm or some other heater?

Plug in is a small heater for the glycol inside the block.....nuttin to do with the grids


If I use the plug in at night, when I start the truck in the morning will this allow the defroster/heater to warm up faster?

Yes it will help alot.....get a good outdoor 20 amp timer and set it to come on a few hours before ya need the truck


The original owner used synthetic oil in it. I have been using rotella 10-40 in my other trucks and I understand that this is a great oil for diesels, what are the problems in switching from the synthetic to the rotella?
I'm sure I'll have alot more questions in the next few weeks.
Thanks for the help.

Rotella is a good oil and IMHO would be just fine in yer new to you truck...each to his own here but I prefer synthetics.....only because I live in a cold climate though

Cheers, Kevin

 

Ok, here ya go.

 

nice rig, super clean!

 

The tool box, cargo rack and front push bumper all came on it.
THe interior is as clean as the exterior.
The previous owner used this truck to haul his boat to the lake a couple of times a year and to haul a couple of loads of wood every year.
He kept it under cover and sitting on a cement pad, he had been gone for the week prior to me getting it and when we pulled it off the pad their was not a drop of fluid to be found on the pad, no old stains, nothing.
About 4 hours after I got it I was offered $7,000.00 cash for it which was $1,200.00 more then I had just paid.

 

Congrats on the new ride.

 

wow you stole that thing, thats a really clean truck

 

Man that thing is clean. I'd venture to say it's worth every bit of the 7K you were offered for it. You definitely stole it. That same truck around here would bring 8K+ with mileage that low.
Where in NM are you? I lived near Alamogordo for several years, and in the Albuquerque area for a few also.
JB

 

Thanks for the comments. I feel that I got a really good deal on this one and it will probably last me for as long as I want to keep it.
EXTblueram, I'm on the mountain between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft.