maintenance issues
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 100
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From: Northern Nevada
maintenance issues
I own a 1994 f350 crew cab idi turbo diesel with 100,000 miles on it. I do regular maintenance but was wondering what areas should i be looking at for preventive maintenance? are there parts i need to be watching? i use this truck in very remote desert areas therefore reliability is critical. thanks for your help.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Ladner, British Columbia
A few thoughts for harsh desert environments:
Seb.....
- Check/Change your air filter often. For severe dessert applications there are oil-bath type air filters available that scrub out any sand/dust, replace the scrubbing oil in these units frequently.
- Change your fuel filter.
- Make sure you use a good diesel fuel lubrication additive every time you fill up the truck. (Diesel Kleen, Howies, Diesel Tone) If you don't have any additives available half a liter of a light weight engine oil per tank (5W30) will help as well, but I would recommend you stick to a proper diesel fuel additive)
- Do engine oil and filter changes (suggested every 3,500 miles or less)
- Change your engine thermostat if you are still running the factory stat.
- Keep your radiator core clear of sand and debrie.
- Make sure all your factory rubber fuel hoses and O-rings around the filter and the injector return lines have been replaced. The rubber has a tendency to harden after that many years causing air to leak into the fuel system which can lead to hard cold starting.
- Frequenty clean and grease the aluminium cam on the drivers side of the Injection Pump Lever. This cam has a tendency to wear out pre-maturely if left dry or coated with dust and sand.
- Replace your tranny and transfer case fluids.
- Check/add SCA coolant additive to prevent cylinder wall cavitation.
- Grease your front ball joints and steering linkage joints at every oil change.
- Lastly, consider upgrading your fuel filter to a 2 micron filter from the factory 10 micron filter. The 10 micron filter will let fine dust particle pass and these could pre-maturely wear out your Fuel Injection Pump.
Seb.....
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Northern Nevada
Thanks alot for your time in answering my question. I am doing most of these as preventive maintenance. I have not been using fuel additive as much as I should,but I will start today. Thanks again for all your help.
