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Utah trucks live a harder life: altitude, canyon grades, summer heat, winter salt, and dust. If you’re driving a RAM 2500/3500 (or any ¾–1-ton diesel), a generic “factory” schedule won’t cover real-world towing, idling, cold starts, or construction-zone dust. This calendar turns mileage intervals and seasonal prep into one simple plan you can follow—so injectors, turbos, brakes, and driveline stay happy all year.
Save this page and reference it before big trips. Want a printable version? We can turn the table and checklists into a one-page PDF for your glove box.
Elevation & long grades: Thinner air means higher EGTs on climbs; cooling, fluids, and charge-air health matter more.
Temp swings: Winter cold soaks batteries, thickens fluids, and gels fuel; summer heat stresses cooling systems and brakes.
Road salt & grime: Accelerates corrosion on lines, calipers, and underbody components—inspect and wash more often.
Dust & construction debris: Loads your air and fuel filters faster; MAF/MAP sensors and compressor wheels appreciate clean air.
Use the shorter end of ranges for towing, city/idle time, dust, or heavy payloads.
|
Item |
Interval |
Notes |
Why it matters |
|
Engine oil & filter |
Every 5–7.5k miles |
Severe duty = closer to 5k; use spec oil |
Fresh oil cools/cleans turbo bearings; protects cam/injectors |
|
Quick inspection |
Every 5–7.5k |
Belts/hoses/leaks; tire pressures |
Catch issues before trips; keeps MPG and temps in check |
|
Fuel filter(s) |
Every 10–15k |
Shorten if bad fuel, winter water, or lift pump |
Clean fuel protects CP3/CP4 pumps and injectors |
|
Tire rotation/balance |
Every 10–15k |
Include a quick alignment check if wear is uneven |
Even wear = safer stops; saves money |
|
Brake inspection |
Every 10–15k |
Pads/rotors, slide pins, fluid moisture |
Utah grades heat-cycle brakes—prevent pulsation/fade |
|
Diff & transfer case check |
Every 30k |
Service if discolored, towing, or water crossings |
Protects gears under load; quiets driveline |
|
Coolant test |
Every 30k |
Check strength/contamination |
Prevents hot spots, cavitation, and tow-induced boilover |
|
Alignment check |
Every 30k (or after suspension/tire changes) |
Load the truck as you drive it |
Keeps contact patch true; shortens stopping distance |
|
Transmission service |
Every 60k (severe) / follow OEM if normal) |
Fluid/filter; verify cooler performance |
Heat kills transmissions—especially towing |
|
Coolant service |
~60k (as applicable) |
Replace per spec |
Renews additives; keeps temps stable |
|
Belts/hoses |
90–100k |
Replace if cracking, glazing, or swollen |
Avoid roadside failures under tow |
|
Battery test |
90–100k (or annually before winter) |
Load test; clean terminals |
Diesel cold starts need strong batteries |
|
Hubs/bearings (serviceable) |
90–100k |
Inspect/pack where applicable |
Reduces heat and brake pulsation risk |
|
Control-arm/steering bushings |
90–100k (earlier if lifted/heavy) |
Replace if cracked or sloppy |
Stability + even tire wear |
|
Air filter |
As needed |
Shorten interval in dust; inspect each oil change |
Clean air = lower EGTs, better MPG |
|
DPF/DEF checks |
As needed |
Correct DEF quality; watch for frequent regens |
Keeps aftertreatment happy, reduces downtime |
|
EGR health inspection |
As needed |
Check for leaks/soot buildup |
Prevents driveability/EGT issues |
Anti-gel strategy: Use a quality additive per temps; avoid summer-blend fuel during cold snaps.
Battery/charging test: Load-test both batteries; inspect cables/grounds.
Heater grid/glow checks: Confirm operation for cold starts.
Water separation & filters: Drain water separators; consider a FASS/lift-pump service to stabilize supply pressure.
Tire pressure in cold: Set to door placard when cold; re-check after temp swings.
Post-salt brake/line inspection: Look for corrosion on lines, calipers, backing plates.
Underbody wash: Flush salt from frame, brackets, and coolers.
Alignment/tire wear check: Winter potholes knock geometry out.
Cabin & engine air filters: Pollen/dust season—restore airflow.
Tow-prep cooling system: Pressure test cap/system; inspect fan clutch and radiator stack for debris.
Intercooler/charge pipes: Smoke/boost test; replace tired clamps/boots.
Transmission temp plan: Verify cooler health; consider auxiliary cooling if you tow long grades.
Brake fluid boiling point check: Replace fluid proactively for canyon trips.
Pre-winterization: Refresh fuel filters, check coolant strength/level.
Wiper/lighting: Night comes early—see and be seen.
Heater operation: Verify grid/glow and HVAC blend doors before first freeze.
Dirty or aerated fuel is injector murder. Use quality filters on schedule, drain water, and consider lift-pump/filtration upgrades to stabilize supply pressure. A simple supply-pressure gauge catches restrictions before they become failures.
Charge-air leaks and clogged filters force the turbo to work harder, cooking EGTs. Keep intake filters clean, smoke-test the charge tract, and change oil on time—clean oil protects turbo bearings during hot shutdowns.
A straight truck stops shorter. Confirm alignment, torque lugs (truck & trailer), inspect pad/rotor condition, and set trailer brake gain with a few test stops before the canyon.
Brakes: Measure pad thickness; no pulsation; fresh fluid if last service is unknown.
Brake controller: Set gain on level ground at 25–35 mph (firm engagement, no lockups).
Tires: Check date codes, pressures (truck + trailer), and load ratings.
Hitch & hardware: Verify torque on ball mount, weight-distribution bars, and shank bolts; inspect safety chains and breakaway switch.
Rotor color/heat checking: Address early to prevent pulsation.
Fluids: Sniff test ATF and engine oil; look for discoloration.
Intercooler boots/clamps: Retighten after long, hot trips; heat cycles loosen hardware.
Quick alignment read: If the wheel sits off-center or wear looks uneven, schedule a check.
Daily, mostly empty: Stick near the middle of ranges; watch filters in dust.
Tuned/heavy tow: Use the short end for oil, fuel filters, brake fluid, and trans service; add monitoring.
Fleet/contractor: Align and rotate on a calendar; schedule fluid programs to reduce downtime.
A small investment in boost/EGT, fuel supply pressure, and trans temp gauges pays for itself by catching problems before they become repairs. For modern trucks, many tuners can datalog—bring us a short log and we’ll interpret it with you.
Want a glove-box version? We can export the Mileage Table + Seasonal Checklists as a clean, one-page PDF. Tell us your engine/year and towing pattern—we’ll brand it with your intervals.
Book a Same-Week Diesel Health Check
We’ll review your maintenance history, perform a quick inspection, and customize intervals for Utah conditions and your use case. Financing available for larger service bundles.
If your trips include long grades at elevation or extreme temps, use severe intervals before and after the trip (fuel filter refresh, brake fluid check, quick oil check). Otherwise, a standard schedule is fine—just verify filters and cooling.
Plan on 10–15k miles. In winter or with questionable fuel sources, shorten the interval and drain water separators more often. Lift-pump/filtration upgrades help protect injectors and rails.
Proactively—before summer canyon season and whenever moisture/boiling-point tests say it’s time. Heat cycles from long descents degrade fluid faster than normal commuting.
Yes. Lifts often reduce caster and big tires magnify small geometry errors. Align at your loaded ride height and check more frequently—at least twice a year or after any suspension changes or tire replacements.
