Where should I have the "regular maintenance", described in my owners manual, performed?  What about warranty work on the engine? What are the new features of the ISB engine?

Power Master wrote:

Your regular maintenance can be performed by your Dodge Dealer or by a Cummins shop. Just give us a toll- free call at 1-800-DIESELS (343-7357) when you are ready, and we will get you phone numbers, addressess.

We design and supply the Cummins B5.9L turbo diesel engines to Chrysler, but Chrysler chose to warrant the diesel engine and truck completely. Therefore, please refer any warranty or repair questions and concerns to your Dodge dealer, or you can find out how to reach Chrysler through: www.4adodge.com

We believe the coverage on the diesel engine is 5 years/100,000 but you should discuss it with Dodge or your dealer to be sure.  There are no extended warranty coverages available from Cummins on the Dodge Ram and we are not aware of any extended coverages available from Dodge.

Cummins distributors are certainly capable of troubleshooting and repairing your B5.9 diesel engine, however, they are not in a position to handle Dodge warranty, therefore any work done by Cummins service providers would be billable to the customer or Dodge dealer.  Dodge dealers would require prior approval on any repairs they would be billed for.

Here is a little more info on your ISB truck,

Dodge started production of the 98 1/2 year model trucks on January 9, 1998 and some early customers have already taken delivery of the new model year trucks with the Cummins 24 valve ISB (Integrated Systems B series) electronic engine.

The Cummins 24 valve ISB engine is a fully electronic, 24 valve in-line 6-cylinder turbocharged B series diesel engine. It is an engine which is revolutionary at the same time, thanks to something Cummins calls the Interact System. The Interact System is a new engine design platform that combines sophisticated electronic engine controls with high-pressure fuel injection and high-strength componentry for engines that outperform  every competitive diesel on the market today. The Interact System 'talks' to vehicle systems like the fan clutch and engine brake, as  well as the power train.

The ISB engine is expected to deliver 15% more miles/hours to overhaul, with double the service interval of the current B series models. The engine also has increased torque and horsepower ratings and is up to  4 dB quieter than any previous B series engines. Oil change intervals have been extended to 7500 miles as a result of the improved combustion characteristics of the 24 valve cylinder head, Holset HX35 turbocharger and the electronic Bosch fuel system.

The fuel/water seperator filter is designed for 15,000 mile service intervals and has a water-in-fuel sensor. The rocker system of the ISB is designed for minimum 150,000 miles without adjustment and the valve springs are standard 60 psi heavy-duty for use with exhaust brakes. The standard oil capacity of the Cummins ISB engine is 15 U.S. quarts.

Fuel economy for the ISB has been improved 2% - 4% over last year's B5.9 engines. The engine also have more response over the entire power range. The engine has an integrated air heater that automatically 'kicks-in' whenever engine and ambient temperatures drop, plus the ISB has a start-up protection feature that limits rpm until oil temperature and pressure are high enough.

The ISB the Dodge ratings are 215 hp with 420 lb_ft torque at 1600 for automatic transmission and 235 hp with 460 lb_ft torque for manual.

Chrysler will use their own diagnostic tool (DRBIII) to troubleshoot the new 24 valve engine. Their connection is under the dash.  However, we also have the ability to diagnose the Engine Control Module using Cummins INSITE software.  In order to use Cummins INSITE on the Dodge ISB engine, two things are required; INSITE 4.2, available on the current INSITE CD-Rom and the new INLINE 2 datalink. This allows connecting to the J1939 datalink located at the left front of the engine, near the vacuum pump.

 We offer customer/technical support for you and your Ram 24 hours a day, so feel free to contact us with any other questions you might have.  You may call us at 1-800-DIESELS (343-7357) anytime! Thank you for choosing Cummins power. Let us know if you need assistance in locating the nearest Cummins-authorized distributor or dealer. Please feel free to use our International Dealer Locator: (http://www.cummins.com/partserv/intro.html). found on our Customer Assistance page of Cummins website (www.cummins.com)

Regards, --- Rammaster
Cummins Engine Company
Customer Assistance Center
Email:  powermaster@cummins.com