i'm always reading of how durable these motors are and much mileage you can rack up before any sort of real big dollar maintainence. i'm only got 50K on mine currently. other than the lift pump failing are there any stories of any untimely internal engine failure?

 

there is the "53" block and if ya give them 60lbs of boost head gaskets don't live a long life

the Dodge will be useless way before the motor, my 95 4x4 5 sp has 300,000 hard miles towing hauling or just plain gettin after it....1 clutch, 1 shifter, 1000 sets of brakes/ball joints but the engine is still good as ever,

my 01' driver in sig 145,000 still good as ever
my bosses 01' 4x4 auto ctd 200,000+ lots of brakes, trannies, lps and 1 vp cause he does not like to mod anything.

say it all IMO,
GREG

 

I wonder the same thing. I have a 53 block. I have had a lift pump go bad. Cracked manifold, oil seal in the power steering pump. and oil pressure builds slow. Make me wonder how long is it going to last. I bought the truck thinking it was going to be one of the last trucks i buy for a long time. I also chould have bought two gas dodge for the same money.

dan

 

I have heard of these motors going over 500,000, pretty much the truck falls apart around the motor!

Tom

2001.5 2500 4X4 5-Spd LB QC Black. Catcher ECM, DD Stage-1's, AFE, Bully Dog 4" pipe, ATS Exhaust Manifold, Silencer Ring MIA, JAKE Brake w/shifter switch, Geno's Banjo's, 3 Autometer's on the A-Pillar, Gear Vendor's O/D, Firestone Air Bags, Redline Oil throughout.

 

I read an article on a guy that delivers Airstream trailers and he racked up one million miles on the truck it was a 12v 5sp reg cab if I remember right, but think every mile spent was towing a trailer. He also stated that he bought a powerstroke to replace it and within 250,000 it was dead, if the story was valid and yours was not built on monday ya got a ways to go.

 

I read that story also. I'll never make that happen. I'll be lucky to hit 300,000 before I can start to use the Flintstone brakes through the floor board.

 

I knew of a guy that towed trailers with a '91 D250 that I talked to a couple times. His was a 4x2 regular cab. He sold it at 1,240,000 miles and still got over $4000 for it

A wrecking yard bought it 'cause they needed a good engine for their yard lift! But then they ended up selling the truck to a farmer in Kentucky who bought it for. . . guess what. . . towing his horse trailer

In the time Marty had it he replaced the inj. pump & injectors at 600k, had the front end rebuilt a couple times (ball joints were its weakest spot) but he said the stock turbo was still on it. He changed oil every 10k but it was starting to use about 5 quarts per change. Still not bad though. The only thing the engine ever had done to it besides the fuel system is a few valve adjustments. Didn't even lose the head gasket in all those miles.

Vaughn

 

I bought my truck for the same reason as most of you. The great Cummins diesel. The only problem is that the truck the cummings sits in will never last as long as the engine. Along with other diesel related maintenance issues, owning one of these trucks is definitely an added expense over a regular gasser.

As much as I love this truck, the added initial cost and fueling issues have already cast the dye making this my last diesel. I definitely could never afford to buy a new one!

Now,,,,,,, if I only could find a nice 12V some where,,,,, that would be a different story!

 

My serial # points to a 1987 build date. 380,000 miles this weekend. Original turbo. It's 8 degrees here this AM--just fired her up--no plug in, no grid heater---half revolution of the starter and she was purrin away I don't think the valve covers have ever been off used/leaked 1/4 quart of oil in the first 5500 miles I've owned it. Think I'll keep it.
greg

 

Greg, 1987? Do you mean 1989? 1997?

I rolled 372,000 over the weekend so I'm not far behind

Vaughn

 

Hmm, what does everyone mean the truck falls apart around the engine? If you're talking brakes, joints, transmissions, etc I think that problem exists with every vehicle on the road. If you're talking the body, well that's all in the environment the truck lives in and how you take care of it. I expect no less than 500K and 15 years out of my truck. Any less and I'll be suprised. I had a hand me down '90 F150 with a 300 I6 that had 490K on it when I bought my first new truck. Dad and I were the only two drivers. Letting that truck go was the biggest vehicle mistake I ever made. I won't make it again.