I figure I own a duramax and used to own a powerstroke, might as well try a Cummins soon. I have a question for ya'll if you don't mind.

What are ya'll typically paying for injectors aftermarket wise if you change them yourselves? How easy is this engine to work on with invasive stuff such as removing valve cover and dealing with the fuel components and whatnot?


And does the Cummins 600 share injector compatibility with the regular Common rail 03 and 04 engines?

I am seriously considering trading the GM in for a cummins towards the end of the year when I can get my payoff a bit lower as to actually make a trade feasible because I want a truck I can keep past the 200k mark without having to tear the **** thing apart. The configuration I want is a regular cab long bed with the rubber floors and the 6 speed, so the whole quad cab debate is not even an issue. Neither is the rear end howl because ya'll use the same AAM 1150 we do, and I suspect alot of the issues are dealers forgetting to top them off before being delivered to the customer.

 

well lots of info here can tell you a cummins will go long after the chevy and ford are dead especially with a stick behind it.

sorry cant help you out with the other stuff

 

Hey Wickedsprint, does your stock 1150AAM have a drain plug in it? Not to be confused with the fill plug.

 

Yes it does, as well as a fill plug, just changed the front and rears out two weeks ago, they spec 75/90 synthetic for ours, like 4 quarts, same deal with yours??

 

How often does GM recommend that you change the oil in your axle? Does the manual recommend heavier weight synthetic for towing? Thanks

Casey

 

I'll double check the change schedule, they ONLY spec 75/90 synthetic, and to be changed 500 miles after the first time you tow. Say you tow your first load at 1000 miles, then you need to change the fluid at 1500. Then follow the normal schedule. Also reccomended if not towing to change it out at 5000 to remove the breakin material if you have the eaton unit, not sure what ya'll use. GM sells this crap that is silly expensive for use witht he EATON diff, but we all end up going to mobil !, that's what I have in mine.

 

So noone knows if the injectors are interchangeable with the 03's??

 

Don't know about the injectors.

As far as Dodge vs Ford, and to a much lesser extent Chevy as they seemed to have such a small market share of diesel trucks, a simple summary of what I observed with truck owners is that people bought Fords for 'everything else' and seemed to be willing to put up with the powertrains, while people bought Dodges for the powertrain and were willing to put up with 'everything else'. I was surprised at how common auto transmission failures were on the Ford trucks, very few seemed to buy sticks, while a fair number of Dodge owners seemed to buy sticks and also expected longer engine life with the Cummins.

While traveling on vacation last summer on the west coast I was surprised at how few Chevy diesel trucks I saw, especially ones towing anything big, and at how many newer Dodges I saw. I saw more than a few Ford trucks on the side of the road but to be fair they also have most of the trucks on the road. I talked with one Chevy Duramax owner at one campground, he liked his truck a lot, but he was also heading out to find a dealer as his check engine light had come on.

I bought my Dodge for the Cummins engine and the manual tranny and was willing to put up with 'everything else', and so far have been very pleased with 'everything else' except tire selection. A friend with a three pre-72 Chevy trucks was impressed with how beefy the drivetrain was and has since picked up a Dodge diesel too. Another friend bought one after seeing how pleased I've been with mine.

 

You mention drivetrain, we do have one helluva rear axle, you do know chevy and dodge share the AAM 1150 right? I must drive in different locations than you, pensacola has a ton of duramaxes,a nd I see quite a few onthe interstate, almost as many as I do Cummins. I have seen like 3 new fords to date with the 6.0. The main vehicle I see towing anything big ironically are gassers.

 

I've noticed the mass of gassers too. I don't get it. I also think they are liars. I keep hearing about the Ford v10 getting 11mpg towing a big trailer. I don't get that with my CTD. At least not going to Mammoth at 75. I got 14+ once and that only happened when I kept it below 65 on level ground. It was from Baker to Dumont. It might even be a little downhill for about 30+ miles. The Chevy 8.1 ltr gasser is a monster with HP and torque.

 

I think the 8.1 is rated at 340hp and 455 ft lbs, around there, but it drinks all of its fluids, gas and oil.

 

Did the light go off with anyone else when Wickedsprint said his 11.5 had a drain plug. So, will the GM AAM covers with the drain plugs fit out trucks? They should.

Pete

 

I would be after one if it fit! Does anyone know? - JKE

wickedsrint - don't let us talk you out of getting a new Dodge

 

Well, maybe the gears and such are the same, but the gm and dodge axles look different. The diff housing is a different shape.

 

I believe the injectors are exactly the same, just that the 325/600 has an extra pilot injection event (triggered by the ECM, for a total of 3 injection events) that the 03s and 04s do not have. I wouldn't get too worried about injectors right off though. The common rail power boxes are putting 450HP to the ground, and we still aren't exactly sure how to make those ponies safe just yet.

Rod