I have my eye on a truck now but was thrown a curve today when the owner said it had a new engine under warranty. This is a 2002 truck! I have the VIN if anyone can get the service history to see if I should run the BS flag up or if it is real. Why would it go in less than 90k miles?


Here is the VIN: 3B7MC33622M238216

 

What is the coverage? Would it still be under warranty and would they replace a second motor if it already had one. I assume the warranty transfers but thought I should ask. Thanks!

 

It's not like that year was known for bad blocks... So maybe someone crashed it or put mods on it and pushed it way too fast too early?

I'd just ask what was done to it. The owner is bound to give an answer... then you can raise the BS flag

 

Got it! It was changed at 79k miles so now I just have to figure out if it is a reman or new motor when I can call the dealer that did the swap. Don't have a clue why it went with so little mileage

 

I managed to track it back to the dealer and they installed a reman engine in the truck. The reason that was stated was a knock in the bottom end. The cause was overheating and scoring of #5 cylinder due to clogged oil nozzles. The service guy said that was from using Fram filters. Cost $6122 to replace the motor

 

The mechanic might be feeding you a line too.

Letter from Fram published in the August 2002, Cummins Bulletin® Technical Information

It has been brought to our attention that a few DaimlerChrysler service
technicians are recommending that the FRAM PH3976 filter not be used on
Daimler Chrysler vehicles with the Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel engine and
that use of these filters can cause damage to the engine. Daimler Chrysler
has informed us that they released a Technical Service Bulletin to their
dealerships communicating a potential contamination issue and recommending the use of Fleetguard manufactured filters.
FRAM has been selling PH3976 filter for this engine application since the
engine platform launch and it has maintained an extremely reliable service
record. Late in 2000, Cummins and Daimler Chrysler brought to our
attention a low incidence failure mode in their Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel
engine of the piston cooling nozzle plugging, resulting in engine failure.
The plugging was caused by contaminates lodging in the nozzle. The
contaminants included metal chips, calcium carbonate, polyethylene, and
styrene butadiene that are not associated with filter manufacture, and a
neoprene compound, which is used as a sealant on the tapping plate of the
filter. There were also several other engine warranty issues determined
unrelated to the piston cooling nozzle plugging that were part of the
engine failure sample. A small amount of neoprene rubber was used in the
FRAM filter as a sealant.
Throughout our investigation with Cummins & DaimlerChrysler on various
engine failures, no conclusive evidence was found to assign cause to
filters or other contamination sources. However, driven to satisfy our
customers, the FRAM engineering team made modifications to the design
eliminating the neoprene and expedited development and manufacturing to
release a revised filter model number to PH3976A. With the design change
on the PH3976A completely removing the use of neoprene, there is
absolutely no validity in comments that the Fram filter should not be used
for this application or that it may cause engine failures associated with
plugged nozzles.

Since this time Cummins has recanted it's stand that only approved filters should be used in a bulletin sent out to it's dealers. Sources that say otherwise are outdated.

 

I have been using FRAM for almost 40K miles, am I looking for trouble here?

 

Interesting. What is the preferred filter among the masses? It's hard to tell what clogged the nozzle on this one but that is what did it in. That was a guess by the guy reading off the service report that was written on the truck so take it with a grain. I don't really care for Fram anything! From testing I have seen done the Mfg. filters like AC Delco, etc.... are the best.

 

Fleetguard

 

Yes you are....... Fleetguard Stratapore and never look back

 

was FLEETGUARD mentioned,

 

I have used Fleetgard or more recently Wix, have not heard anything negative on those either (unless anyone knows anything??)

I had 6 Fram filters for this engine I purchased for $2.00 each when a auto parts store near me was closeing down. I heard about the possibility that this could happen, and I heard if first from a dealer who had a 2000 3/4 ton model with the engine out for this very reason while I was in the shop. Upon arriving home, I tossed all six in the trash, and have since purchased either Fleetgards for $11 from Case dealers, or Wix for around $9. For me, it's too cheap of a differance to mess with!

 

FLEETGUARD you Say?

I trust the advise, and will SURE take it!

Thanks for the great advise, never even thought about the importance of a oil filter.

Better safe than sorry.

 

This stuff really amazes me though. I have seen trucks used in construction, etc... that look like they haven't been washed in years so I doubt they are UP on the maintenance end of things but still running around like it is nothing. Then you probably have that guy that keeps up on everything including waxing and probably smokes a motor.

 

Intercooler, did the dealer charge you to lookup the vin info? I bought my 01 6 months ago, and it looks like the IP was replaced, at least the lines on the back of it has had a wrench on it. Was thinking of contacting the dealer for a history.