New to the forums so please be gentle.....I am looking at purchasing a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 with a 24v Cummins Diesel.

It has around 207,000 km on it and looks to be in good shape cosmetically. When I started the engine it seemed to purr right along for the 10 minuets I left it running and did not sound like a "Bird Chirping". The engine was a little dirty in spots and he did admit there was a small leak underneath but he would have it checked for me. A friend told me that a clean diesel engine has either never been driven or is hiding something...is this true???

He has a small dial installed just forward of the 4X4 shifter I am told will increase the RPM's for use during our nasty winters here in Canada as well as a forced air cut off handle. As this will be my first Diesel, does anyone have any tips for what too look at??? Thanks in advance...

Cheers,
DD

 

It sounds like to me with it having an air cutoff that it might have truck pulled at one time(just my guess). I've always heard that a dirty engine is a good engine, but maybe the dealer cleaned it.

 

It's actually a private sale...and the engine is dirty alright.

I was told that the cut off valve was installed as the current owner is a roaming medic on some of the rig sites here in Alberta. Since he often drove onto sites with H2S the valve was a safety feature is case engine run on after the ignition was turned off.

 

OK, I just was wondering about the pulling because that's the only reason I have one.