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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / January 2007

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Cummins Engine Life

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Jim Hall - 05 Jan 2007 03:53 GMT
Hi folks,

I have a 94 FWD Cummins turbo diesel with a little over 280,000 miles.
It started out as my personal vehicle, then became a company truck for
a business that I own, and it has come back to me in it's old age.

It runs pretty well

But it occasionally blows oil - apparently out of a breather in the
engine compartment which - among other things - makes a mess under the
hood.

I took it to the dealer a little over a year ago.  Whoever they had
look at it didn't even roll it into the shop.  He opened the hood,
looked at the engine, looked at the mileage and proclaimed the engine
toast.  They would be happy to sell me a replacement engine for 12
grand or so.

Since the vehicle books out at maybe half of that, I declined.  Since
then, I've used it around town, and to haul water and do odd chores.
Because I like the dammed thing, I would like to fix it up (it needs a
fair amount of cosmetic work - and the paint is history)  But the
condition of the engine is a problem.

How long should these engines be expected to last? given fairly
regular oil changes and maintenance?  It runs ok, but seems to be
pumping out oil.  Somehow I expected the diesel to last longer, but I
may have been expecting too much.

Are there other things besides rings or whatever that could be
pressurizing the crankcase?  A heavy equipment mechanic I know
suggested that the catalytic converter might be clogged.

Suggestions, observations are appreciated.  Thanks a lot,

Jim Hall                      
520 EXC
950 LC8 Adventure
turning Money into Noise...
Roy - 05 Jan 2007 05:52 GMT
> Hi folks,
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> Suggestions, observations are appreciated.  Thanks a lot,

A 94 doesn't have a cat. Well mine didn't anyway. Could your breather hose
be restricted or crimped. You should, if it has been taken care of, have a
bunch of miles left. You might want to take it to the nearest Cummins dealer
have them take a look, toss it on their dyno and see what's what. Cummins
dealer not a Dodge dealer.

Roy
> Jim Hall
> 520 EXC
> 950 LC8 Adventure
> turning Money into Noise...
SnoMan - 05 Jan 2007 13:47 GMT
>A 94 doesn't have a cat. Well mine didn't anyway.

They have NEVER had CATS, only thermo reactions mistaken for CATS.
THey will starting in 2008 though now that sulpher is being lowered
enough to allow them to be used. (this is the main reason they are
removing sulpher because is is deadly to CATS and the reason diesel
have never had them in past.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com
Tom Lawrence - 05 Jan 2007 15:13 GMT
> They have NEVER had CATS, only thermo reactions mistaken for CATS.

The manufacturer seems to have a different opinion than you.  Here's a
snippet from the service manual:

http://home.earthlink.net/~tlawrence5/Diesel_Cat.JPG

If Cummins says it's a cat, and Daimler-Chrysler says it's a cat, then it's
a cat...  regardless of what YOU call it.
Roy - 05 Jan 2007 16:11 GMT
>>A 94 doesn't have a cat. Well mine didn't anyway.
>
> They have NEVER had CATS, only thermo reactions mistaken for CATS.

Call it whatever you want. I still don't think they had one on a 94. Come to
think about it there wasn't one on my 2K.

Is there one on your diesel? Oh, that's right you never owned a diesel. Go
back to the chevy group. Seems that when you screw up there, you run over
here.
Budd Cochran - 05 Jan 2007 18:22 GMT
Sorry, but a cat (catalytic converter) _IS_ a thermal reactor: hot platinum
or other catylists reacts to unburned fuel and oxides.

Budd

>>A 94 doesn't have a cat. Well mine didn't anyway.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> -----------------
> TheSnoMan.com

Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

John Kunkel - 05 Jan 2007 20:35 GMT
>>A 94 doesn't have a cat. Well mine didn't anyway.
>
> They have NEVER had CATS, only thermo reactions mistaken for CATS.

'02 or '03 was the first year for cats on the Cummins.
FMB - 05 Jan 2007 21:13 GMT
>>>A 94 doesn't have a cat. Well mine didn't anyway.
>>
>> They have NEVER had CATS, only thermo reactions mistaken for CATS.
>
> '02 or '03 was the first year for cats on the Cummins.

'04.5 I believe.

FMB
(North Mexico)
BigIronRam - 06 Jan 2007 02:11 GMT
>>>A 94 doesn't have a cat. Well mine didn't anyway.
>>
>> They have NEVER had CATS, only thermo reactions mistaken for CATS.
>
> '02 or '03 was the first year for cats on the Cummins.

1/01/94 was the first of the Dodge / Cummins cats, they went away when the
24 valve was introduced.  I_think_they returned 1/01/04.
SnoMan - 05 Jan 2007 13:52 GMT
>> How long should these engines be expected to last? given fairly
>> regular oil changes and maintenance?  It runs ok, but seems to be
>> pumping out oil.  Somehow I expected the diesel to last longer, but I
>> may have been expecting too much.

It is pumping out oil from excessive blowby pressurizing crank case.
No trick is going to fix this short of maybe a ring job. You should be
able to find someone to rering it and change bearing for a lot less
than 12K. Also gas or diesel when oil consumption increases, changing
oil often can help because clean oil seals cylinders better than dirty
oil. One more thing if you are chipping or boosting it, remove this
and it will reduce blow by and give you more time.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com
Chris Thompson - 06 Jan 2007 01:58 GMT
hmmm how bout you find the Knock Sensor on a 8.0L (488 cid) truck engine
first, before you give out any more wrong information in this newsgroup???

Signature

----------------------------
-Chris
05 CTD
06 Liberty CRD

Real Trucks don't NEED spark plugs.

>>> How long should these engines be expected to last? given fairly
>>> regular oil changes and maintenance?  It runs ok, but seems to be
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> -----------------
> TheSnoMan.com
Roy - 06 Jan 2007 02:30 GMT
> hmmm how bout you find the Knock Sensor on a 8.0L (488 cid) truck engine
> first, before you give out any more wrong information in this newsgroup???

Chris, he's been all over the place doing the same thing. He was just run
out of a chevy group for making foolish statements.

Roy
> ----------------------------
> -Chris
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>> -----------------
>> TheSnoMan.com
Chris Thompson - 06 Jan 2007 03:52 GMT
Roy I know what he's been doing. I just wanted to throw that reminder out so
that any other poor sole wont be baited with misinformation.

Signature

----------------------------
-Chris
05 CTD
06 Liberty CRD

Real Trucks don't NEED spark plugs.

>
>> hmmm how bout you find the Knock Sensor on a 8.0L (488 cid) truck engine
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>>> -----------------
>>> TheSnoMan.com
Tom Lawrence - 06 Jan 2007 02:39 GMT
> hmmm how bout you find the Knock Sensor on a 8.0L (488 cid) truck engine
> first, before you give out any more wrong information in this newsgroup???

Ya know...  I was going to do a "Top 10" list for Snow-job's screwups over
the past year, on New Year's Eve, but decided it would have been too "hacky"
(plus, I could only come up with 8)...  but since you kind of brought it up,
here's my list:

1.  Dodge V10's can retard ignition timing based on knocking
2.  3rd gen 1500's use a GM 8.25" front differential
3.  CTD/Hemi use different standard axle ratios
4.  Dodge never put a cat-con on a CTD, and won't until 2008
5.  Diesels cost more per mile to operate than big gassers
6.  Hemi Rams use vacuum for the cruise control
7.  4xRE front pump bolts should torque to >100ft.lbs.
8.  2nd/3rd gen 4x4 Rams should have their front wheel bearings torn down
and re-greased every 100K
Chris Thompson - 06 Jan 2007 03:53 GMT
LOL wish I could add to it. but I'm drawing a blank.

Signature

----------------------------
-Chris
05 CTD
06 Liberty CRD

Real Trucks don't NEED spark plugs.

>> hmmm how bout you find the Knock Sensor on a 8.0L (488 cid) truck engine
>> first, before you give out any more wrong information in this
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> 8.  2nd/3rd gen 4x4 Rams should have their front wheel bearings torn down
> and re-greased every 100K
aarcuda69062 - 06 Jan 2007 05:40 GMT
In article
<hZDnh.6977$pQ3.1231@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,

> > hmmm how bout you find the Knock Sensor on a 8.0L (488 cid) truck engine
> > first, before you give out any more wrong information in this newsgroup???
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> 8.  2nd/3rd gen 4x4 Rams should have their front wheel bearings torn down
> and re-greased every 100K

That's because you're limiting his bloopers to that which show up
in AADT.  Many more in the Chebbie and Ford truck newsgroups.
Mike Simmons - 06 Jan 2007 09:44 GMT
>> hmmm how bout you find the Knock Sensor on a 8.0L (488 cid) truck engine
>> first, before you give out any more wrong information in this
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>9. Don't use a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water, pure antifreeze is
>better.

M
Tom Lawrence - 06 Jan 2007 19:48 GMT
>>9. Don't use a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water, pure antifreeze is
>>better.

Right!  I missed that one.  :)
Roy - 06 Jan 2007 19:55 GMT
>>>9. Don't use a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water, pure antifreeze is
>>>better.
>
> Right!  I missed that one.  :)

Hmmm there were a few other's, gotta think. Do you want to restrict it to
what he post's here or include the mis info posted at other groups?
Tom Lawrence - 06 Jan 2007 22:28 GMT
> Hmmm there were a few other's, gotta think. Do you want to restrict it to
> what he post's here or include the mis info posted at other groups?

Better keep it to this group...  I don't want to be writing a book here!  :)
Nosey - 06 Jan 2007 23:00 GMT
>> hmmm how bout you find the Knock Sensor on a 8.0L (488 cid) truck
>> engine first, before you give out any more wrong information in this
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> 8.  2nd/3rd gen 4x4 Rams should have their front wheel bearings torn
> down and re-greased every 100K

Gassers are better than diesels for towing if they have low enough gears.
Actually, "install lower gears" is his advice in almost half of his posts.
Signature

Ken

Nosey - 05 Jan 2007 21:25 GMT
> Hi folks,
>
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> 950 LC8 Adventure
> turning Money into Noise...

Put one of these on it and drive it 'till it quits:
http://tinyurl.com/ym4ldn
Signature

Ken

BigIronRam - 06 Jan 2007 02:15 GMT
> How long should these engines be expected to last? given fairly
> regular oil changes and maintenance?
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> 950 LC8 Adventure
> turning Money into Noise...

The B50 number on the "B" series Cummins is 350,000 miles.  That means half
the engines could need serious repair before that mileage and half
afterwards.  Yours' may be a little under average.
john108 - 25 Jan 2007 05:11 GMT
Jim

Go to www.tdr.com (Turbodieselregister.com) Diesel should run for at least
500,000.

JK
> Hi folks,
>
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> 950 LC8 Adventure
> turning Money into Noise...
 
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