Because the assbag that sold me the truck hid a LOT of things he knew about it. He said he was going to do the same thign to the truck I am, and hobby it out. He said "other things" came up and decided not too. Ya the ******* found all the problems wrong and hid them up very well.

[ ] Be Quiet
[ ] Not Interested
[x] Tell me more. Much more.

 

just my opinion but, i think you should try to find another engine, keep yours for parts, i would much rather have a 12v then a 24v, but thats just me

 

the common rails are ending up showing a decent amount of problems through time. the main one though is the cooling system. with cylinder 6 being tucked back against the firewall it is not able to cool as efficiently as the front cylinders, and i guess on the CR engines, they have a poor waterjacket system that doesnt help #6. and its leading to a number of engines destroying the piston in #6 cylinder.

 

04-168,000 miles dropped valve complete overhaul
05-98,000 miles hole in piston complete overhaul
05-42,000 miles threw #6 rod hard enough to knock the starter off. crate engine.

i got the dodge in the middle with 40,000 miles and they put 4 trannies in it before 80,000 miles. one set of injectors at 79,000 and then the engine at 98,000.

my 1st 12 valve i got with 216,000 miles. head gasket at 240,000 miles. and complete overhaul at 295,000 miles. i could have done the rod and main bearings though because it started knocking when the thrust bearing broke.

I love the common rails because of the 4 doors and if it was up to my wife i'd have one but shes not the one that turns the wrenches when they break.

 

Damn I had no idea. Guess I'm second guessing now.

Wowzers thats nuts. Guess i'm in a pretty tight situation. Maybe I'll find an 03 24v thats already had the vp taken care of.

 

First it has to be 02 and under for a vp and second mine has been very good to me besides the junk factory lift pump. They're not all bad!

 

OK, I've read through this again and see some really dubious stuff that is just pissing me off:
Since when is the bottom end associated with blowby and piston rings?
And what makes you think this is in any way even remotely associated the rear block cooling issues that have affected every B series engine since the first one that was installed in a Case combine in 1984?

People need to step back and stop trying to give advice about things they are not knowledgeable on. Really disappointing. I won't bother further validating any portion of this thread by explaining what a bottom end is, the rear cylinder cooling issue, or why you should never run an engine low on oil.

Please people, more reading and learning and less typing of horseshit.

Sell it or part it out are the only fiscally responsible alternatives. And do us all a favor - don't buy another.

 

i work the crap out of mine. you may have great luck if its your daily driver. anything that you abuse (running out of oil) or overload (im guilty) is not going to last as long as one thats drove down the road at 65 under stock power. if you think you need a diesel because there cool and like black smoke maybe you'd be better off in a gasser and leave the diesels to those who need them.

 

I hope to god that last statement was not aimed towards me...

 

The only reason I still own one is because it's paid for, it's reliable, it's fuel efficient and I can't afford a newer one. Working at a dealership way back when, I never really saw problems with 1st gen or 2nd gen 12v or 24v engines other than running out of oil or some wiring or sensor issues. Yes, there were a few more than normal VP pump failures, but never bad engine failures. There was transmission issues with all of them, as we all know, even under stock power, but I can only remember one that broke a valvespring at 120miles and that was just a freak thing. Bad manufacturing on a spring. I would personally love to get a newer truck cause the body on mine is about shot. Door hinges need replacing, carpet, paint, weatherstripping, etc., but the prices are just out of my league on a commonrail.