I was just at a well know diesel shop and was suprised to see how many engines were being rebuilt. I was always under the impression that the cummins was a stout motor and that if fuel, oil, and egt's were in check that you could have long life...

I was mostly suprised becuase these trucks were similarly equipt to my truck (ats turbo, TB Exhaust, air intake, intercooler, manifold, programmer)

I am feeling a little nervous now. My last cummins went 120k with no issues...

Am I asking for a fried piston or thrown rod?

 

to me that is a question of how well you treat your engine, upkeep as in the oil change and filters fuel and air and how willng are you to keep your egt's within a normal range and just general upkeep will make them last along time and the being able to keep your foot out of the fuel pump every time you get in it helps too

 

Thanks...I was more concerned seeing these similar builds and I recently lost my gauges and had to drive from california to colorado with no gauges...I figure I am fine, but seeing what high egts can do freaks me out...

I wasn't towing but going up at high elevation and over some steep passes had me worried

 

It all depends on the driver and how it's maitained. Nothing last forever, ask 07redlsled bout that.

 

You pointed out the key ingredient to engine failure, programmer.

With the gen1's and gen2's it was a lot harder to get to the failure point, you had to work at it. With a CR its a simple plug-n-play operation that any yahoo can do. Its EASY to shoot yourself in the foot.

 

even with the proper parts to support the mods these motors are NOT ment to take the HP/TQ we put out with them neither is the rest of the truck trust me i know

 

my borthers g/f's dad works on a lot of cummins motors, and he says the most common thing he see's with the CR is blown head gaskets, he see's it more with edge products. i don't know if this is a common problem, or just an idiot problem

 

thanks everyone...i figured i knew that answer, but I thought i would ask anyway!

J

 

You might have to qualify that statement for me, in particular, the " even with the proper parts to support the mods these motors are NOT ment to take the HP/TQ we put out with them"

I'll go along with the TRUCKS aren't designed to take some of the HP/TQ "we" throw at them.

I guess I have the most problem with your use of the words "Meant" and "We" in association with HP/TQ.
You are painting with some pretty broad brush strokes there.

How much HP/TQ led to your failure? I assume there was one due to earlier comments

Anyway, I still believe this motor was designed beefy enough to handle MORE HP/TQ than DODGE specified it's output to be from Cummins. How much more? I don't really know.
I also believe they specified it the way they did, in order for THEIR truck to survive behind the Cummins for 5 years (long enough to make it through the Warranty period, and pay the truck off.) I am sure there are other factors as well.

For me, I am happy with maintaining it in the 500-600 HP, and 1000+ Ft/pounds of torque area. How many failures are occurring at this level that are not the result of neglect, abuse, or ignorance?

 

Maintaince an Care are the key here the cummins engines are excellenct motors i have seen many trucks that i thought have been misabused, turned up hotter that a firecracker , ran hard , extreme EGTs , and towed everything around the world an back last 300K plus miles the motor will defaintly outlast everything else about the truck, i love mine the power is unbeliveable an you just cant beat them at only 120K miles i wouldnt even start to worry your motors just beinging to get broke in so keep on truckin an i hope this information helps out!!