ok so i been havin hard start problems with my cummins since i got it. i figured it was somethin stupid and it runs to good for any problems internally. i finally broke down and checked it out and im about 99% sure i have a dead cylinder. i have excessive blow by comin from my oil plug on the valve cover. so here is my question... if i do indeed have a dead cylinder should i just replace the bad cylinder and check out the other stuff or should i go ahead and replace all 6 pistons and have a completely rebuilt engine? what do uns think

 

I think the first thing to do is figure out wat caused the cylinder to die. If it is someting isolated like a forign object in the combustion chamber then I say just fix the prop and put it back together. But if it is worn out or was overheated Or was ran low or on bad oil or something then I would want to see the inside of the other five cylinders too and replace parts as needed. It would really suck to get it all back together only to
have annother cylinder go out in six mounths.

 

I would have a compression test done on all cylinders and go from there.

 

i checked it with a heat gun this mornin. i know its not the best way to do it but i found that both cylinders 1 and 6 were about 60 degrees colder than the other 4. here is my guess as to what my have happened. the injectors were replaced before i got it. possibly a bad injector was let go for too long and washed the cylinder walls out or excess fuel was left on top of the piston when they were replaced and when it was started up a ring was broken when the fuel and compressed air met.

 

hi
dont go by that heat gun test
end cyl will be cooler most times
do a compression test !
you said it runs good so may be sompin else !
maby blow by tube /catch can full needing cleaned !
maby sompin simple , check it out befo spendin da big money !