Durability and Reliability of a 6.5??
 

Hey Fellas,
My boss is thinking about buying a 1997 Hummer H1 with the 6.5l Turbo Diesel. He asked me this question and being a Cummins guy I couldn't give him much input. Anything you guys can tell me or let me know about will be helpful and appreciated, thanks in advance.:pca1:

pmd needs to be relocated somewhere other than in the enine compartment. oil cooler lines are complete shit so i would suggest some aftermarket ones that screw into the block. injectors should be replaced every 100k. only use bosch duratherm glowplugs and ac delco 60gs, this is because if you use anything eles they can swell.

chances are since its a 1997 like mine the injection pump has already been replaced because of the misdiagnosed problem with the pmd. so you probably have an injection pump that is somewhat newer than the truck so thats good. if the truck hasnt been beaten on which im sure a hummer hasnt it can last a goo 300K before it needs to be rebuilt. now both of us have the dreaded first year oil squirter block.

cracks can form around the oil squirters and eventually kill the engine. doesnt happen a lot but its a possibilty. there pretty good engines but have a bad reputation. kinda like the 6.0 liter powerstroke. if you replace GMs stupid design mistakes and take care of it the engine should last a long time.

bump, anything else?
:pca1:

Ok here is a list of what i would consider....

PMD known failure due to heat, needs to be moved to a COOL place mounted to a heatsink. Once a PMD is heat damaged it is rolling the dice.
I/P's are often condemed to death before proper diagnostic procedures are completed to see what is actually wrong.

*HOWEVER*
This hummer may be an exception, most hummers came with DB2 injections pumps that are mechanical and not electrical, which means no PMD. But i am not 100% sure!!


Blocks do crack easily, something about the casting that just makes them prone to it, sometimes it happens, most times it doesnt.
Do NOT let the truck get any hotter than 210 degrees F, consider 210 RED. These engine do not like heat like that.
Lift pump needs to be tested, they can go bad and the truck will still run, leading to premature i/p failure.
OPS unit controls if fuel gets to the engine, they run the full voltage of the system however are only rated for less, often replaced unit.
Make sure the starter bracket to the block is still attached to the back of the starter, there is major torque put through it and without the bracked starters shear tabs right off the block..