Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Remember When???

Remember when the "Big-3" put reasonably powered, reliable diesel engines in their pickups? O.K., maybe I shouldn't lump the GM 6.2L in the reliable category, but I've seen enough of them go the 300,000 mark, to know their poor reputation isn't entirely deserved.

Remember when diesel pickup owners used to brag about mileage, not about insane levels of power? 18-22 mpg used to be feasible with these!

Remember when diesel pickups were reliable? This seems to have gone away, but I think power chips, windmill sized turbos, and the HP race caused this, to some degree.

I just put a reman injection pump on a friends 84 F-250. I was thinking to myself, " I just rebuilt this a few years back, damn low sulphur fuel!" It was in 1997, and over 240K ago! the truck has over 400, 000 on the original engine, and hasn't ever seen a kind hand. Just fix what's broke!
I tried to talk my buddy out of replaceing the pump and nozzles the first time, because this truck was in such bad shape, and now it's even worse!
See alot of farmers with the older diesels, getting insane ammounts of miles on them, mostly all stock.

Basically, I'm just ranting, but do you think we'll ever see a diesel powered pickup introduced with the original intent in mind? To produce reasonable power, enhanced durability, and increased mileage?

Andy

Andy

When Dodge put the Cummins in their Ram thats when it started.imo.
There is nuttin wrong with the non turbo 7.3 or 6.9 in older Ford trucks.More power than a gaser with good mileage.

As for the 6.2 Chevy it's a gutless slug but your right.Lots of those motors here still running strong and fuel mileage with a 6.2 is excellent for a full size truck.

Actually, I've always been partial to the 6.2's. I've seen some you couldn't kill, and others that wouldn't last at all. And maintenence isn't always the key, some of the longest lived 6.2's I know of have been beat the hardest!

I really like these old engines, the 6.2, 6.9 and the 7.3's, and the Cummins, up through the 12 valve motors.

Maybe I shouldn't, but I usually try to talk guys out of spending too much on the fuel systems on these old trucks. They are usually falling apart, and on the 6.2's there's no guarantee that if they are running ok today, they wont break a crank or main web tomorrow. Especially with the increase in power a rebuilt pump will bring. It's always a crapshoot!

Andy

The fact that you can get lots of power and torque, and still get decent mileage makes current diesels attractive. My '03 Cummins has 172k miles on it, makes 503HP & 1060 lb/ft at the wheels, and averages about 18 mpg commuting, 21 on the road running light, and 17-19 towing a 6X12 tandem axle trailer with a side by side Honda Big Red. No engine/turbo issues at all so far, upgraded the tranny with Suncoast internals at 60k miles, and so far its been bulletproof. Planning on running it as far as it will go........

Which current diesel?Maybe Dodge.
The Ford 6.4 Twin Turbo is a huge swine.The Duramax though better isn't nuttin to write home about either.

STW,

Why is that deer licking the snow?

No clue

And just what is wrong with the Ford 6.4? Seems to be a ton better than 6.0. Mileage is down due to smog crap, but so is everyone elses.

I know of a few ranchers that have the 5.9 cummins with over 400,00 on them One of them had a million on it. Dodge was supposed to give him a brand new one but I don't know if it happened.

I have a new 6.7 Cummins. I'll let you know how it goes in 10 or 15 years.

I have no confidence in my 6.0 (2005)

Sure like the truck but I don't have the bulletproof confidence that I had with my 7.3.

And I sure like having confidence in an engine, it's a good thing.

My stock 98&1/2 dodge only has a 100K onit,but I ge t22 mile sempty and14 pullinga 20 ft gooseneck loaded.

My bitch is the problem with the suspension/brakes that was there from the get go, and the fact that the lift pump should have been a recal by Dodge. I replaced it ,then put a FASS system on it, but not before it took out the injection pump.The FASS System went south in a year and it took out the injection pump,but all was replaced under warranty.

Still it is better than the 85 Ford dually gasser I had with a 460 in it. 7 mpg empty and 3 mpg pulling a trailer. It vapor locked on every hill I pulled. Mostly I could not get past 15 moh going up any pass here in CO. As the saying goes. It would not pull a sick hooker off a pee pot.

80 K on it and I had +$5K of repairs on it

Agreed about the lift pump should have been a recall from Dodge!
I encourage guys to install a fuel pressure guage in the cab, and to keep an eye on it.

Andy

Andy. I checked around here andx they want $400 for a fuel pressue gage. Is that a rip off?

Go to www.genosgarage.com they have fuel pressure gauge kits starting at $100. I have the westach gauge on mine, it's been a lifesaver several times.

I know some guys with big 3 diesels with 350-500k on there trucks. All newer 02-07 some have had a number of repairs some have had 0 repairs. The Duramax and Cummins seem to be the more reliable, the Cummins more so but it's still in a dodge. I get around 19-21 on the highway @ 70 MPH AND 15-16.5 City and 11-15 towing, depends on weight. I only have 45k on my 07 LBZ Dmax so time will tell for me. I am always amazed when I hear a diesel owner complain about mileage on a 7k lb truck with 300-365 hp and 650 ft/lbs of torque. However I have noticed most of these guys never pull anything either. If you think a Dmax is bad on fuel drive one with the 6.0 gas.