Blown up Cummins 5.9

[War Machine]

Im still a buyer, shoot me the details

[Cooter]

That's what I'm screaming. There was nothing. Tick-tick-tick turned to thump-thump-thump within 1/4 mile. No smoke. No hard starts. Nothing.

that sucks...

seen a few at my buddy's shop like that... driving along and BOOM rod hanging out the side of the block

[aggie97]

Same thing Motor Parts Plus said - also said injector problem is very likely what caused this little disaster. A link would be great.

Diesel Auto Power in Utah. 801-927-4600. A buddy used them for his 5.9 and had good things to say other than the core was painful.

I actually spoke to them today and prices are decent. Going to google for reviews of their injectors and probably order a set for our 04.5. I am trying hard not to order a set for my 08 6.7 just to be safe. The 5.9 has 125k on it, the 6.7 just turned 70k but sometimes has a 2 second crank/start. Both run just fine, very well infact. But I don't want to be in your situation...especially while towing far from home.

[aggie97]

Also, found a rolling .gif ad on a cummins forum for these guys. Coupon code DAP5 for 5% off.

[dblack1]

I really cannot believe the injectors are only good on a 5.9/6.7 for that kind of mileage. I know a guy who is nearing 400k on a 08 6.7 and he's still running original stock injectors.

A bud of mine has a 04 that has a little over 300k still on stock injectors. 150k miles is a 6.0 injector life on a great day, most make it a little over 100k.

[JP135]

I really cannot believe the injectors are only good on a 5.9/6.7 for that kind of mileage. I know a guy who is nearing 400k on a 08 6.7 and he's still running original stock injectors.

A bud of mine has a 04 that has a little over 300k still on stock injectors. 150k miles is a 6.0 injector life on a great day, most make it a little over 100k.

Hey, mine was running like a top... until it wasn't.

[JP135]

Diesel Auto Power in Utah. 801-927-4600. A buddy used them for his 5.9 and had good things to say other than the core was painful.

I actually spoke to them today and prices are decent. Going to google for reviews of their injectors and probably order a set for our 04.5. I am trying hard not to order a set for my 08 6.7 just to be safe. The 5.9 has 125k on it, the 6.7 just turned 70k but sometimes has a 2 second crank/start. Both run just fine, very well infact. But I don't want to be in your situation...especially while towing far from home.

Thanks, man. I appreciate the info.

Truck's been paid off for two or three years and has been a great truck. I guess I'm gonna take out a friggin bank loan and invest in a rebuilt motor.

If I try to sell it or trade it in with the blown engine, its not going to bring anything and I can see myself getting really ugly toward folks making low-ball offers at this point.

[JP135]

Im still a buyer, shoot me the details

I appreciate the inquiry, but I think I'm gonna keep it.

[aggie97]

I really cannot believe the injectors are only good on a 5.9/6.7 for that kind of mileage. I know a guy who is nearing 400k on a 08 6.7 and he's still running original stock injectors.

A bud of mine has a 04 that has a little over 300k still on stock injectors. 150k miles is a 6.0 injector life on a great day, most make it a little over 100k.

As Cooter said, they are all junk, however, quality of fuel seems to be the driving factor in injector failures. Dirt, water and lack of sulphur for lubricant in the injector seem to be the main cause of failures. The rail pressures are so high, that water becomes a cutting tool. The lack of sulphur seems to be the biggest issue with moving parts. I have seen info that folks that run ATF in the mix every now and then or use a "conditioner" additive are doing better....but it has to be a constant thing.

I think we are about to drop the big coin and just do both trucks. I think the 04 is fine but the mileage makes me worry even though the previous owners were VERY meticulous about maintenance. The 08 has hard starts and stops but otherwise has ZERO smoke. It would put my mind at ease at least a little bit after see this failure hit so suddenly.

[sdun]

I add a qt of 2 stroke oil to my 01 about once a month. I was using atf but heard that the 2 stroke stuff works better, it's made to burn and the atf isn't. I've got 250k on my stock injectors and am real close to buying a set of F1's 105hp ones.

[BP]

The lack of sulphur seems to be the biggest issue with moving parts. I have seen info that folks that run ATF in the mix every now and then or use a "conditioner" additive are doing better....but it has to be a constant thing.

It's not so much the lack of sulphur as it is the process to remove the sulphur that removes the lubricants.

http://www.gewater.com/industries/refining_fuel/fuel_additives/lubricity_imrovers.jsp

I've noticed the pumps here in Waco have 5% biodiesel in them now, which doesn't have the lubricity problem. Or you can add some ashless two stroke to the tank, or as noted ATF or any other kind of stuff on the shelf. I'd steer clear of the ATF personally due to the red dye.

[aggie97]

It's not so much the lack of sulphur as it is the process to remove the sulphur that removes the lubricants.

http://www.gewater.com/industries/refining_fuel/fuel_additives/lubricity_imrovers.jsp

I've noticed the pumps here in Waco have 5% biodiesel in them now, which doesn't have the lubricity problem. Or you can add some ashless two stroke to the tank, or as noted ATF or any other kind of stuff on the shelf. I'd steer clear of the ATF personally due to the red dye.

Yeah, the ATF is a VERY bad idea if you were to get dipped by the DPS and they think you are running off road, non taxed fuel.

I like the idea of the ashless two stroke oil. 1qt per 30 gallons seem right?

I also seem to remember OTR trucks complaining about biodiesel as it was causing the varnish in the fuel lines to break loose and then go up stream and clog an injector. Pick your poison I guess?

[shumpertdavid]

My understanding is that the old atf was basically just a hydraulic fluid with coloring. It worked as fuel conditioner with no adverse effects. The newer atf's all have different additives that are not healthy for the fuel system. Friction modifiers and such that aren't designed to be ran through injectors and injection pumps, etc.

The 2 stroke, as stated before, was designed to be ran through the combustion process, add lubricity, etc. I was doing the occasional quart of atf and have since swapped over to added 2 stroke to my fill ups.

Ration is 1 ounce per gallon which equates to roughly a quart a tank for mine.

[BP]

Yeah, the ATF is a VERY bad idea if you were to get dipped by the DPS and they think you are running off road, non taxed fuel.

I like the idea of the ashless two stroke oil. 1qt per 30 gallons seem right?

I also seem to remember OTR trucks complaining about biodiesel as it was causing the varnish in the fuel lines to break loose and then go up stream and clog an injector. Pick your poison I guess?

Walmart sells little 4 ounce containers of it. I'd usually use one per tank. In my old CRD Cummins it'd run considerably quieter and generally pick up a couple of miles per gallon.

Bio does work nice as a solvent in large quantities. 5% isn't much though, I doubt it'll cause any problems. Most of that was probably big oil bashing Biowillie.

[JP135]

And now the rest of the story. Found a wrecked CRD in a junk yard in Tyler. Had a local shop install it. Ran like a champ and got better fuel mileage than the old motor. Made sure everything was right then sold it today for a good price.

Adios Common Fail Diesel for me.

Lookin' for a clean 4x4 3/4 ton 4 door/quad cab 12 valve or early 24 valve with good miles. Might consider a 7.3 or a gas motor.