Advice for a new diesel owner?

[MrPink]

I don't mind the 6.5L, but if I am getting a diesel truck it will be a 99-01 7.3L F250/350 or excursion. I hove owned quite a few powerstrokes and 1 6.5L

 

[skylark]

Bought my wife a 97 cclb dually with the 6.5 in it. She loves her truck and loves the 6.5. I know there are a lot of haters out there but if you get one that’s been well taken care of you’ll have no problems. I’ve seen some videos of guys pulling 20k lbs with these like there’s nothing there. Ours has around 220k on it and it runs like a champ. No blow by whatsoever. And doesn’t use any oil whatsoever with 3-4000 mile oil change intervals. I did a water pump on it and the timing gears look as if they were brand new. Super clean compared to ones I’ve seen in the past.

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Don’t see them often on the road anymore and they have a one of a kind sound when you open up the exhaust with some 4 inch pipe and that’s what’s so great about having one. Everyone you see around my area is a basic 454. I’m not a big fan. good luck and I hope you enjoy your 6.5 the way we enjoy ours.

Everyone has there own opinions with the 6.5 and everyone has had either good luck and love them or terrible luck and hate them. I on the other hand love the 6.5. Some people just buy garbage that’s not been taken care of and beat like a 4 banger Honda with a fart can. Some get lucky and get one that’s been owned by an old man that’s taken very good care of his rig since it was almost new.

like forest said. The 6.5 is like a box of chocolates. You never know what your gonna get.

I miss those days when I was optimistic and shared your feelings on the 6.5 just simply not being taken care of. My personal experience has taught me to wear comfortable walking shoes when driving a 6.5.

 

[618 Syndicate]

Bought my wife a 97 cclb dually with the 6.5 in it. She loves her truck and loves the 6.5. I know there are a lot of haters out there but if you get one that’s been well taken care of you’ll have no problems.

As long as you don't ask it to do more than light duty stuff, you probably won't.

I’ve seen some videos of guys pulling 20k lbs with these like there’s nothing there.

That is a recipe for destroying a 6.5

Don’t see them often on the road anymore

There's a reason for that.

and they have a one of a kind sound when you open up the exhaust with some 4 inch pipe and that’s what’s so great about having one. Everyone you see around my area is a basic 454. I’m not a big fan. good luck and I hope you enjoy your 6.5 the way we enjoy ours.

I'm glad your experience has been positive, but that's the exception not the rule.

 

[Hipster]

they have a one of a kind sound

All the 6.5's have that. It's the sound of self destruction. lol


Just kidding man. I hope everyone has good luck with theirs and was even looking at one at one point in time.

 

[thegawd]

Heres my brother in laws. besides the 6.5 it's a real gem here in Sourthern Ontario as it's from the southern US. Theres not a spec of rust on it and it has less than 100 000 miles. So what mileage do these engines start gernading? he doesn't need it and is going to sell it and we "kind of" made a deal on it... we shall see though. C2500 Long bed. its a friggen beast and in almost perfect condition. hell the engine bay is cleaner than the outside and the outside is purdy damn clean. the interior is like brand new and there are not even rips in the seats, it's amazing.

Ya I kind of want this truck despite the 6.5. I'm not really a hot rodder so extra abuse wont be happening.

you guys with all your blown up 6.5's.... care to share your driving history before it blew? LMAO ya'll racing? Iv driven an older work truck with this motor and and I loved it. that truck had like 600 000 kms on it and was a great, reliable work truck.

so what's the deal? what really makes these blow up?

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[618 Syndicate]

Heres my brother in laws. besides the 6.5 it's a real gem here in Sourthern Ontario as it's from the southern US. Theres not a spec of rust on it and it has less than 100 000 miles. So what mileage does these engines start gernading? he doesn't need it and is going to sell it and we "kind of" made a deal on it... we shall see though. C2500 Long bed. its a friggen beast and in almost perfect condition. hell the engine bay is cleaner than the outside and the outside is purdy damn clean. the interior is like brand new and there are not even rips in the seats, it's amazing.

Ya I kind of want this truck despite the 6.5. I'm not really a hot rodder so extra abuse wont be happening.

you guys with all your blown up 6.5's.... care to share your driving history before it blew? LMAO ya'll racing? Iv driven an older work truck with this motor and and I loved it. that truck had like 600 000 kms on it and was a great, reliable work truck.

so what's the deal? what really makes these blow up?

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As long as you address the known issues, and don't expect it to pull like a powerstroke, cummins, or duramax you will be fine. At stock power levels (think stock big block) they're fairly reliable as long as you fix the flaws. Try for anything more and you'll break it. That's a promise.

 

[someotherguy]

so what's the deal? what really makes these blow up?

If you never turn the key, it won't blow up.

The absolute total destruction examples are probably abuse and neglect as one would figure people assume "hey it's a truck, it's a diesel" and treat it rough. The broken cranks are probably as simple as ignoring the balancer coming apart which is common once they get old. Blocks crack in the main bearing webbing and that *might* be due to the crank issues? Blown head gaskets and cracked heads, maybe these dudes are turning up the boost and/or hammering on them like it's a Duramax. Overheating them of course is also super bad.

They do fail in ways that aren't catastrophic but still very expensive. Price out an injection pump, for example. These go bad just because they feel like it. If it's a 1994-up price out the pump driver module and hope you're looking at a source known for good ones, as there are many out there that are worthless.

There's more I'm sure I'm overlooking as I literally just woke up and am off-schedule so my brain is fuzzy as hell.. nice dinner with the wife last night and I'm still feeling the wine.

Richard

 

[thegawd]

hey thanks guys! I was kind of hoping for awnsers like that. LOL.

this is a very funny thread as in all of skylarks responses. like, "make sure your wearing comfortable shoes!" and Someotherguys, "dont turn the key!" LMAO

but I ran one of these trucks for 10-12 hours a day when I was a lawn care technician (LMAO) and I never had a single problem with that truck in the 3 years I drove it. it was professionally maintained though and I dont know what kind of maintenance it had as that all happened in the winter when I was laid off.

Ya I dont know diesels all that much and my most experience was with a supped up 6.7 that had all the goodies... well that's a different animal all together and I know what money was dropped on it.... my old boss basically bought that truck twice. he got a real good deal on it and then found out that someone took a grinder to the head to remove an old gasket.... and fùcked it.

I wont own a ram! lol

But I'm not opposed to the cummins engines....

anyways I was looking for some more detailed info on how these blow up and thanks guys!

 

[skylark]

you guys with all your blown up 6.5's.... care to share your driving history before it blew? LMAO ya'll racing?

I personally have owned 4 6.5 powered trucks. One I immediately sold. Two came to me with low mileage, 79k and 124k and both of those had valve failures. The 79k one had meticulous records including the additive and fuel mileage of every tank of fuel since new, every light bulb, oil change and truck wash. The fourth truck was my own personal truck and the #3 exhaust valve failed taking out the head, piston and possibly the rod as well. May it rest in pieces at 104k...

 

[skylark]

Please allow me to quote myself above.
My personal 2000 that died at 104k was very well taken care of in my 21k miles of ownership. The well documented 98 was immaculate and well taken care of. Roll the dice and buy warm gloves so your hands aren't cold when you're pushing it or waiting for the tow truck.