I read the posts of CTD99's engine troubles. My question is why did the truck fail in the first place? Was this just bad luck and something just broke, or was something else up? Sorry CTD99 to learn at your expense. I didn't want to hijack your other threads.

 

I agree. I keep hearing how these engines are indestructible but then read about these failures. There was another guy that blew his engine who lives in Europe but I can't remember his name.

 

i blew one up last summer with 81000 miles on it. they are GOOD but not indestructable

 

If something goes wrong...you WILL hear about it here! !

Just consider how seldom you hear about an CTD engine needing a tear down and a rebuild.....and that includes the guys with 2x...3x....4x the stock HP!

I can only recall reading or seeing half a dozen (+/-) Cummins 5.9's that blew motors. That includes...teenagers....drag racers...tractor pullers...30,000 lb towers, etc. Not to mention all of us that do something really stupid every so often. (I blew a head gasket, racing a powerstroke, with a cold engine).

To me, the number of horror stories is remarkably small!!

RJ

Edit: Make that half a dozen...plus one. Don't remember hearing about yours, Herb.

 

sounds like it could have been a faulty pyro probe.

i had the same deal with my '02 but it never reached the point of failure. i could run with the comp on 5x5 with DD3 injectors and drive like i hated it and it would barely get over 1250*, even when towing a snowmobile and ATV. but any other truck on the road with the same setup (stock turbo, 3" straight, wired tapped comp, DD3s) would have registered 1400*+. why wasnt mine that hot? probably a bad probe which i thought of but never changed out because i crashed the truck before i could. i was lucky and dumb at the same time.

rjohnson nailed it, you very rarely hear of failures on these motors. but when you do you hear, its a big response because most everyone is surprised by it.


Pat

 

Good point!

 

kevinn: That's me who blew up. Well I don't run a stock engine.
I've also posted some pics

 

At work we've replaced five CTD's in the last eight years I've worked there. Only one didn't have mods. None were running Mopar/Fleetguard/Cummins oil filters. Not saying the mods or filters had anything to do with it, but an interesting observation none the less.

 

5 out of How many? You at a dealership? And for what reason...mileage, blown #6 cyl....etc.?
Details would help.
Not sure if your saying 5 is a lot...or impressive?

RJ

 

At this point, I still don't know for sure what caused my meltdown. Cummins has stuck by their story that I just pushed it too hard because 1200 or so is right on the edge... and #6 always runs the hottest... and the pyro is reading the average of cylinders 4,5, and 6 so 6 was probably hotter than the 1200-1250 I was seeing... anyway, that's what they say.

The pyro is still a possibilty, but we can't test that until the truck is back together... I'm actually hoping that this is the cause because I'd hate to believe that I burned up my engine at 1200 degrees because that's contrary to everything I thought I knew about this engine.

When Don inspected my sticks, he said the tips show signs of 1500 degree temps which would reenforce the pyrometer theory... however, I would expect damage in all cylinders at those temps but 6 is the only one that suffered, 1 through 5 look fine.

Russ

 

CTD99,
it will be interesting to see what the outcome is of your mess. maybe we would be better off installing the pyro on the #6 runner, next to the flange?


doesnt the #1 cylinder run the hottest on the 12 valves because the casting of the intake port is a little tight?


Pat

 

Why stop there.... I'm gonna install a pyro on every cylinder! The top of my dash will be nuthin' but gauges!