So I'm being driven home by the dealership dude and we get into a conversation about diesel trucks. He mentioned that using diesel trucks for other than towing and hauling would actually ruin the engine because the engine wasn't designed to be operated like a regular passenger vehicle. I rebutted by telling him that my truck runs fine (2007 6.7L) and that my belief is that the engine wouldn't be designed without taking the fact that people will drive this vehicle for recreation/point A-point B driving into consideration. I've read a thread on this forum regarding something similar and the forum audience was split as to whether or not the vehicle can be driven as a daily driver. What does everyone think about this?

 

Can't trust the advice from your average ground dwelling animal. I would ask a squirrel, that's my go-to critter.

 

Awwww Man!

I thought that this would have been about Caddy Shack


I agree, Chysler/Cummins had to at least realize someone would drive it in that manner.

 

honestly, the Cummins is a bit more massive than say your average small block chevy or 4 cyl Honda engine and as such requires a bit more "warm up" time to allow thermal expansion to occure in all critical areas. The pistons need a little warm up as do the push rods, rockers, all oiled bearing surfaces, etc. so in reality they are nothing like the average pass vehicle engine you are comparing them too. I have personally put 150K plus miles on my truck and only about 20K of those was pulling any load... a I have "what you would call" babbied it. I don't abuse it, plug in the block heater when it drops to below 50F (yes I know, that isnt cold) so the oil and parts are up to at least 100F for the most part... and I maintain it properly with regular oil changes, fuel filters, trans service etc.
Yes I have a box and stacked chips and on occassion I hot rod it but, it isn't abused.
I suppose in that respect our trucks are NOT like the regular vehicles and do require a certain type of person to use them properly.

 

Well what he says does indeed have a small basis in fact for the newer trucks.... Often people use them for short trips to and from work never actually driving far enough to bring the engine up to normal operating temps, this can cause a couple of problems.

Moisture builds in the crankcase and exhaust system if you do not get it hot enough to burn it off, also the new trucks will not regen properly on short trips and cause the dpf and turbo to plug up among other things.

These engines need to be run and run hard to stay clean and run at top performance, even my old 12 valve runs better after I drag the 35ft camper up a few long mountain passes.

I think the amount of truth in his statement would depend on how short your daily commute is

 

Always wondered what you drove....

 

Not arguing with the "warm up is important" opinions, but isn't the same basically true for most engines?

 

For the past year here in Leavenworth, Kansas, it was anywhere between 5-10 minute warm up with the high rpm thing and the exhaust brake. My commute from my parking lot to the parking lot on post is right at 2 miles. My temperature needle would get close to the halfway mark, but settle right below it. I figured that if the needle got anywhere within that range, it would be good to go. Thoughts?

 

It is indeed, but even much more so on these diesel engines. Nothing rots an exhaust system off a gasser quicker than short hops to work and back, the moisture never does cook out of it and it rusts from the inside out. Same thing happens on these trucks.

 

I would get out and run the snot out of it on your day off, hook up to something heavy if you can, your truck will thank you for it Sounds like you are getting the engine warm but the whole drive train needs to warm up and lube properly as well.

No kidding on how much these things like to work, my truck is a different as night and day after a good work out.

 

Huh? Older Twin speaks of very wise words.

 

I live 7 miles from work and rarely use even my 01 for a "daily driver". Of course I have other vehicles to use for that. Truck will get used for towing, or if a longer highway trip arises. From my experiences MOST of the probs with early 6.7's related to people driving them like a car. Even some 5.9's had issue with carbon buildup from being "babied/short driven" which disrupted the spray pattern enough for a notable engine "knock". Most of the time some Stanadyne Performance Formula (blue label) and a good pull would clean them up, but sometimes an injector would have to be replaced.