I've been a member here for years but never posted so please forgive me if this is in the wrong forum.

I have had a DC for years and currently have a mildly bombed 01 3500 with 230K. Other than a couple of Lift pumps, and a building a Goerend trans it's been pretty much flawless.
Like me, It's getting older, interiors a little tattered and I'd like a newer truck.
I'm old school and do my own services, repairs etc, and because of all the additional emissions, electronics and potential for problems I can't repair, I don't really want anything to do with the 6.7 DC.
This being said, I may not have a choice so I'd like to know the best or worse years for the 6.7, Or I may have to be content with an 06-07 with a 5.9. I value any input you have.


Thank you!

 

Much depends on what you use the truck for. The 6.7 in its' stock form does not like in town driving unless you are pulling a heavy load. They will soot up rather quickly and cause problems and agrivation thanks to the EPA and all of their required pollution stuff. I put around three hundred miles a week on mine, about 50/50 town and highway. That seems to be enough to keep the soot at bay. There is some added maintenance that comes with the 6.7, such as cleaning the EGR valve and MAP sensor. Both are simple jobs that take about an hour or so every 10k. A very nice feature on these trucks is the exhaust brake that is built into the turbo. Run it all the time to keep the carbon scraped off the moving parts. There will be people chime in about deleting all of the EPA crap. There are advantages to that, but it also has its' own set of problems. Mine is still stock at 150k and runs like a new one. It just requires a little more TLC than my old 2000 dually did.

 

Thanks, Gator, I appreciate the information.

The truck is used mostly in town anymore but once in awhile tows a 16K backhoe.
I live in an emissions free area but with the balooning Fed Gov't, that could change.
I might just have to keep what I have or look for an '06 or '07' 5.9

Thanks again!

 

My '07 5.9 is a huge improvement over my '98.5. The two things I miss about my former truck are my DTT trans and the seats. That's it.

 

Obviously deleting it eliminates the only "issue" you're worried about, the dpf.
Aside from that, any 6.7, IMO, 3rd or 4th gen is a huge improvement with the 6speed auto and exhaust brake integrated. Thats worth several thousand $ right there if you were going to do a mild trans build on a 48 and an exhaust brake.
That said, I'm perfectly happy with my 07 5.9, G56. Only 110k mi on it, but it's been near flawless, save for a clutch (self inflicted and know weak spot), 1 steering box, 1 #4 inj line ($50 and 15 min work) and the fact that it eats power steering pumps. The only gripe about the truck is the power steering pump.
I know several guys with 08-09 6.7's that have/had no dpf issues and they dont work their trucks very hard, but do see alot of highway miles vs in town. 1 guy with a 08, nothing but emissions problems, dumped the truck a cpl yrs ago.

 

Thanks for the input guys,

After much thought and reading many posts on the forums about the propensity for problems on these newer trucks, I think I'll
be looking for an '06-07 with a 5.9 or keep what I have.
The hard part is finding one without a gazillion miles on it.
Cummins makes a great engine and it's a shame that whenever the Government gets it's tentacles into anything, it creates problems and costs people jobs.
I'd love a new truck but it won't be happening.

Thanks again!