Commonrail Cummins reliability

[Buliwyf]

I have an 07.5 Mega Cab 3500 with the 6.7 diesel, I have all emissions deleted and my truck has been super reliable. This is my second reliable 6.7, the first fell victim to a rollover while parked in the desert. I spend much of my recreation time in the Arizona desert, if my truck wasn't reliable, I wouldn't bring it along.

Do you have any links or a parts list to get the truck setup right without the emmisions parts? Thanks.

 

[deserteagle56]

I am looking at 03's and 04's for just the reasons you outlined. The thing is though the common rail makes me a little nervous, I am afraid I will be disappointed on the reliability front, spend the money only to have it break down. I know about the injectors and the prices, I dont mind buying a set of injectors if I get 100 to 150k service life out of them. Having a truck with a bit nicer interior than my 12 valve, paint that isn't fading, a dash that isn't cracked is pretty appealing. That said, I saw a 98 12 valve dually in nice condition the other day but they want the same price for it as a 2003 dually in pristine cond. with the same amount of miles. It's damn near impossible these days to find an unmolested 12 valve for a fair price. I am willing to pay a fair price, but what some people are asking is just plain crazy. I know good deals exist, but the the whole deal has me thinking about a commonrail. 305 hp in stock form with a 6 speed is pretty temping.


I have given this idea some thought too. A newer truck with the ultimate motor. What I wonder though is if I go common rail and the motor blows would I still want to stuff a 12 valve in it? Or will I be so happy with the common rail that I simply rebuild it and put it back in?

Me thinks you are obsessing too much about common-rail reliability. You make it sound like most of them are a piece of junk just waiting to blow up. NOT SO! There are thousands of them on the road today with several hundred thousand miles on the odometer and still going strong. Where do you get this idea that the 12v is so much more dependable? Yes, the 12v is a simpler setup and that's worth something but it is not many degrees more reliable than the common rail engines. Do some reading on the Ram forums and you'll find that its the truck itself that generally falls apart before the engine.

 

[bfdiesel]

I assume you are mainly interested in 5.9s. The 6.7s are far more complicated, and thus problematic (dpf, regen etc). The '03 and early '04s are arguably the most reliable, and fuel efficient. The 305/555 engines found in the first year and a half of 3rd gens only have two injection events per ignition, whereas '04.5 to early '07s have a third injection event. This lowers fuel economy, and causes a hotter burn, which has on occaision, led to melted pistons. This third event is also what makes them a lot quieter. I have driven an '03 and owned an '05. There is a noticeable power difference, but if I were shopping now, I would look for a '03-'04.

Another option, would be finding a cheap 3rd gen and putting a12v in it. Best of both worlds. I saw a low mile theft recovery '08 with no drive train going for around $10k in Az. It was mint, and with a 12v, would have been awesome

The Third injection pulse is to help keep NOX emmisions lower is does not cause them to burn hotter it helps them burn cooler. Hotter burn increases NOX. The 04.5 and later 5.9's have an "in cylinder EGR" that has to do with the cam. The burned cylinders come from the injector leaking at 20,000 psi torching a hole in the piston.

 

[bfdiesel]

Me thinks you are obsessing too much about common-rail reliability. You make it sound like most of them are a piece of junk just waiting to blow up. NOT SO! There are thousands of them on the road today with several hundred thousand miles on the odometer and still going strong. Where do you get this idea that the 12v is so much more dependable? Yes, the 12v is a simpler setup and that's worth something but it is not many degrees more reliable than the common rail engines. Do some reading on the Ram forums and you'll find that its the truck itself that generally falls apart before the engine.

To me it is that when they do have a problem it costs so much more to fix it. I had to do a valve cover gastket on a 07 I had. The dealer wanted $330 for just the gasket. Cummins got $111 for the same one. Start looking at replaceing common rail injectors and a cp3 and you may as well rebuild a 12v.

 

[D45]

They are reliable....
Just make sure you have extra clean fuel, added fuel lubrication, and superior filtration.....common rail injectors hate contaminants and dirt

 

[Regcabguy]

I miss the seats of my old 2nd gen. That's it.

 

[Darwin]

Me thinks you are obsessing too much about common-rail reliability. You make it sound like most of them are a piece of junk just waiting to blow up. NOT SO! There are thousands of them on the road today with several hundred thousand miles on the odometer and still going strong. Where do you get this idea that the 12v is so much more dependable? Yes, the 12v is a simpler setup and that's worth something but it is not many degrees more reliable than the common rail engines. Do some reading on the Ram forums and you'll find that its the truck itself that generally falls apart before the engine.

It's not that I think they are going to blow up an any minute, but that I have seen more than a few for sale with the engines replaced with under 150k. I wouldn't say it doesn't happen with 12 valves, certainly if they are abused and the owner didn't do regular maintenance they are just as prone to having problems, but when they fail they are much cheaper to fix.

I think you are right about the truck around them falling apart before the motor. If I was looking for a new truck, which I am considering, the newer dodges seem to fall apart less. With the newer ones I see better brakes, more room, paint that isn't peeling, and an all around more drive able truck for the same amount of horsepower.

I have also considered 98 to 02 24 valve cummins with VP injection pump. I am aware of the issues with these motors as well. I up side to them I see is they plentiful and go for decent prices, the paint and brakes appear to be better and they lack all the newer egr equipment.

I know I sound really indecisive, but at least I have narrowed it down to just one manufacturer, it's just a matter on deciding which generation and year is right for me.

 

[Buliwyf]

I'd rather take a risk on the newer truck engines than take a risk on the old Dodge body rot.

 

[Darwin]

Well I found a 2006 3500 5.9 with 6 speed manual with 211,000 miles for 14k, http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/985123?ad_cid=12 you can see a 96 12 valve for sale above it going for 18k. http://www.ksl.com/auto/search/index?resetPage=true&keyword=&make%5B%5D=Dodge&model%5B%5D=Ram+2500&model%5B%5D=Ram+3500&yearFrom=&yearTo=&priceFrom=&priceTo=&mileageFrom=&mileageTo=&zip=&miles=0&body%5B%5D=Truck&transmission%5B%5D=Manual&fuel%5B%5D=Diesel I don't know who would pay that much for a 12 valve, maybe someone out there will, but not me.

 

[Regcabguy]

Aside from the 300# cowcatcher bumper up front,it looks good.

 

[Darwin]

Okay, test drove this truck tonight. It definitely is a lot nicer than driving my 20 year old 2nd gen. I like how it drives, straight. Shifts good, checked blow by (but it was when the motor was cold), no blow by to speak of, truck was supposedly fleet maintained which explains why it also is an ST model. I think the next step is to have someone with more knowledge than myself check it out. Speaking of which, anyone know a good shop or tech in the Salt Lake City/Provo Utah area that would be willing to check this truck out for me? With over 200k I expect some things to need replacing, I just don't want to buy a ticking time bomb.

From my limited knowledge the things that need checked out are:
Compression
Blowby
Injectors
Rail pressure
DTS's
Transmission/Clutch

 

[driller]

G&R diesel in Sandy. Talk to Ron.

 

[Darwin]

AMdriller
G&R diesel in Sandy. Talk to Ron.

Thanks.

 

[incognito]

hy,

i was looking 6 month for a decent Dodge ram and i found one 2005 5.9 with a engine rebuilt( for which a saw the receipt 7000$) at only 170000 km ( around 130000miles). transmission the private sale person told me was redone. and the transmission shifted very well untill this summer . when i left montreal had some strong front winds and near Ottawa at 200 km the transmission broke . no more 3, 4th speed. rebuilt it cost me 3000$ with Hd torque converter and stuff.but till that day no sign of problems at all. anyhow better done it at there at Ottawa transmission which has a very good reputation instead of being stuck in the middle of nowhere. so the weak expensive point is the transmission. also steering box . as for other parts don't seem very expensive , and also a huge amount of used parts.antirust for mine every year since i live in Quebec, Canada.
12v if you want fuel economy
24v if you want more power , comfort. get a 2006 early 2007 with 5.9 and 6 speed manual or automatic transmission( has also one more gear that previous years)
i think cummins engines are reliable if not abused, kept close to stock specs and well maintained. only personal opinions i may be wrong.
i saw you saw my rig and posted a comment today.
i don't know where you are located but in the Usa and Canada you can get a ( light) flatbed for a cheaper price because private persons don't want them too much.only if you want to put a truck camper on it. dually if heavy truck camper or SRW for a light one also for being legal concerning GWVR
i was looking for dodge rams on autotrader.com, go to more search options, search by mileage( under 100 000 for example) and sorted by low to high price.( or high to low if you prefer to pay a higher price.... just kiddin...)
good luck with your search
incognito