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6.5 diesel problems
Let me guess, it is in a 92-96 truck and it is giving you problems with a power loss??
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Perhaps I am way off base here.
We have about 6 of them and everyone of them has lost the engine between 85,000-120,000 miles.
Pretty much, it is the nature of the beast.
From 92-96, the 6.5 was (I'd say it was a disaster, but someone would take it wrong)not a great engine.
The new Chevy trucks won't be carrying that engine, thankfully.
Diesels generally lead a hard life. I don't think the 6.5 was built heavy enough for the job, but man, proving that 89K engine failure is "premature" is a tough row to hoe.
4 engines had headgasket failure.
3 engines had valves the self destructed.
Most engine failures were between 90,000-110,000 miles.
3 trasmission failures at less than 90,000 miles.
Those are just the major repairs.
My truck has always been a work truck, but not necessarily a heavy hauler. I've done numerous cross-country moves hauling loaded trailers with a full bed, but not much else. Haven't really STRESSED the engine, but she's always pulled the loads I've asked of 'er just fine. EVen over 10,000 foot mountain passes.
My current problem:
Every now and then, after I park, it won't start. All console gauge indications look like I just didn't have the clutch all the way in (i.e. battery needle swings, message lights blink, etc.) I've tried re-pressing the clutch to the floor, turning the ignition off then on, and just letting it sit. Nothing. The starter was replaced and that didn't help. A dealer installed ignition kill switch was removed and that didn't help. Batteries and cables replaced, nada. The only thing that works is getting the truck rolling and putting it in gear. Not popping the clutch to start, just putting it in gear. That seems to jar whatever the problem is loose and then it starts. I'm thinking it might be a flat spot on the gear in the transmission, but not sure. Any ideas?
Dave
I can't say that its been a perfect truck, its had its moments, like the time 2 months after we bought it, I was sitting at the bus stop with my 2 kids waiting for the bus, it was -40 outside, and the truck just quit, took 5 minutes to get it started again. That problem went on for 4 months, the dealer didn't have a clue, it would happen at random, driving down the highway, idling in the driveway, basically anytime. They replaced the fuel filter, lift pump, and driver on the injection pump before figuring out it was the PCM. Of course they managed to screw up the timing on the truck when they replaced the PCM, we just got that fixed by our trusted mechanic a few days ago. We didn't find out about it until our mechanic happened to put his computer on the truck to check something else. After the timing was put back in factory specs the power increased quite a bit and the fuel economy went from 16.9 mpg on the hwy to 20.5 mpg. Other than that we have replaced the alternator. We also had some engine leaks fixed right before the diesel warranty was up on May 22.
Guess we can't really complain, its a nice truck. I hope we can get another 100K out of it before any major repairs. It does still have its original injection pump which I have been told is unusual, it also is a great winter truck, even at -50 will be putting out heat at idle after a 15 minute warm up and will start at -20 with no engine heaters plugged in. Our mechanic says its one of the best running 6.5s he's seen and he used to be the diesel tech at a chevy dealer.