Reliabilty question

[graystonels]

Hi there. I am new to the diesel world and really don't know too much about them. I am considering buying a 1995 Silverado 2500 4X4 with a 6.5 turbo diesel. It has 203,000 miles on it and the injector pump was just replaced. How many miles can diesels go before running into major expensive problems? What questions should I ask the guy and what are typical problems with the truck / motor?

Thanks in advance.

[89stroker]

with that many miles on a 6.5 i bet the heads are cracked. i've yet to see a set that wasn't, especially w/ that kind of milage.

i'm not a big fan of the 6.5 or 6.2. not that they didn't work, but they just had their issues.

[chrisk1500]

The 6.5 is a strong engine if you know its limitations....PM sent...

[mr_goodwrench_0]

Originally Posted by 89stroker

with that many miles on a 6.5 i bet the heads are cracked. i've yet to see a set that wasn't, especially w/ that kind of milage.

i'm not a big fan of the 6.5 or 6.2. not that they didn't work, but they just had their issues.

Bill

[89stroker]

Originally Posted by mr_goodwrench_0

Bill

its the truth douche

[chrisk1500]

Originally Posted by mr_goodwrench_0

Bill

x2


my heads aren't cracked....320 000 kms on them.....

[graystonels]

Hi thanks for the replys and info. I looked a the dieselplace site and oh man is there info about the 6.5TD there. I guess it's just like any of the other General's motors, they all have their specific issues. As far as a cracked head or block goes it seems to run fine, not hot and it's not loosing coolent so I don't know about that. I'm going to try and get it scanned today to see what that shows. I looked at the RPO codes and its a L65 6.5 Turbo HO with a 4.10 posi rear and 4X4. It also has a 5th wheel hitch in the bed. Below is a picture of it. It's probably over kill for what I'm going to be using it for. I don't plan on towing much with it, maybe a horse trailer. I will mostly be using it to haul stuff, mulch, gravel, hay bales etc.

I'd love a D-max but a used one still costs 2 to 3 times more than this one. As far as a Cummings or Powerstroke goes I've owned GMs mostly Poniacs and Chevys my whole life so it's real hard for me to leave the General. And owning a Trailblazer EXT 4.2 6 I'm used to being outgunned by almost everything else on the road. I hope the scan goes well.

Thanks again.


http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...3_32_full.jpg?

[chrisk1500]

That is a nice looking truck!

Don't worry about the 6.5 - with the right mods it can hold its own.

I can easily pull 13000 lbs with my half ton (slightly modded of course).

There is one member on the dieselplace that constantly pulls 18000 lbs with his 6.5 half ton as well (his is more modded than mine).

Do the right upgrades and you will be fine...

[mr_goodwrench_0]

Originally Posted by 89stroker

its the truth douche

Nope.

Bill

[BobMs89shorty]

Originally Posted by chrisk1500

x2


my heads aren't cracked....320 000 kms on them.....

Make that x3. Dad had an 84 'burban 6.2 700R4 that had the axles swapped, front leafs flipped and a 6" block in the rear. We got it as a repo with the odo showing 40k miles. As good as it run we figured it was 140k. Well, when we had a family friend (who at the time a GM tech) put the trans in it (surprise surprise!) they had service records from the original owner up to 185k miles before he sold it. So at 240k miles it ran and drove great. Dad kept it for 10 years, sold it for $500 more than he bought it for and the guy who bought it ( i worked with for a short time) used it to pick up 73-87 GM 4x4's with bad bodies to rebuild. He said the odo had flipped yet again and he resold it for $100 more than dad originally bought it for!

So, 300k miles is how many km's again? Glad to see we have head problems. . . .

[89stroker]

just saying what i've seen. every set i've rebuild was cracked. i'm glad you guys like your 6.5s and have had good luck w/ them, but from what i've seen i wouldn't want one.

[BobMs89shorty]

I know myself and my dad have both looked for decent 6.5's used and they just don't exist. If you do luck into finding one, it's got over 350k miles and has been beat or the guy that has it has someone else waiting for it. If they were so bad, I just don't see why everyone hangs onto them.

I don't even know if they made them, but I would kill for a 4dr Tahoe/Yukon 6.5TD.

I think the biggest real life issues revovle around the fuel filters. Change the main filter with every oil change and keep the air filter clean and they'll run strong for a long time to come.

[BobMs89shorty]

As for the cummins/powerchokes, they all have their problems too. The cummins is a fantastic engine settled into a horrible platform.

The powerstrokes make gobs of power, but damn they are thirsty.

[chrisk1500]

Originally Posted by 89stroker

just saying what i've seen. every set i've rebuild was cracked. i'm glad you guys like your 6.5s and have had good luck w/ them, but from what i've seen i wouldn't want one.

There's the answer....that's like me saying every engine I have ever rebuilt has had worn bores.....

[red suburban]

also the cummins has the weakest auto tranny behind it. great engine, but like u said, crappy platform.

[mr_goodwrench_0]

Originally Posted by chrisk1500

There's the answer....that's like me saying every engine I have ever rebuilt has had worn bores.....

Well, I guess if he works at a head rebuilding shop he might come across a high number of cracked heads. Probably due to MASSIVE overheating, and the reason they need rebuilding in the first place. I have to assume he isn't talking about cracked precups...

Bill

^^That is how you spell my name, NOT D.o.u.c.h.e.

[BobMs89shorty]

Originally Posted by mr_goodwrench_0

Bill
^^That is how you spell my name, NOT D.o.u.c.h.e.

Bwahahaha!! That's classic!

Wait, a guy working at a hea shop sees cracked heads? Damn, that's like me saying that Every Acura is broke because all the ones we work on are. . . .DUH. THat's why they're here.

[dozerboy]

graystonels
That is a nice truck you have don't spent too much time at DP you will spend all of your $$ on your truck.