Duramax or Cummings

[prawls]

Cummins Rules!

Had a 2001 QC longbed with the automatic. Worked fine til the day I sold it for an 04 QC shortbed with a 6spd. Have 35" tires, pull a 32' travel trailer like its nothing. Get 13 towing, around 18 mixed hwy/city, could probably get more, but I drive too fast. Installed the Banks 6-gun for 400+HP/800+TRQ. Around 70k miles at the moment. I'll never own another gas motor, and probably will stick with Dodge. No complaints. They've fixed the tranny issues as far as I know. All your Dodge/Cummins questions can be answered at http://www.turbodieselregistry.com

And FYI even the mighty allison trannys had some issues when they started out. They are one of the kings without a doubt, but their mating to the V10's and the Duramax motors was not a smooth transition at first. And Duramax has had some injector issues recently.

Drive it like you stole it, change the fluids and filters regularly, look into Amsoil or one of the other synthetics.

[Sharkbait]

I was a diesel mechanic in the Coast Guard many moons ago in addition to my other duties, we had 28 liter Cummins twin turbo v-12's on the patrol boat. We ran the snot out of those engines for the year and a half that I was there chasing drug smugglers. We once ran 98% throttle for 37 hours to get to a US flagged sailboat that was in trouble, the exhaust side of the turbo's were approx 3/4" thick cast iron and for 37 hours they were so hot they glowed a pale yellow! When we got where we were going we let the engines idle and cool down before shutting them down and never had any problems!

I now handle auto claims for an insurance company and handle almost all of the mechanical claims, mostly commercial accounts and I always ask the truck owners what they like and do not like about their trucks.

Duramax- The early models had injector problems that seem to have been fixed by Isuzu (yes kids the Duramax is an Isuzu engine). The later models are keeping most of their owners pretty happy, I don't think you could go wrong buying a Duramax from the responses I have been getting.

Powerstroke- The old 7.3 liter engines were very popular amongst their owners. I have heard almost nothing but complaints of the 6.0 liter engine, you cannot buy a compliment for this engine (before you call me an International Basher, I used to work for International). The jury is still out on the 6.4 dual stage turbo...

Cummins- I have never, let me repeat never heard a complaint from someone who actually owned one of the 5.9 liter engines. I drove one and drove it hard for a previous employer (between the truck, gooseneck and load there were times my combined weight was 28,000 pounds!!! And pulled it just fine with a 6 speed manual).
I was at the Dodge dealer today paying for an engine that one of our policyholders figured out the hard way is not amphibious and I was talking to the mechanics about the new (new to Dodge but proven) 6.7 liter engine. Cummins and Dodge are trying to get the engine programming right with the new federally mandated emissions requirements. The 6.7 Cummins has a long and successful track record and once they really get the new emissions dialed in it will be a monster!!!

Gas vs Diesel, go Diesel every time just don't run them cold or shut them down hot and expect them to last. Also runnning your oil thru a turbo makes the oilchanges at the specified intervals very important.

I just wish that Dodge would start using the 4.2 liter Cummins in the Dakotas, I would have 320hp and 30 mpg.

[billbrasky]

Originally Posted by Sharkbait

I just wish that Dodge would start using the 4.2 liter Cummins in the Dakotas, I would have 320hp and 30 mpg.

And the jeep wrangler, preferably in 2 door long wheelbase. Sawweeet, though I would take a Mercedes v6 oil burner form the e class blue tecs.

The only important thing is you not buy a ford diesel other than the 7.3 which was nice as sharkbait, and a few tow truck drivers, mechanics, fleet buyers I know can attest. Duramax is ok.

First decide if you car about the independent front suspension, are you going to snow plow or anything like that? Then you just made your choice get the dodge or an old ford. You can have a tranny shop upgrade the dodge tyranny to pretty bullet proof levels if it ever fails, which I would do and not even sweat it since I keep trucks for the long haul and get my money out of them. A nice new mega cab 6 ft bed decked out ram I would be keeping for 20 years. I don’t think you can outgrow it, only vanity would require you get something new that thing will last a long long time.

Or save some money and get a 100,000 mile ford with the 7.3 and let some other sucker take the depreciation for ya.

[turbosupra1313]

Cummins!!!!!

forget the DuraMelt.......

[retired]

I just remembered something (I don't do that often, so it's cause to celebrate). IIRC, I recently read something in the paper, that Ford is so upset with Navistar, they are parting ways.

I have also heard rumors over the years that Ford supposedly bought Cummins and they will start using those, while Dodge will be using the Mercedes diesels.

I'm pretty sure about the former, I have only heard rumors about the latter. Has anyone else heard about either.

[turbosupra1313]

Originally Posted by retired

I just remembered something (I don't do that often, so it's cause to celebrate). IIRC, I recently read something in the paper, that Ford is so upset with Navistar, they are parting ways.

I have also heard rumors over the years that Ford supposedly bought Cummins and they will start using those, while Dodge will be using the Mercedes diesels.

I'm pretty sure about the former, I have only heard rumors about the latter. Has anyone else heard about either.

Ide hate to see ford and cummins together, hope thats not true.... although one of my friends put a cummins 5.9 in a chevy....

Cummins > PowerJoke/DuraMelt

[Camper]

I have an 04 Duramax LLB which has been great. It doesn't even know the 6 ton 5er is hooked up. First diesel I've had and would sure like to see the foreign and domestic auto makers start importing some of the small diesel autos and trucks that are available in many other countries. Yeah, I know, OSHA and emissions control stuff!

[lYxFizzyl]

Originally Posted by turbosupra1313

Cummins!!!!!

forget the DuraMelt.......

yup its black.... I'm surprised the headlights aren't black

[turbosupra1313]

Originally Posted by lYxFizzyl

yup its black.... I'm surprised the headlights aren't black

Its my buddys truck (gofastdiesel.com). he blacked the tail lights last week. Im sure we'll be doing the headlights soon

[turbosupra1313]

Originally Posted by Camper

I have an 04 Duramax LLB which has been great. It doesn't even know the 6 ton 5er is hooked up. First diesel I've had and would sure like to see the foreign and domestic auto makers start importing some of the small diesel autos and trucks that are available in many other countries. Yeah, I know, OSHA and emissions control stuff!

The DuraMelt thing is a running joke around here, no offence to anyone with one, I enjoy them. They are a good running diesel, strong, and i know many people with them. Not a fan of Power strokes though....