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Does it ever stop bleeding?

I agree with the guys, that's not a bad list.

I have two 6.5s, and my list looks like this:

  • New front brakes, both vehicles
  • New batteries, both vehicles
  • New PMDs and remote mounts, both vehicles
  • New glow plugs, Tahoe
  • New heater blower motor, Tahoe
  • New 4WD switch, Burb
  • New headlamp switch, Tahoe
  • New turbo solenoid, both rigs
  • New EGR Solenoid, Tahoe
  • New vacuum turbo solenoid harness, Burb
  • New OPS (x2) on the Tahoe.
  • New Remote OPS relay bypass on Tahoe
  • New LP both rigs
  • New LP relay, Burb
  • New MAP sensor, Burb
  • New Glow Controller, Tahoe
  • New coolant QC replacements, both rigs
  • New sway bars, both rigs
  • New pitman arms, both rigs
  • New upper ball joints, Tahoe
  • New shocks all around, Tahoe
  • New electric fans, Tahoe
  • New Fan controller, Tahoe
  • New air cleaner assembly, Tahoe
  • New heater/ac fan controller control (x2), Burb
  • New power door lock solenoids (x4), Burb
  • New door handle, Burb
  • New steering end links and idler arm, Tahoe
  • New air compressor (for air horn :)), Tahoe

Actually, the list goes on a bit from there, but you get the idea.. There are a LOT of things that just wear out on these things, and some of them aren't the most well designed or manufactured (sorry, but it's true). On the other hand, I've driven around 85K miles on both rigs with very few problems, thanks to the guys on this forum, and I've done almost all the work myself. I know that if I had purchased the Tahoe and Burb new, I'd probably have less personal work on them (i.e. hours of my personal wrenching, although I suspect with GM quality control I'd probably be in for warranty service more often...), but they have been pretty cheap to keep, and if you do the work yourself, the guys are exactly right - this is a decent shade-tree mechanic's rig. Looking at the list I just made, I think that many of these items just wore out due to the rigs being 12 and 16 years old respectively, with 110K and 185K miles on the Burb and Tahoe respectively. That's a lot of miles.

They are getting old, that's for sure... they are also inexpensive to own (unless diesel goes to $5/gallon, which is probable) and run, and they get the job done.

I hear you, it is a bit of a hassle, but I really like my rigs, and they have been fairly dependable and they work hard and always get my family to and fro safely.

I just want to encourage you to hang in there and just stay with it - I'd found that the journey has been fruitful and pretty easy, and usually fun... just hang with your 6.5 family. We're here.

-Rob :)
 
Most of this has been said already in the thread but ill say it again....

Out of your list, the majority of those parts could have been replaced on any car/truck with over 200K. Not just specific to the 6.5. And the parts you replaced that were specific....They are going to help solve known issues and make your truck that much more reliable.

So just keep in mind that even if you spend a couple bucks every month on replacement parts, it is still cheaper than a new truck payment
 
The Bleeding realy never ends :(

Greg,

Try,
One head
Injector set
4 head gaskets
4 sets of head bolts
Rear brake line set
Rear brakes and drums
brake booster
master cylinder
Power steering pump (took 3 before I got a good one)
E brake cable
rotors, both bearings
2 pitman arms
7 or 9 u joints (lost count)
Balancer, acc drive pulley
Engine
PMD
Lift pump
engine oil cooler line
3 trips on the tow truck, Lift pump failure, broken crank / block, blown Oil line
2 set of batteries
multiple alternators
and it's due for a new set of rubber


That doesn't even cover the upgrades.

Happy New Year!
 
It's cheaper sometime to just make the payment, sure is easier but I'm a cheap "F" and refuse to pay 800$ a year in property tax on a new truck.
 
I do not mind the work, like last Tuesday the GTG was great. I do hope that the next time that it will be someone else that we can help out but really it was a good time & seeing us gather to help out one another is a feeling that you can only experience to know.

My real concern is reliability. I really have no experience with how a diesel blows other then what I read on the net. Based on the post that I have read, it would appear these motors provide very little warning before they let go.

I use my truck, it's my daily driver & run some miles on it yearly. My issue more comes down to being able to jump in it & head out for vacation. I fear that at some mile marker that I am going to be operating mine on borrowed time, shit maybe at 217K I am already at that point, as some here have suggested my "beater" truck might be better off just being used for work & short errands?

When it comes to that time, I will either pony up for a new Optimizer or junk it...I have ZERO tolerance for a vehicle or so called "beater".

I'm cheap but not willing to climb into something for a vacation & not know if the "beater" will get me there or back :skep:
 
I would say that you should keep feeding the ol girl new parts.

think of it this way:

The 6.5L isnt the best in the world, but thanks to the forum, you know what needs changed, what needs upgraded, what needs this, what needs that, etc.

new truck: nobody knows nothing. imagine how the 6.0L PSD guys felt a few years down the road.

plus, who makes a half ton diesel?

Finally, it comes down to how much you want to spend on a rig, and how much you want to do to it. personally, the cheap purchase price, affordable upkeep costs, and lower legal costs (plates, insurance, etc) make the 6.x IDI gms pretty darn appealing.
 
I don't think 400,000 miles is unrealistic from one of these. The insides of my 95 2500LD engine looked great at 285,000 miles. It has taken a while, but I would drive it anywhere. It's just too bad the damage the hail and deer did to it this past summer.
 
Damn Greg! Am I gonna have to fire up the shop stove and call in the guys again?:eek:

:hihi:

JK, you'll get it all worked out. Fine lookin' truck like that is worth the extra effort and some $ in parts/time spent on repairs...:thumbsup:
 
I really do like the truck a whole lot, wouldn't have bought if I hadn't

Just need some help from the gang now & then for me to keep the faith

It is something that ya can not get any longer 1500 with a 6.5 thanks for the reminder

Thanks for sharing all yr stories & words of wisdom/encouragement!
 
Only bad parts I've ever HAD to replace are Batts, Alt, MAP sensor, Vac Pump, WG solenoid, oil lines, heater q-d, lift pump, IP/PMD granted I'm a 98 so young by some comparisons, but only 2yrs old & just 37K on it when I bought it, and had never been off road I think older folks owned it before me. As I've said in other posts, I think most of the 6.5s ailments were care & feeding/abuse of it in prior owners hands

Rest of stuff I added to make it better-stronger-faster but have not spent $6 million on it ,,,,,,,YET :)
 
All my mods were personnel decisions. The pmd(original) as far as I could find out was replaced with a ssd which lasted for 5 months. The next time it was mounted in the bumper. The IP is original. Any other work was just regular maintenance. I can't complain.
 
About what others have said....

There is no such thing as perpetual motion; everything wears out some just last longer. I see a new truck as $45-50K in all new parts and you get 100K miles of minimum maintenance (if you don't get a bad one then still have oil, tires etc), the latest in technology/gadgets, and high taxes. After that it just depends on how the first 100K miles were driven and cared for.

I feel sorry for people that get taken by a used car dealer thinking oh its a diesel and will run forever and they pay top dollar for a worn out truck that was not at all an economical buy. As with anything used you have to be slightly lucky to get a good deal and well taken care of truck. It took me over 2 yrs to find mine (tough combo to find) and it hasn't been too bad but its getting long in the tooth and I need to spend money on it. I feel blessed each time it cranks and runs decent and for now if it aint broke don't mess with it.

A good plan for any vehicle/budget is to keep putting at least some payment money in the bank account (just like a payment) for spare parts fund and eventual down payment on next one. It just costs to drive! no ifs, ands, or buts about it !!! Just depends on how, when, and where the cash flows to.
 
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