Wanting a Cummins, Any Info?

[Gmiller]

Hey Cummins guys

Im interested in a cummins, have been for some time. I have the turd of an engine the 6.5L Turbo Diesel. Rated at a wapping 190hp, yeah!! My truck sucks, its a money pit and it dosen't have enough power. Basically i want a 3rd gen dodge 5.9 cummins with the 6sp. What im i looking at for regular maintence? Problem items with these trucks? I am by no means a "mechanic" but i do most work myself, i've done a ton of work on my 6.5 without any problems, i've rebuilt powersports engines and helped my dad rebuild his 69 chevelle so im farely confident. Basically if their are certain problems can i take care of them myself?

Thanks for your help, and i hope to be apart of this Forum soon!!

Grant

 

[Anubis]

buy the engine and put it in the chevy. the Dodge part of the truck is nothing but problems.......... think your 6.5 is a money pit...... wait till you own anything that is part of the chrysler corp line up.

 

[Gmiller]

buy the engine and put it in the chevy. the Dodge part of the truck is nothing but problems.......... think your 6.5 is a money pit...... wait till you own anything that is part of the chrysler corp line up.

Yeah i thought of that, if i could get the 6sp with it all under 4000 and installed under 6000, otherwise its not worth it. All the dodge guys say love it, all the 6.5 guys say love it, I have the 6.5, I can't stand it, im tired of it, its nothing but problems. I can't pull my trailer 20 miles without spending another 500 dollars on something, not only that but im in the mtns, most people don't realize how hard it is to pull with the 6.5 up here.

 

[Wrecker]

Ball joints are a common issue, and interior stuff (window lift switches and such) come to mind right away.

Really there are no show stoppers in this era of Cummins IMHO. My brother loves his 03, we're good at ball joints now.

Regular maintenance items are not much different than other diesels of similar year.

Find a nice one and enjoy it.

 

[Cumminalong]

Maintenance on the 5.9 is stupid simple.

3 gals of oil every 7500 miles if you're running the regular stuff or 10K+ with the good stuff and oil analysis.

Change the fuel filter every 15K.

On a 3rd Gen, change the rear diff fluid every 30K and the front at 60K.

Trans Fluid at 30K under hard use, 60K under normal use.

That's about it.

Maintenance on these things is STUPID simple.

If you can, find an 05 with the NV5600 (6 speed) and you've got one of the more desireable setups.

That was the last year before they went to the G56 (6 speed), which is not nearly as stout.

The '05 was also the last year before it went to the CANBUS system for all the electronics....much simpler if something does go. On the CANBUS system, everything is through the TIPCM and costs a lot more.

The '05 also tends to have the best mileage of the common rails.

If you want an auto, get an '06.