6.5 turbo, Whats the average life??

[LB Landscaping]

I looked at a 1 ton GMC pu today with a 6.5 turbo diesel today. The truck is in very good shape especially for its age (its a 1994). I have never owned a diesel but have heard they run forever. Whats forever??? Obviously it all depends on how well it was maintained. Like I said the truck is in real good shape so I assume its been taken care of, but it does have 174000 on it. Guys asking $7000 for it (I thought he was high but BB value isn't far off). Any opinions???

[Mick]

I would say you should expect about 300,000 miles out of a diesel engine if cared for. But having said that, you should be aware the GM 6.2 and 6.5 diesels have a problem with the Pump Mounted Driver ( PMD ) sometimes called a Fuel Solenoid driver ( FSD ). It was covered under factory-extended warranty for ten years or 130,000 miles (not sure of mileage exactly, but it was over 100,000). I had two replaced (one I later had wondered if that was really the problem, but it was covered under warranty and I was 1,000 miles from home). I was told after this year it'll cost me about $2,000 if it's needed again.

The best way to check if the PMD is to put the truck under load. Is there a hesitation under acceleration? My "check engine" light comes on and I suspect this is due to a failing PMD. Is there hard starting or running rough? Does it stall? Does it smoke on starting?

Does it seem suspicious that this truck is up for sale now? It's just past the ten year mark for the warranty. He may know something.

[LB Landscaping]

Great info as usual Mick. the guy wasn't home when I checked it out, she started right up no problem but it wasn't cold today either. He is a mechanic so it is very possible he knows the issues you spoke of. I'll be talking to hi tomorrow and I'll make sure to ask. There wasn't any noticable smoke and she ran pretty smooth for a diesel. He has owned it for the last 5 yrs and has pretty much gone through the whole truck. New tranny 3000 miles ago, new tires, front and rear pads and drums, replaced alot of the front end components (sp?).

[jsaunders]

Jeff, does the truck come with any thing- plow/dump?
The engines are ok- low on power compared to 99+ ford psd
I do have an 86 chevy dump with 6.2 non turbo 140K- very slow 130hp:nope but they are work horses. I had 1 independant front susp. on a 1 ton chevy 88- I had always been a chevy guy untill that truck. I will NEVER buy a truck with IFS again- so many problems - a solid front axel is the only way to go.
You should also be able to find alot of trucks for the $7-10K with high milage.
What are you looking for? Or did this just pop up? I know a place in Northern NH where I bought 3 trucks from $20-24k for F350-550 7.3 psd auto less then 35kmiles with new dump.

How do you like this weather? 1 spring /mud season is bad enough now were going to have 2:headwall
Later, Joel

[LB Landscaping]

Hey Joel, its got an 8ft Fisher on it, plows in OK shape. I'm looking for a truck to put a new guy in. He's got very little experience plowing so I'd rather not put him in something newer. I figured I could run him in an older truck this year and then keep it as a back up after the season is over. I'd like to stay under 10 grand but there's not much around here. If you come aross anything let me know.
This weather sucks. Snow possible sat/sun, keep your fingers crossed. You going to NE Grows???

[jsaunders]

I'm not sure I'm going to negrows this year, I haven't really thought about it. I wasn't to impressed last year. yes theres alot of stuff but not that usefull unless your really looking to buy because of the "specials". Are you going? What's the date? I can't remember.
I have a snow plow customer that called me the other day seeing if I knew anyone that wanted to buy a truck. He's 65-70 yrs old. 199? 6-8 F250 it's the style that looks like the F150 but it has 54,000 on it. no plow but if your going to try to use it down the road might as well get a low milage vech. I also talked to my friends brother the other day and he said he was thinking of sell his truck as well. He said he put $3k into the front end( what did I say about IFS) but that truck does have a plow. If you want I can ask and get more info/ pics of the trucks.
If your thinking of putting a new guy in a truck just train them well. I have my new guys ride around with me for a storm then I have them drive for 2 storms with me in the truck- so I can show how to be faster and safer. I let them take MY truck and they realize / i make sure they know to take it easy. I haven't had any problems.
I know new trucks are $$$ but old trucks love to take your $$$$$$:headwall And the more money you sink into a old truck the harder it is to get rid of it.
I want to get rid of my chevy dump but it's worth more as a back up than what I could get for it. I did put $3k into it this year and I always put about 1.5k each year into it( the only thing that isnt new is the engine) but I made about $20k with the truck just plowing last year when my other truck was wrecked. Cheap still doesn't mean reliable.
Joel

[urethane dino]

stay away from the 6.5 you will dump way more time and money than you want to. There is a chance that that truck is a mechanical injected engine, if so than maybe take a chance, if it was me just find a gas engine with 120K on it or less, and you will be in great shape
Dino

[Pickering Snow]

Dino , Mick , Lb

The 6.5 in 94 is gonna be a Styadine full electronic the 6.2 is mech injected both use styadine pumps , i build all of my own in house . Mick is right the PMD is the number one issue with these just replaced on last week one a 94 Yukon the part is 395.00 and requires the intake be pulled if you have the right tools you can get to the two t-15's on the PMD and not have to rotate pump.

My opinion of the 6.2 and 6.5 is i dont belive gm ever intended them to be long mileage diesels i like working on them since they styadine pumps are good money and simple to rebuild providing you have a clean room to build them in .

LB if your really intrested in this truck take it to a good mechanic have him scan the pcm for history codes code 35 in history would indicate a failing PMD driver module and expect a 800.00 dollar bill to start.
The injection pump itself is a standard Styadine pump with electronics a person that uses power service or some type of quailty fuel additive could get good service out of a gm replacment pump if taken care of.

I have posted this before biggest reason for Styadine pump failures is rust build up on the dist head unit this is caused from water in fuel and lack of fuel filter changes and also lack of fuel lub alot of which is due to the low sulpher diesel fuel today thats why power service or something equal is very important.

[Joey D]

Fred, have you ever looked into any of the remote mount kits available for the FSD? They all claim the heat is the killer and by remote mounting on a large heat sink they solve the problem.
www.heathdiesel.com
www.kennedydiesel.com

[LB Landscaping]

Joel, I'm on the fence about NE Grows too. I've never been but I have a couple of buddies that want to go so I might tag along. I think its the end of the month into the 1st of Feb. Yeah, if you can get the info on those trucks that would be great. I found a 2 trucks online this morning about 45 mins away I am going to check out today (I started andother post about them:headwall ). This guy will be a decent driver and has plowed with my 1 ton dump so I'm sure he'll be fine. I need a back up truck anyway so I am thinking that it will be a good move in the long run.

I'm not sure I'm going to negrows this year, I haven't really thought about it. I wasn't to impressed last year. yes theres alot of stuff but not that usefull unless your really looking to buy because of the "specials". Are you going? What's the date? I can't remember.
I have a snow plow customer that called me the other day seeing if I knew anyone that wanted to buy a truck. He's 65-70 yrs old. 199? 6-8 F250 it's the style that looks like the F150 but it has 54,000 on it. no plow but if your going to try to use it down the road might as well get a low milage vech. I also talked to my friends brother the other day and he said he was thinking of sell his truck as well. He said he put $3k into the front end( what did I say about IFS) but that truck does have a plow. If you want I can ask and get more info/ pics of the trucks.
If your thinking of putting a new guy in a truck just train them well. I have my new guys ride around with me for a storm then I have them drive for 2 storms with me in the truck- so I can show how to be faster and safer. I let them take MY truck and they realize / i make sure they know to take it easy. I haven't had any problems.
I know new trucks are $$$ but old trucks love to take your $$$$$$:headwall And the more money you sink into a old truck the harder it is to get rid of it.
I want to get rid of my chevy dump but it's worth more as a back up than what I could get for it. I did put $3k into it this year and I always put about 1.5k each year into it( the only thing that isnt new is the engine) but I made about $20k with the truck just plowing last year when my other truck was wrecked. Cheap still doesn't mean reliable.
Joel

[LB Landscaping]

Dino, PS, and Joey thatnks for the info/advise. I think I'm going to leave this one alone. I did ALOT of reading and it seems the older 6.5's have there share of problems. If it had less milage maybe. Thanks again guys.

[LB Landscaping]

Update, the guy just called to see if I had looked at it. He claims he had the motor all re-done less than 30k ago (has paper work to back it up) New rings and pistons PMD was replaced under warranty. It is alos the "turbo diesel" if that makes a difference, I know the value is a little more but other than that not sure.

[Mick]

I just ran it through Kelly Blue Book and that's a little high. I made some assumpions, but it came up with $4600. You can look it over and make any changes needed.

http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/kw.kc.ucp?kbb.MO;;MO165;&64444&;333792&;;ucp;&13;GM;E4

Well, that link doesn't work. Click on the "Used Car" tab and go from there.

[LB Landscaping]

I ran it through and got $4600 for private party. Dealer pricing is around $6800. It is for sale through a dealer.

[jsaunders]

Maybe if you got it for $5500- you know the dealer hasn't done anything to the vech except armor-all the piss out of everything.
I will look into getting the info / pics of the trucks- give me a couple of days.

Nice weather they said 3-6 tonight/sunday- I love regrading dirt drives when there is 3'' of mud + snow with the snow plow:headwall
Joel

[LB Landscaping]

I checked it out and drove it today. Yeah if I could get it for $5000 or so I probably would but $7000 is too much. Guy said he's firm at $7000 since he's done so much work to it. I'll pass!!!
Yeah they said 3-5 here tonight butwho knows??? Be ripping up alot of sod things are really soft her, just walking over the lawn leaves imprints:nope

[2_DJinn]

What about the 96-99' 6.5's ? Same issues as talked about above?

[urethane dino]

until the d max the GM diesel was trouble plauged at best