Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Did I damage the engine?

[PRyker]

This past X-mas my wife and I moved a bunch of stuff out of storage in Ft lauderdale to Notheastern Maryland. She drove the Ram with a fully loaded trailer that weighed about 6000 lbs. I drove a rental truck.



Once we had crossed the Georgia border we stopped for dinner and she told me the truck was loud. I asked her about the drive up and she mentioned that it was running at around 2600 RPM since she started. turns out she had turned off overdrive. She had seen me do it on occasion when pulling and so she thought it was suppose to be off when towing.



My questions is: Would driving with a 6000 lb load for 7 hours straight at 2600 RPM damage the engine? Everything seems fine. Did it cause any pre-mature wear or damage by pushing the RPM's like that?



Thanks ahead of time for the responses!! I love this forum!

 

[lcoblentz]

PRyker,



I doubt you did any damage. I have pushed mine at that level for 10 to 12 hours with only a couple of short stops for fuel or "relief"



Sure haven't noticed any problems since, and that was about 6000 miles ago. Fuel mileage will suffer of course, and the Cummins music gets a little "stale" after that many hours at the wheel, but guess that's to be expected.



Drive it and enjoy the fact you have a very rugged, and reliable tow vehicle!



Larry

 

[Shovelhead]

From past threads on this type of subject, Cummins tests their engines by running them for hours under load at or near redline (3200 rpm).

Don't sweat it.

These engines are TOUGH.

 

[Jar Head]

Heck, go another 100 RPM and you'll be at peak HP! Runs good at that RPM. You hurt nothing.

 

[BillGotthelf]

You didn't even bruise that thing.

 

[Truckie]

Hell it didn't even brake a sweat, don't worry about it, these engines are made to take a licking. These engines can take that kind of running because of the way they are built and the shear size of the parts.

MIKE

 

[dresslered]

Sorry to be the one ...

. . . but I have to be honest. You did waste some pretty good diesel! The Cummins didn't know it though.

 

[PRout]

It will probably run better now than it ever did.



2600 is in the safe operating range, and this motor is a far cry from a gasser, or even a flowerpoke or a duracan.

 

[rweis]

When I tow my 13k 5er I always run O/D out @ 65mph ~ 2500 rpm. The air flow through the engine is MUCH better and keeps the EGT's in check. Torque is GOOD and I generally set the cruise and let her run.



It is much better for the transmission because the transmission pump pressure is high and will keep the clutches engaged. I think I remember reading to stay above 1900 rpm while towing with the stock transmission.



IF she had gone into OD there is a 600 rpm drop and she would have been right on the low end edge of transmission pump pressure for the clutches when towing.



The transmission fluid flow is of course higher and the transmission will stay cooler.



As post above said she was right at the top of the power band and was not lugging the engine at all as 1900 rpm going up hills might have done.



Visit the DTT or ATS transmission web sites and you will read that they recommend O/D out when towing before you do a transmission upgrade. Much less stress on the transmission.



Good job on her part!



Bob Weis

 

[RustyJC]

With the 4. 10 gears, my truck runs right at 2500 RPM @ 75 MPH in 6th gear. I've towed our 13,500 lb 36' 5th wheel (21,180 lbs GCW/21,500 lbs GCWR) from Houston to Nashville and back on the Interstates running at or close to that speed almost all the way. Upon arrival back in Houston, the Cummins had not burned any oil whatsoever.



2600 RPM ain't no big thang to those of us with 4. 10 gears!



Rusty

 

[JFinke]

She did far less wear to the engine than if she had lugged it even 10 miles of the entire trip. In case tractors with the 12V version they run at rated speed (2600 RPM) most of the time and will go 12,000-15,000 hrs or more. Older tractors went 6,000-10,000 before an over haul.

 

[Midnite]

In marine applications, these engines often run at that speed for days on end.



Mike

 

[AKAMAC]

Give the wife a hug and tell her she passed the test.

 

[lil red cummins]

dont feel too bad. you probably only shortened your distance to overhaul from 350,000 to 348,000.

jim

 

[jarsong]

Originally posted by PRyker

This past X-mas my wife and I moved a bunch of stuff out of storage in Ft lauderdale to Notheastern Maryland. She drove the Ram with a fully loaded trailer that weighed about 6000 lbs. I drove a rental truck.



Once we had crossed the Georgia border we stopped for dinner and she told me the truck was loud. I asked her about the drive up and she mentioned that it was running at around 2600 RPM since she started. turns out she had turned off overdrive. She had seen me do it on occasion when pulling and so she thought it was suppose to be off when towing.



My questions is: Would driving with a 6000 lb load for 7 hours straight at 2600 RPM damage the engine? Everything seems fine. Did it cause any pre-mature wear or damage by pushing the RPM's like that?



Thanks ahead of time for the responses!! I love this forum!

You actually drove it the way it likes to be driven! At the very least you made it feel good and burn some carbon out of it! Those of us with the 4:10's spend a lot of time up there. Lot of RPM's, but we could pull the butt out of the world... .

jarsong

 

[rashwor]

You did not hurt anything...

as long as you don't go over the top rated rpm (3200), you won't hurt anything. Letting the engine surpass the top governed rpm can do damage.



Running it like that... you had the power to pull the rental truck. Hook her up and let the cummins rock!

 

[tom sweeney]

... as all have stated... . you've done no harm at all,like others,when i tow,i regularly run at those rpm's and the truck just flies... . i travel to vegas from the east coast yearly (last 3-4 yrs) and i have exceeded the redline frequently when rowing through the gears from a stop... depending on road conditions.

these trucks (engines!) are as close to bullet-proof as you can get! just drive your truck and take comfort in the fact that its a Cummins ... im currently on my 5th and best CTD!!! it doesn't get any better than this!!!!... . have fun... . tom ( 117k miles on the truck thus far)

 

[cartman]

as everyone has said you did not hurt nothing by running with the overdrive off the lode on the engine was less that if she would have run it in overdrive the engine was hardly working at all, now put a few more thousand pounds on it and break it in right take care

 

[Hohn]

Your engine just got the dream break-in, whether is was new or not.



It should run a LOT better now, with better mileage.



Cummins says these engines will run at 2700 rpm all day and all night. It's also easier on the trans, as others have said.



I know that my truck always felt a little "tight" until I dragged 6K pounds from GA to Cheyenne, with occasional uphill drag races



Engine runs like champ now!



Justin

 

[RKohn]

It's probably ruined your motor....

But I'll be glad to buy your truck for say... $10k.





Rick