Have you seen this?

[daytripper63]

Cummins engine test: Engine testing included 22,000 hours on the dynamometer, much of it at full power. For example, a standard Cummins engine test involves running the engine at full power for one thousand hours straight. Other testing involved the equivalent of five million miles of driving. Two such tests were the Lap of America and the Lap of Indiana. The former test is a run of 50,000 highway miles with the truck loaded to its gross combined weight rating. The latter test is a run of 100,000 miles at 4,300 miles per week, at slow speeds with the vehicle loaded to its gross combined weight rating



This is just a little more stress than I think I will ever put on my Cummins/Dodge

 

[rbattelle]

I'll say it again: There is no such thing as "overbuilt".

 

[Bill Stockard]

Originally posted by daytripper63

Cummins engine test: Engine testing included 22,000 hours on the dynamometer, much of it at full power. For example, a standard Cummins engine test involves running the engine at full power for one thousand hours straight. Other testing involved the equivalent of five million miles of driving. Two such tests were the Lap of America and the Lap of Indiana. The former test is a run of 50,000 highway miles with the truck loaded to its gross combined weight rating. The latter test is a run of 100,000 miles at 4,300 miles per week, at slow speeds with the vehicle loaded to its gross combined weight rating



This is just a little more stress than I think I will ever put on my Cummins/Dodge

Several years ago before I retired as a salesman for a heavy duty truck manufacturer, some in our dealer organization got a tour of the Cummins engine test facility in addition to the regular factory tour. Special rooms with Cummins engines running at full power at governed RPM hooked up to dynos cranking out the HP 24/7 for days/months at a time! They are run at rated power and overloaded to accelerate the wear. After so many thousands of hours of running, the engines are completely disassembled and each part checked for wear. A trip through that place was a real education!



Bill

 

[Dean Upson]

I went throught the Walesboro, IN plant outside of Columbus in May of 1998 just before I bought my 2nd CTD and I was sure impressed with the whole operation. I had no doubts in my mind as to the quality and durability of these B-model engines after I saw them being made.

Anyone going through that area can get a tour if you call 1-800-DIESELS beforehand and make arrangements for a plant tour and Columbus is a beautiful town to take a tour of on your own.



Dean

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

That's a serious flogging. But if they wanted to more closely simulate real-world conditions they would throw a Fram oil filter on there and fill it with Pennzoil



Vaughn

 

[RankRam]

LOL Vaughn

 

[Diesel Nut]

Looking at the older trucks, it seems the ones worked the hardest are the best buys! I had a 92 with 280K and it ran better than my 93 with 90K, and the truck had been used purely for hauling cattle from AZ to northern CA. These guys know how to build em! I look forward to driving my 03 for several 100Ks!!

 

[slo-ryde]

I've talked to Cummins tech support people several times and they think we (TDR members) are a bunch of pansies for babying our trucks the way we do. They really do believe in the motto "drive it like you stole it". Running a motor at full power for 1,000 hours is awesome, that's over 41 days! Just think, if you started the test today (Jan 30) it wouldn't be over until March 11. I'd love to see a Ford or GM motor after 41 days of that!

 

[smartineau]

Darn I guess I bought more truck/motor than I needed.



It should certainly last 11 1/2 years until I buy a new one.



steve

 

[tae73]

Now if we could just get dodge to make the whole damn truck that strong. And fix all the other problems we have with the body and other parts. It would be even more awsome of a truck!

 

[slo-ryde]

Originally posted by tae73

Now if we could just get dodge to make the whole damn truck that strong. And fix all the other problems we have with the body and other parts. It would be even more awsome of a truck!

I've often wondered where Dodge would be today without the Cummins engine.

 

[realsquash]

Certainly you don't think the drivetrain under the new RAM is insufficient? They have a bad rep with the automatic trannies but the rest is just plain stout.



Q

 

[jrobinson2]

Running a motor at full power for 1,000 hours is awesome, that's over 41 days!

Stationary diesel engines do this all the time, I have three irrigation engines (one B5. 9, two 6068 Deere's) that run full power 24/7 all summer, they get shut down about 30 minutes for an oil change every 500 hrs other than that its full power for around 165 days a year.

Jared

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by jrobinson2

Stationary diesel engines do this all the time, I have three irrigation engines (one B5. 9, two 6068 Deere's) that run full power 24/7 all summer, they get shut down about 30 minutes for an oil change every 500 hrs other than that its full power for around 165 days a year.

Jared

Man, that's really cool.

 

[realsquash]

While those are impressive numbers the best thing you can do for an internal combustion engine is operate it at a constant speed, at a constant temperature. The things will run forever, even a gasser.



Just a little reality check.



Andy

 

[jrobinson2]

While those are impressive numbers the best thing you can do for an internal combustion engine is operate it at a constant speed, at a constant temperature. The things will run forever, even a gasser.

Not quite forever, we hope to get about four+ years, 16000 to 18000 hrs, out of these. 8000 to 12000 hrs would be normal for the same engine in a tractor.

Jared

 

[A Johnson]

I worked on a fishing boat that had 2 4b gensets. They had 33000 hours on them when I was down working on the main engine, (a V-12 1710). The owner asked me to set the valves on the gen sets, I couldn't fined a good way to turn them over without pulling some gaurding, I just grabbed the serpentine belt and spun them over by pulling on the belt. They were so wore out that they had no compression, its a wonder they had enough compression to start and run. They made me a believer.



A Johnson

 

[PJ]

I hope my automatic trans lasts as long as the truck. I would have bought the 6 speed but due to a bad left hip, i cant do the clutch very long. Also, I like to just get in and DRIVE. Why work when you can sit back, adjust the seat and listen to your favorite C/D while cruising down the highway!

I love my New Truck! Even if it is "just" an 04 and not an 04. 5!