Heater grid bolt failure

[John Jensen]

The grid heater relay, rare but catastrophic, issues are 21-23.

The grid heater nut, extremely rare but catastrophic, can occur on all 6.7’s. The lack of a recall or redesign indicates how extremely rare it is.

Temps in the 30’s don’t need a grid heater, but on your 20 I don’t think there is any real concern with it hooked up.

Thanks, I'll leave it connected. I read that the grid heater is used below 66°F

 

[Ozymandias]

For peace of mind do the wiggle test occasionally when you're under the hood anyways.

 

[AH64ID]

Thanks, I'll leave it connected. I read that the grid heater is used below 66°F

66° intake manifold temp and below, but it’s mostly for emissions. Cummins says nothing is needed for starting until 10°F. I’ve started many times without a great heater below 10°F without issue and generally bypass the WTS light unless it’s a remote start.

 

[John Jensen]

66° intake manifold temp and below, but it’s mostly for emissions. Cummins says nothing is needed for starting until 10°F. I’ve started many times without a great heater below 10°F without issue and generally bypass the WTS light unless it’s a remote start.

Thanks for clarifying

 

[cricha]

If I do a double button start, it appears that my grid heater still kicks on according to the voltage readout on my CTS. It shows a voltage drop for about 15-20 sec. Other than pulling the relay or a cable connection, I dont know how to bypass the grid heater. It was an issue when I had to jump my truck.

 

[AH64ID]

If I do a double button start, it appears that my grid heater still kicks on according to the voltage readout on my CTS. It shows a voltage drop for about 15-20 sec. Other than pulling the relay or a cable connection, I dont know how to bypass the grid heater. It was an issue when I had to jump my truck.

It does still do a post-heat cycle, but no pre-heat cycle.

 

[larryq]

I ended up taking the banks kit, the bulletproof Diesel egr cooler and their steel waterline connector that replaces the stock plastic part as well as a new ccv filter to a diesel shop a few miles away for installation.

I didn’t want to mess with the fuel system.

got it back Tuesday, and it looks great.

anyone thinking that you will get higher performance, you’re going to be disappointed.

no noticeable change.

but the peace of mind over the heater grid failing is worth the price of admission!

L

 

[JReichenbach]

I recently upgraded my 2005 3500 DRW with a 2020 3500 DRW. Its a nice Laramie loaded truck. The Grid heater thing worries me, as someone else said about bad luck... So being the cheapskate that I am, I chose the B and D kit over the Banks unit. I pretty much do all my own work, even tho my age says I shouldn't. The kit was kind of a *******, approximately a 5-6 hour job. I think the Banks setup would have been a lot quicker. So it kinda depends on what your comfortable doing. I could have done the repair kit faster, but I had to get the carbon build up off of everything (OCD). Truck had 100,000 on it.
Truck came from down south, so I don't think grid heater probly saw much use. First time I drove it in Montana winter, the DEF system acted like it froze up, and threw a couple of codes. I had run 3 full jugs of current DEF thru truck, running tank extremely low before refilling. Not sure what that is all about...
I had my 2005 truck for 15 years, was a dam reliable unit. As a good friend quipped, that's longer than you've ever had a wife or a girlfriend... LOL.

 

[Grumpy8811]

does anyone personally know ( I don't mean read about it on the internet ) a Ram Cummins owner who had a grid heater bolt failure?

 

[Tuesdak]

does anyone personally know ( I don't mean read about it on the internet ) a Ram Cummins owner who had a grid heater bolt failure?

I personally know of one that Won't Be Experiencing A Cummins Grid Heater Bolt Failure. Mine!

It happens, it's an expensive gamble, Your Truck Your Money: no matter what strawman statistical argument you wish to make about how rare it may be before you dismiss it as internet myth anyway.

The Myth you could argue about is if the wiggle test is valid. Firsthand taking it apart: it's not. With the nut completely removed you have to tap the "bolt" out to get it removed. It don't wiggle even with the nut off.

 

[Grumpy8811]

I personally know of one that Won't Be Experiencing A Cummins Grid Heater Bolt Failure. Mine!

It happens, it's an expensive gamble, Your Truck Your Money: no matter what strawman statistical argument you wish to make about how rare it may be before you dismiss it as internet myth anyway.

.

I suppose it happens , just like anything else can happen with a piece of machinery but trying to be objective, I only have anecdotal evidence and believe it is that it is extremely rare and I don't know anyone it happened to.
I'll give you more anecdotal evidence, I have Admin'ed a forum on FB for 8 years that is dedicated to these trucks and , we have 25000 members and I do not recall anyone having that grid bolt failure... my point is that while it could happen it must be extremely rare. It is also worth saying some engine's could have this failure, eat the bolt and no one is the wiser.

 

[AH64ID]

It’s a very very very rare issue, or it would have been fixed quickly after the 6.7 was introduced. The design went from 07-24, which indicates that it’s hardly an issue.

 

[JReichenbach]

Have seen 1 at dealership in town.

 

[Grumpy8811]

It’s a very very very rare issue, or it would have been fixed quickly after the 6.7 was introduced. The design went from 07-24, which indicates that it’s hardly an issue.

that is my thinking.. it has happened on a very rare basis, and between the internet magnification effect and the aftermarkets ability to find a potential problem and create and market the solution to a problem no matter how small the chances of the problem actually occurring, that potential problem becomes a story with the half life of tellurium 128 and the world threatening hype of global warming and rising sea levels. .

 

[Jim W]

Will my 2008 bought new in Nov 2007 is still running with the grid heater as designed. Although in the last couple of years the truck isn't seeing much use, about 3,000 to 4,000 miles a year.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

I saw the 2025 6.7 is coming with glow plug(s) so whatever the failure rate is, apparently it's enough to have them change it. With social media now it doesn't take much for an internet urban legend to grow into something that appears bigger than what it actually is though.

Not sure what they changed on the grid heater from the first common rail cummins or why they changed it as it worked fine for the 5.9.

 

[crispyboy]

My truck also sports the original grid heater that works as designed. Truck fires quicker when using the grid heater. My two farm tractors also have grid heaters. They work as designed. I had a VW diesel that had glow plugs which had to be replaced. I have friends with 7.3 liter Powerstrokes that have trouble starting due to bad glow plugs. I am not thrilled with the new Ram trucks getting glow plugs.

 

[Grumpy8811]

I saw the 2025 6.7 is coming with glow plug(s) so whatever the failure rate is, apparently it's enough to have them change it. With social media now it doesn't take much for an internet urban legend to grow into something that appears bigger than what it actually is though.

Not sure what they changed on the grid heater from the first common rail cummins or why they changed it as it worked fine for the 5.9.

I believe the move to use glow plugs is more for emission compliance than because of grid heater issues.

 

[AH64ID]

What if the head is shared with the Octane and the glow plugs were added to use the spark plug holes?

 

[Diesel85]

What if the head is shared with the Octane and the glow plugs were added to use the spark plug holes?

Could very well be true.