Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
1997 Cummins 12 valve Auto with 275K miles all stock besides intake and 5" exhaust.
Truck was driven on the interstate at 80 mph for 2.5 hours. As I pulled off the exit, I heard a noisy clanking from the truck while idling at the stop light. I then pulled over, couldn't see any leaking and or equipment out of place under the hood. Temp and oil pressure were at their normal levels.
Clanking sounded like a spun bearing on the passenger side of engine compartment by the turbo or into the exhaust. The noise would quiet when the accelerator pedal was pressed. Being close to my destination I continued on 10 miles to campsite. Progressively the noise became a bit more consistent, pulled into the campground and left the truck sit for a day.
Next morning I fired the truck up. There was a crazy noise of crunching metal, tried to see where noise was coming from again with no visible signs of broken parts out of place. Temp and oil pressure were still normal. In my ignorance, thinking it was a bearing an not a integral part of the engine operation, I thought I'd try to limp it back home to where I could work on it. On the 10 miles back to the interstate the noise had subsided briefly while driving 60-70mph, still noisy at idle though. While merging onto the interstate and getting up to speed the engine noise progressively had gotten worse instead of better, unlike before. I immediately regretted getting on to the interstate.
I tried to get up to speed, 60mph maximum. This consistent noise, now sounded like a rod knock. I then heard the noise of a chain or gear getting chewed up and stop. I then slowed to 40mph and pulled off at the approaching rest area. I pulled into a parking stall, checked for external clues of damage and fluids again, all normal. While there at idle, a couple minutes later the engine just stopped abruptly. Almost as if the broken internal metal components were so numerous they had lodged themselves into an area that would stop all 6 cylinders of this power plant. Checked the oil again looking for medal shavings and/or new leaks. Nothing apparent. After the engine stopped abruptly, I tried to start again and it wouldn't even make a click when the ignition turned.
The truck has only left me stranded once in the past 21 years that I've had it. This would be the second, and quite possibly the last. I barely put 3000 miles a year on this truck and keep it filled with Amsoil.
If possible, let me know if there is any hope of repairing this engine from the instances described above. As usual thanks for your time.
Truck was driven on the interstate at 80 mph for 2.5 hours. As I pulled off the exit, I heard a noisy clanking from the truck while idling at the stop light. I then pulled over, couldn't see any leaking and or equipment out of place under the hood. Temp and oil pressure were at their normal levels.
Clanking sounded like a spun bearing on the passenger side of engine compartment by the turbo or into the exhaust. The noise would quiet when the accelerator pedal was pressed. Being close to my destination I continued on 10 miles to campsite. Progressively the noise became a bit more consistent, pulled into the campground and left the truck sit for a day.
Next morning I fired the truck up. There was a crazy noise of crunching metal, tried to see where noise was coming from again with no visible signs of broken parts out of place. Temp and oil pressure were still normal. In my ignorance, thinking it was a bearing an not a integral part of the engine operation, I thought I'd try to limp it back home to where I could work on it. On the 10 miles back to the interstate the noise had subsided briefly while driving 60-70mph, still noisy at idle though. While merging onto the interstate and getting up to speed the engine noise progressively had gotten worse instead of better, unlike before. I immediately regretted getting on to the interstate.
I tried to get up to speed, 60mph maximum. This consistent noise, now sounded like a rod knock. I then heard the noise of a chain or gear getting chewed up and stop. I then slowed to 40mph and pulled off at the approaching rest area. I pulled into a parking stall, checked for external clues of damage and fluids again, all normal. While there at idle, a couple minutes later the engine just stopped abruptly. Almost as if the broken internal metal components were so numerous they had lodged themselves into an area that would stop all 6 cylinders of this power plant. Checked the oil again looking for medal shavings and/or new leaks. Nothing apparent. After the engine stopped abruptly, I tried to start again and it wouldn't even make a click when the ignition turned.
The truck has only left me stranded once in the past 21 years that I've had it. This would be the second, and quite possibly the last. I barely put 3000 miles a year on this truck and keep it filled with Amsoil.
If possible, let me know if there is any hope of repairing this engine from the instances described above. As usual thanks for your time.
