Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Longevity brainfart

[Big_Daddy_T]

I was thinkin about my truck the other day and had a little epiphany. I think the mileage would be an indicator of efficiency. The more efficient should by all means last longer. So these freaks getting 19-26 should have a 500k motor and the ones getting 11 should get 250k. Has anyone noticed a correlation to my hypothesis.

When I got my truck it got a solid 17 in the city. I modded it and I lost mucho mileage. Was getting like 12-13 mph(no matter how I drove). I changed my mods to a much more aggressive box and injectors and my mileage went up to 15 even with my foot to the metal day in and day out. Burning through a tank every other day.

When I bought my truck it was very efficient. The man who owned it before me drove mostly highway miles. I effectively ruined it but it was fun. I had my blowby checked recently and it was little worse than when I bought it, 130k later. And I blow more than double the stock boost.

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by Big_Daddy_T

I was thinkin about my truck the other day and had a little epiphany. I think the mileage would be an indicator of efficiency. The more efficient should by all means last longer. So these freaks getting 19-26 should have a 500k motor and the ones getting 11 should get 250k. Has anyone noticed a correlation to my hypothesis.

When I got my truck it got a solid 17 in the city. I modded it and I lost mucho mileage. Was getting like 12-13 mph(no matter how I drove). I changed my mods to a much more aggressive box and injectors and my mileage went up to 15 even with my foot to the metal day in and day out. Burning through a tank every other day.

When I bought my truck it was very efficient. The man who owned it before me drove mostly highway miles. I effectively ruined it but it was fun. I had my blowby checked recently and it was little worse than when I bought it, 130k later. And I blow more than double the stock boost.

Interesting theory. I am convinced that the vehicle gets conditioned to the first owners driving habits. Unless the next owner drives the SAME way, the engine is not going to be happy and start to develop personality issues, leading to an early demise. Even if the vehicle was driven like a race car, and sold to a little old lady to get her to church, problems will develop.



Diesels may be different, but I know gassers build a "ring" of deposits above and below the normal piston stroke. Faster revving causes the piston to "stretch" and pass the line of deposits and either score the piston, or the rings, leading to compression loss and so on. Slower revving, the piston got used to the line of deposits as a extra seal and may start to develop the compression loss. Even the rest of the mechanics in the motor are used to working under a particular load, and with more or less, they start to develop issues. Coolant system failures, oil pumps, timing, etc.



Just my opinion.

 

[RustyJC]

There may be something to your theory. Some industrial diesel manufacturers tie scheduled maintenance to the total amount of fuel BTU consumed. Convert this to gallons, and you might have oil & filter changes (for those engines that don't use lube oil analysis) at, say, every 5000 gallons of fuel for an engine of given design and BHP. Caterpillar is one manufacturer who makes such recommendations.



Rusty