new truck (1998) problems

[wrichards]

Well I knew the truck I had bought was in an accident but all drove straight and seemed fine. Upon cleaning the engine I have now noticed that the oil pan has been rplaced or taken off. What types of things do you think may have been done to the engine neccessary to take off the pan? Also I have a slight drip I believe from the oil pan just above the crossmember how hard would that be to fix?? Any suggestions aprreciated.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

I took the oil pan off of my old first gen. to tinker around and raplace the rod bearings, but I think that the pan can't be taken off of the engine in a second gen. without taking the engine out. I could be wrong, but I think that I remember reading that somewhere. Maybe they just had to replace the gasket and somehow fished the thing though without taking the pan off all the way. Maybe the engine blew and that one is a reman.

 

[wrichards]

Well I was certainly leary when I bought this truck now I need to find all the problems so It can become reliable to me. Thanks for the info I think I will take it to a diesel shop anbd see wht they say. Will they be able to tell me what happened or what needs to be done in order to make this a reliable truck?

 

[illflem]

The pan may have been replaced/removed for something as simple as striped out/deformed drain plug threads.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

Is it a manual or auto trans? If it is an auto call Bill K at DTT to make it bullet proof; if it is a manual call standard transmission and get the fifth gear nut fixed (I think they are some of the best with manuals). As far as the engine goes, the first thing that I checked and fixed was the KDP. That is one of the most common causes of failure in the 12v engines. I did the washer/tab fix. Do a search if you don’t know what that is- you will find a ton of info. Don’t run the egts too high (1250) or you will melt pistons, wait until they go below 350 to shut it down to help the turbo last longer. If you don’t have gauges, you might want to get some. Change your oil and filter every 3k and everything else should be fine. If I am forgetting something, I am sure others will chime in. Enjoy the ride, 98 12v trucks are some of the nicest trucks around.

 

[wrichards]

I was told by a diesel owner that these engines when left stock were fairly idiot proof as far as EGT going to high. Was he wrong? Could an owner melt one of these engine with an autoleft stock??

 

[Cummins Corvette]

You are probably safe with the stock engine as far as egts go. I can't immagine staying stock though.

I thought that you were already going to install a pyro?

 

[wrichards]

I was worried about how or what the owner did to it before I bought it. I am istalling a pyro since I tow and like to treat my equipment/trucks as good as possible.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

Put a transmission temp guage in it also, heat is an auto's worst enemy.

 

[The patriot]

Does the front crossmember look like it's been replaced? Any suspension work at all?The pan could have been damaged in an accident.

While a stock engine COULD be damaged, you'd have to really beat the pi$$ out of it for it to happen.

Eric