Powersmoke of Cummins

[Nate Skate]

A fellow Ram man told me at the pump the other day that Cummins average 300K before rebuild and Powerstrokes average 150k before rebuild. Has anyone seen anything that would substantiate this? If this is true and I owned a Navistar I would need to be preparing for a large expenditure in the next 20 thousand miles.

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96 Ram 2500 4x4 cc, 130,000 miles and counting, TST 280HP,K&N,Cat&muffler tag team fought w/torch, torch won.

 

[Red Rocket]

I need someone to tell me if the cummins is rated as a medium duty diesel,and the powerjoke light duty, I heard this somewhere and was told it had to do with average rebuild mileage. Input?? Also, I don't know of too many high mileage powerstrokes, but I don't want to start that argument of hearsay again.
Nick

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1998 2500, 12 valves, SLT, auto, 3. 54, 285/75-16, TST 230/605, t/c switch, DiPricol EGT/boost guages,K&N,camper special, 65,000 miles(2/01),
12 ton goosneck!
'01 Polaris EDGE-X 600

 

[Ross]

I've heard the same thing... ... kind of.

It's true that "useful life" has something to do with EPA's designation of light, medium, & heavy duty, although there are other factors as well, and it's also true that the Cummins B is "medium" and the Navistar is classified as "light. " One interesting thing I've heard, but can't confirm, is that the Navistar is not intended for rebuilds. Something about cylinder wall thickness not supporting boring. Now, the Cummins, if I'm not mistaken is a sleeved engine, making it rebuildable again and again. This is true of most diesels. Oddly enough, the medium duty Caterpillar that's comparable to the Cummins B (3126 maybe?) is not sleeved. Go figure.

 

[Jerky]

Nate, Can't reply to your question about mileage. Did notice that you have a a TST 280hp plate. I have a 96 too and am getting ready to get either a 230 plate or the next step up. Have you tried the 1st step or did you go to the 2nd? Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks #ad




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1996 2500, 4x4, 5-speed, 3. 54, Full Amsoil with oil bypass filtration,
Rancho 9000's.

 

[LSMITH]

One thing I know for sure is that our Cummins engine is a parent bore block, it has no sleeves. It can be bored and sleeved for rebuild purposes though. The PSD is rebuildable in most cases. I remember seeing something on the diesel talk website about average life for B-Cummins of 380,000, PSD average life of 230,000. There are tons of PSD's out there way over 200K and have not been rebuilt. Call a couple of the national diesel engine rebuilders and ask them what they are seeing.

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99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S SPA Boost/EGT Everything but leather NRA Member Great Lakes TDR Member

 

[Joe G.]

RedRocket,

There is a data plate on your engine that says that it's a medium light duty engine. The PSD is a light light duty engine. The requirements (this is on the data plate) for medium is that the engine is rated for 36,000 lbs and is rebuildable. If it does not meet these requirements then it's light. I don't know which requirement the PSD does not meet, but it may be the weight since Ford uses the Cummins in their bigger rigs.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,DTT TC/VB,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Nate Skate]

Jerky, I went straight to the 280 hp plate. Home install took 3 or 4 hours. Was amazed by the power increase. Havent had any clutch or trany problems,both stock. Dont usually pull a lot of weight though, just ocasionally.

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96 Ram 2500 4x4 cc, 130,000 miles and counting, TST 280HP,K&N,Cat&muffler tag team fought w/torch, torch won.

 

[Ross]

Thanks for the correct info LSMITH. Like I said, I had just heard about the "rebuildability" of the PSD, but could not confirm it.

You gotta love all the good information on this site. Lots of knowledgible folks and some "not-so-knowledgable" (like me #ad
)

 

[Red Rocket]

This is all great info, but I have not heard a peep about the duramax yet, does anyone know for sure about it's classification?

 

[Ted Jannetty]

Here is my understanding of it all.

Chevrolet light/light duty diesel, average life to overhaul is 150,000

Ford light/medium duty diesel average life to overhaul 250,000

Cummins light/heavy duty diesel, average life to overhaul 350,000

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Ted Jannetty, Owner President, Jannetty Racing Enterprises, Inc.
97 3500 4x4 club cab 5spd. RED, JRE custom power kit, JRE 4" exhaust
JRE 1/2 inch fuel system, Bosch 300 hp injectors, Prime loc,
Cummins chrome kit, US Gear 20% over drive, 3. 54 posi, Autometer
Ultralite 50lb. boost, and Pyrometer, BD exhaust brake.
Horton fan clutch

99 Ski-Doo 800 Formula III Pipes, reeds, studs and clutching 172 hp
99 Honda Forman 450 ES jet kit, pipe, lift kit, 27" Mud Runners
2001 Ski-Doo MXZ 800 X stock for now 140 hp
2000 TransAm Ram Air WS6 Flowmaster, K&N, Granatelli Mass air meter, LS1 Lid 370 hp
1973 Camaro Rally Sport Street Strip 850+ HP

 

[rraulston]

the CAT 3208 is not sleved. Not made anymore either. It was actually a *****en engine. V-8 tons of power. If someone put that engine in a dodge, i doubt the cummins could keep up. . (O. K. allready, ime not starting somthing!!)

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1996 3500 diesel 5 speed 2wd BONE STOCK 20 mpg

 

[Dr.Evil]

Hmmmmm Go from PSD to CTD's the 3208 CATS? I've been around several 3208's years ago in both ag tractors and semi trucks & straight trucks. They were gut-less in ag tractors and they all blew up by 80K in the trucks. Most mechanics I heard were "*****in" at them when I saw them... #ad

DENNY... ... ... .....

 

[Dave B]

Kind of off topic, but there is this guy... . in Pendleton, Oregon who has kind of a well known name in racing circles... . seems he stuck a 3208 Cat in a Ford, and apparently this was one wild contraption! I heard he sold it, but I'm sure its still around over there somewhere.