Rapid Responce Recall on 600

[DCornelius]

Amen, Hoverlover, preach on!!

 

[swexlin]

I'm not too concerned about the test - these engines are put through some serious *stuff* before they are installed in our trucks.



It's just the situation itself that has me perturbed. Don't even have my permanant registration card yet, and it's already got to go in.

 

[WCPoe]

No freeze plug test on high milers!!!!

Got my truck back earlier this evening. The Assistant Service Manager at Palmer Dodge, Roswell, Georgia, indicated he received word back from Chrysler that trucks like mine (1300 miles) should just be inspected for weepage of coolant around the plugs. They found nothing and of course did not do the full throttle test. I indicated they shouldn't do it based on the recommendation of the Cummins Customer Service Rep I spoke with this morning. Be at ease even if your trucks get the test - the same Service Rep idicated it wouldn't harm our engines. I believe the mechanics were to pressurize the cooling system to 10 psi, start the engine, run approximately 20 seconds until oil is circulating and then bring it up to the max rpm for three minutes. This test was to force force the freeze plug failure as if the engine had gone through numerous heat cycles. The Cust. Ser. Rep. said it was his understanding that those which had the defective freeze plugs failed within a few miles and the prescibed test would force the failure. It will be interesting to hear from anyone who had defective plugs and what their mileage was. WCPoe-out.

 

[klenger]

Good info. This place is great.

 

[Windscreen]

Another data point for the masses here:



My truck was built 3-25-04 and the engine was built 3-16-04. So this does affect even more recent builds than indicated earlier in this thread. I called my dealer this afternoon and the first guy I talked to had never heard about this rapid response. Neither did the next two guys he talked to. He finally found someone that knew about it, and he was just about to call me.



My truck is on the notification list and is to be tested on Monday. I'll have 1000 mi on it by then, and will also push for the service manager to call STAR and see if the WOT test is really necessary.



Steve

 

[bgilbert]

CMEP shipping phone # 812-377-4669... . Day shift very informative. Might be able to describe the WOT tests run on engine after assembly. May shed some light on these engines that went out the door before they could stop them... These engines are only made at CMEP Walesboro,IN plant.

 

[jarsong]

Hey folks, I understand how one could not feel to happy about the WOT 3 minute test. But rest assured your engine will simply laugh at this test and beg for more. It is that tough and the electronics that surround it offer even more protection. I do have to give credit to DC/Cummins for this action they are taking. Could they actually be learning from the Ferd 6. 0 botched release? Proactive is alway's better than reactive. I hope we have ZERO failures of members on this board because I know there are others lurking ready to POUNCE on the new Cummins... . Good luck.

jarsong

 

[buddys06]

Mine isnt going anywhere near the dealer until i notice a problem i cant fix on my own or i notice some coolant loss/seapage! nuf said

 

[sag2]

OK, there goes that little chuckle to myself again. Some of you act as though you have a wimpy little diesel conversion engine under the hood of that Dodge. Go find the link that shows the photo of the rods in the Cummins as compared to the other two brands. This engine will take WOT all day long with no load, or for that matter as much load as you want to give it. Mine (03 and the 04) have been up against the governor many times. I said it before, I paid for that governor with the engine, so I might as well use it!

Dodge is on the hook for the first 100,000 miles, and if it ain't broke by then, it is not going to.

My motor-home broke down in Phoenix on spring break this year, and I can tell you, I would rather have them test my truck to try and break it now, than have it break down on the road where I am at the mercy of some dealer shop, and ruin my vacation. And from the spring break trip, I can tell you that the Ford dealers are not any more or less helpful than any Dodge dealer I have known.

So stick your foot in it and enjoy the ride.

 

[hammersley]

This does sound as phony as the Oil Companies managing to have refinery problems... ..... and don't get me started on that self imposed BS! Are you sure this isn't a bunch of FORD guys trolling here..... THIS makes no sense. Tell me what a wide open 3 minute test will tell about frost plugs? Why not pressure test a cold engine or one that's idling - but WOT - what for?????There's something else really wrong that is associated with this I fear..... One can come up with larger plugs and a fix better that trashing the engine. This is throwing the baby out with the bathwater!

 

[Badunit]

Could be the rapid, uneven heating of the block caused by WOT immediately after startup is the best test they could come up with, the worst case scenario. I think I'd have to leave the room while they did the test, though. Even if the engine is okay with it, I'd be cringing the whole time.

 

[swexlin]

The Assistant Service Manager at Palmer Dodge, Roswell, Georgia, indicated he received word back from Chrysler that trucks like mine (1300 miles) should just be inspected for weepage of coolant around the plugs.

This is what I have been thinking all along. Like I has stated earlier, I ran into this same issue in my PSD last summer. I noticed my coolant level was down slightly, but could not see any leaks. Dealer traced it to a bad freeze plug.



I would *think* that if you have not noticed any loss of coolant, this should be a non-issue. I will mention this to my dealer when I drop it off on Monday, to see if they are still going to do the full throttle test. If they are just going to examine it, maybe they can do it while I wait, and I won't have to leave the truck.

 

[JTadra]

Originally posted by hammersley

This does sound as phony as the Oil Companies managing to have refinery problems... ..... and don't get me started on that self imposed BS! Are you sure this isn't a bunch of FORD guys trolling here... .



I started this Topic. I own a 04. 5 CTD 3500, a 98. 5 CTD 2500, a 02 Grand Caravan. I had a 90 CTD w-350, 86 Lancer, 81 Aries and a 1976 DODGE POWER WAGON so I ain't no Ford man, Tho I did have a 72 Mercury Cougar with a 428 Shelby Cobra JET engine, still kicking myself for selling that one.



The questionable plugs are not the freeze plugs, but the "core hole plugs".

Jim

 

[Yo Hoot]

Originally posted by JTadra

Originally posted by hammersley

This does sound as phony as the Oil Companies managing to have refinery problems... ..... and don't get me started on that self imposed BS! Are you sure this isn't a bunch of FORD guys trolling here... .



I started this Topic. I own a 04. 5 CTD 3500, a 98. 5 CTD 2500, a 02 Grand Caravan. I had a 90 CTD w-350, 86 Lancer, 81 Aries and a 1976 DODGE POWER WAGON so I ain't no Ford man, Tho I did have a 72 Mercury Cougar with a 428 Shelby Cobra JET engine, still kicking myself for selling that one.



The questionable plugs are not the freeze plugs, but the "core hole plugs".

Jim

Core hole plugs... . I presume these are very similar to freeze plugs but have a different purpose. That would be to close up holes that were required in the casting process.



Don't fret it guys... .



I do the test every morning on the way to work :-laf

 

[RobertBolinger]

... I did have a 72 Mercury Cougar with a 428 Shelby Cobra JET engine, still kicking myself for selling that one...

That was a cool ride



I have about 8000 miles-I emailed the dealer-have not heard back, but based on what I'm seeing here I should have no problems. I did mark the recovery tank to see if it drops any-it's about halfway between full and add.

Originally posted by Yo Hoot

Don't fret it guys... .



I do the test every morning on the way to work :-laf

Ditto

 

[roperteacher]

I have my coolant resovoir exactly on the FULL Line... . It was a little low. . almost on the ADD line from the dealer. I too will monitor it's progress. Is this a good coolant level?? Thanks!

 

[hoverlover]

It Passed!

Just got back from having my truck pressure tested and no leaks. Thank god, if I would have needed a new motor I would have been ******! It's still not very comfortable watching them take a cold motor to the governor and keeping it there for 3 min. Oh well I just hope I don't keep this in the back of my head for the live of the truck! I've already been threw the 53 block issue.

 

[JTadra]

Originally posted by Yo Hoot

Core hole plugs... . I presume these are very similar to freeze plugs but have a different purpose. That would be to close up holes that were required in the casting process.



Yes, that is what they are from. The holes are to allow the casting sand out.

 

[klenger]

SAND? Now you're telling me there's sand in my engine too !!!!



1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10



I'm feeling much better now.

 

[JTadra]

Originally posted by klenger

SAND? Now you're telling me there's sand in my engine too !!!!



Yep, sand is what makes the engine SO quiet. I was told sand was used in the molds to cast the engines. I remember making sand casts in high school shop. I'm sure someone will give a good simple explanation of the metal casting/mold making process

Jim