Should the 5.9 be replaced with a 6.7??? Please help

[Bouma]

Question... ... A friend of mine has a 2001 5. 9 3500 with 4. 10 axle ratio with an automatic. He lives about 3 miles from work. Currently the truck will warm up for 10-15 minutes before he goes to work and then again when he leaves. The reason for the truck is that he has a 12,500 pound fifth wheel camper and a 24' flatbed that he pulls his tractor on. The truck normally travels unloaded to work and back. He is looking at 2008 6. 7 3500 with 4. 10 axle ratio and a manual trans. The question is how will the 6. 7 handle the short trip driving and not getting up to full temp before being shut off. I don't know if it will do as well as the 5. 9 or if this will cause issues with the emissions system or the VGT turbo getting dirty. I am a 5. 9 owner myself so I need some help answering this question. Thanks in advance for your help!!Oo.

 

[HBarlow]

The ISB6. 7 is probably not the best choice for your friend's application because of the emissions control crap mandated by EPA. Early 6. 7 owners had sooting issues when the trucks were used for short trips. Reflashes and upgraded software programming in later models may have improved or corrected the problems but it is probably not a great idea to use an '08 for daily short trips.

 

[Mhannink]

i think harvey is right, to add to that the dpf plugs up very quickly when not it is not run a lot. i saw this in medium and heavy duty trucks that run local deliveries. 250k service interval went to 50k. i would stick with the 5. 9

 

[MChrist]

I almost ordered a new, 2008 Ram when the "new" engine first came out. Luckily, I found out on this site that this wouldn't ve a good selection for me, since the majority of my miles are stop/go, short distance, etc.
I found my '06 and couldn't be happier.

 

[DBithell]

No No No, the 6. 7 will not handle your friends situation. Short trips are a no go. Stuff plugs up, check engine lights go off, you can't idle it to warm up. Being in Michigan expect your friend wants to defrost the windshield. He could keep his 5. 9 to get to work and use the 6. 7 to only haul his stuff down the highway. Don't attempt short trips with the 6. 7, don't idle it. Don't chance that recent flashes have corrected this discrepancy - they have not. He would be better advised to put the money back into his 5. 9, or buy the 6. 7 as a tow vehicle only (it is excellent at that one task, milage not near what a 5. 9 gets however) & get a gasser to get to work. 3 miles isn't even worth firing the 6. 7 up, easier to walk, ride a bike, take the bus, buy an old gasser for such tasks. I have an '08 6. 7 and made the kids walk to school in the winter,,,if it's less than 10-15 miles the 6. 7 won't even get up to operating temp.

 

[AHarris]

2007.5 6.7 and short trips

I had a 2007. 5 6. 7 3500 for 3 years and 38,000 miles of mostly short trip, stop and go city driving with an occasional long trip or trailer tow. Some of these were 2-3 mile round trips. One time I had a warning message on the overhead saying "DPF 80% FULL. " I took the truck out on the highway for 30 minutes and the message disappeared. I never saw a CEL or had any problems (other than abysmal fuel economy) but I did keep the flashes up to date. I think I was one of the lucky ones.

Now that I'm retired from the USAF and living in the Northwoods of WI, every drive is at least 14 miles round trip so it's no longer an issue for my 2010. My 6. 7 is happy up here!

That being said, there's better choices for short haul city driving than a 6. 7 ISB. Using a 6. 7 this way is tempting fate... these are highway engines. If it were me, I'd just keep the 5. 9... the other guys are right.

 

[larryq]

Well... I had a 98. 5 24V 5. 9... .

I waited for the 2010 6. 7... . and the experiance has been wonderful!



I also drive sort distances to work each day. . and only tow a ranger bassboat!



I have only had 1 O2 sensor die, and have had no other issues even with my light useage!



I will say that there are two thing I miss abot my 5. 9...

1 )Mileage... the 5. 9 got 20+ easy..... 2010 16 max... but this new truck has a bigger engine and weighs more!



2) I don't care what anyone says. . when I change my oil. . I believe it should NOT look like TAR after 3000 miles... the emissions (EGR) suck... . plain and simple.



I have 25000 om my truck now, and the exhaust tip still has a very unhealthly "Pale" look to it... .



Also... this truck is so quiet . . it's almost un-nerving... REAL TRUCKS RATTLE!. .





The 5. 9 was easier to B. O. M. B... . but for the total experiance this new truck is twice the vehicle!



My 2 cents rounded to the nearest nickle!

Larry