Turbo Actuator and Motorcity Mechanic Video

[surfbeetle]

The Motorcity Mechanic posted a video of installing the Geno's Turbo Actuator for the 6.7 here's a link to the video. Seems like an easy enough process.



My main complaint about the newer trucks is that things are being replaced that I never had to touch on my old 12 valve in over 25 years and 240,000 miles.

 

[Oil Stain]

Thanks for posting.

 

[sag2]

That's because your 12 valve didn't have any of these things!

 

[JR]

I generally enjoy and respect Motor City but listening to the plug sure makes it sound like he's a paid advertiser.... You could literally buy 3 reman actuators through Cummins to one of these. And the calibration which he made sound so complex and difficult can be done by any literate person in 1-2 minutes with Alpha OBD.

 

[josephc1]

Always learn something from his videos

 

[McDowra]

I generally enjoy and respect Motor City but listening to the plug sure makes it sound like he's a paid advertiser.... You could literally buy 3 reman actuators through Cummins to one of these. And the calibration which he made sound so complex and difficult can be done by any literate person in 1-2 minutes with Alpha OBD.

I'm confused by this. Why would you compare a new products pricing to a reman? That seems a bit unfair. Also I much prefer my actuators to come with a warranty, and not cummins "If we didn't trouble shoot it and install it there is no warranty" Also to add insult to injury they reserve the right to back charge you at any time for any warranty they do pay out if they decide to. Directly from cummins website https://quickserve.cummins.com/info/qsol/news/turbo_warranty_exchange.html . Most of the guys with failures have had what I would consider a premature failure, why would I want to reinstall an actuator that has already failed once and then been "remanned"?

 

[JR]

why would I want to reinstall an actuator that has already failed once and then been "remanned"?

My question is, why would someone pay 3x cost for an unproven product?

Mine failed at around 110k miles. Just to break even I'd have to clear 330k miles (440k on the truck). Not likely to happen.

Think of one single component you've bought where you would feel comfortable spending 3x on a new, unproven equivalent.

I just don't like being someone's guinea pig when it comes to my wallet. At the end of the day it's not all that expensive of a part and it's not difficult to change. If I have to replace an actuator every 100k miles it's not the end of the world for me.

 

[JR]

Additionally, many parts are remanned. Altenators, turbos, injectors, even engines. Replace the failed components with new. Some reman companies are cheap and unreliable, others have the capability of producing a component that's as good as new.

 

[EDankievitch]

I thought about the reman way when my actuator failed. But after reading all the hard luck threads on here and the fact that Geno’s now sells the City Diesel units and the write up in the TDR about the company and research they did. That all sold me. Almost a year on it now No issue it works way better than the stock unit ever worked.

 

[McDowra]

My question is, why would someone pay 3x cost for an unproven product?
https://www.genosgarage.com/product/ram-cummins-turbo-actuator-halp-act12c1/engine-turbo here is the cost of the new City Diesel unit could you link yours?

How is the City Diesel unit unproven? How long has the City Diesel unit been in testing and production?


Mine failed at around 110k miles. Just to break even I'd have to clear 330k miles (440k on the truck). Not likely to happen.
Your new one failed at 110K, how long will the rebuilt one you have last, keeping in mind the motor in your actuator is the original motor.

Think of one single component you've bought where you would feel comfortable spending 3x on a new, unproven equivalent.

I just don't like being someone's guinea pig when it comes to my wallet. At the end of the day it's not all that expensive of a part and it's not difficult to change. If I have to replace an actuator every 100k miles it's not the end of the world for me.

Not to make you mad but you keep stating it is untested, so please inform us how it was tested since you imply that you know.

 

[JR]

I like and support Geno's as often as I can. It's not my intention to slander them or knock a product they carry.

With that being said, just because they carry something doesn't automatically qualify it as being superior. It's still new and unproven no matter what angle you take. If it was the same or close to the same price and all you could be out was time and coolant if it failed early on, I'd be much more receptive to trying it.

I'm just glad there are people willing to test them out. Cuz I'm sure likely to still own my truck longer than most and will happily buy one next go round if they pan out

 

[JR]

Not to make you mad but you keep stating it is untested, so please inform us how it was tested since you imply that you know.

You aren't making me mad at all. I enjoy good discussion and debate.

What I mean by untested is it simply hasn't been on the market long enough to prove itself.
That's the real test to me, real world usage where people put real time and miles on a component to prove its durability.

 

[McDowra]

You aren't making me mad at all. I enjoy good discussion and debate.

What I mean by untested is it simply hasn't been on the market long enough to prove itself.
That's the real test to me, real world usage where people put real time and miles on a component to prove its durability.

JR

I really appreciate this attitude, too many people get upset if you don't agree with them. Keep in mind it has been on the market for 3 years, something you may not be aware of. I know this because I know the guy who designed it and I literally had the first one on my truck. Keep in mind I drive for a living and went 80k miles before I got ran over by a illegal alien.

 

[JR]

McDowra, I sincerely hope everything is ok with you.

My 16 yr old son was recently involved in a similar accident. He was ok, vehicle not so much.

That's the way it's supposed to be.

 

[tommyturbo]

The Motorcity Mechanic posted a video of installing the Geno's Turbo Actuator for the 6.7 here's a link to the video. Seems like an easy enough process.



My main complaint about the newer trucks is that things are being replaced that I never had to touch on my old 12 valve in over 25 years and 240,000 miles.

Surfbeetle.The MotorCity Mechanic shows a good way to go about replacing the actuator and checking to see if the
turbo vanes are stuck. The procedure is the same for either Gen3 or Gen 4. My '08 original turbo actuator failed a couple of weeks ago with code U010C at 160,000 miles. I looked around for good rebuilt ones and learned that they need to be calibrated after installing, so
I got calibration prices from the dealer and a third party for about $185.00. I would have to drive the truck to the dealer and leave it for a few days
or make an appointment for the third party calibrator. I checked out the half shell option A for my truck from City Diesel as not needing
calibration. It was around the same expense compared to a lower priced aftermarket plus the calibration. It looked like a good do it
yourself project. I just wanted a plug and play job in my driveway. The only hassle was the tamper resistant T20 screw head.
I recently retired and sold off all my machine tools and closed after 33 years in business. I would have put the T20 socket driver
in the lathe and drill the clearance hole. I was lucky using a small pair of vice-grips instead. The connector had shrunk and hardened from
age and I was afraid of damaging it, wound up using a few zip ties. All running good now. For those who don't exercise the turbo vanes
or use the exhaust brake often enough, this actuator will will move the vanes back and forth at start up before you drive off. A feature
I thought noteworthy. I know the City Diesel is a new product and took a chance and I will report with any problems if any
happen down the road. It is a pretty easy project for the shade tree mechanic after watching the MotorCity Mechanic video.
My $.02.
Tommyturbo

 

[EDankievitch]

Same here. I weighed the options. I needed my truck repaired fast. I was relocating and didn’t have a shop or time to waste. The write up on City Diesel was all I needed. Geno’s has NEVER let me down. Even if the product I got from them had an issue they worked with me to resolve it. In my case it was a funky pyrometer that was out of warranty. City says they did real world testing on their unit. I can attest that it works as advertised. I’m very happy an my truck is still going strong. I just want 5 more years out of it. I’m pushing 150k now. It will be 12 years old when I plan on retiring it... My 89 I owned for 11 years. The TDR and Geno’s kept her running for all 500k miles. If they say it’s a part worth looking at ... Well you get my drift. So I’m not mad. We all have our opinions. The fact that we live here in the USA allows us to have them and voice them. This worked for me and I openly share my adventures on here so others can benefit from my follies.

What does make me mad and should make every Red blooded American mad are these fools taking a Knee at the one and only thing that gives them the RIGHT to have an opinion and voice it.
Our Flag.
The symbol of our FREEDOM.

Sorry got off track.

 

[surfbeetle]

One question that I have regarding all of this is if I used the exhaust brake frequently and we also tow a 32 foot fifth wheel with the truck at which time I always use the e-brake, does this mean that I'm likely to have the actuator fail sooner or later than if the exhaust brake wasn't used? We took a 5000 mile cross country road trip this summer and the exhaust brake was used on automatic mode along with manual shifting of the auto trans. Upon our return, the dealer replaced the injection pump and exhaust manifold on it because there was excessive soot behind the tailpipe, ironically it had just passed smog a week before the road trip.

 

[EDankievitch]

One question that I have regarding all of this is if I used the exhaust brake frequently and we also tow a 32 foot fifth wheel with the truck at which time I always use the e-brake, does this mean that I'm likely to have the actuator fail sooner or later than if the exhaust brake wasn't used? We took a 5000 mile cross country road trip this summer and the exhaust brake was used on automatic mode along with manual shifting of the auto trans. Upon our return, the dealer replaced the injection pump and exhaust manifold on it because there was excessive soot behind the tailpipe, ironically it had just passed smog a week before the road trip.

No. Best thing you can do is use the engine brake each time you drive the truck. The Actuators usually fail as per City Diesel in the circuit board. The heat causes the board to develop cracks and then it fails. Using the Engine brake cycles the sleeve full stroke keeping it free an clean.

 

[Too Tall]

The exhaust brake only slides the nozzle one way (small turbine position). Going the other way (Full boost, big turbine) empty is a little more challenging unless you live next to a drag strip. ha, ha. On the 4th gens, most of the failures I hear about are actuators, not carboned up sliders. Personally, I don't think using the exhaust brake makes much difference. I think the heat failure scenario sounds pretty logical since electronics hate heat.

 

[endoscott]

My actuator failed at 75K miles, used exhaust brake it every time I drove it. Hope the turbo itself isnt next up for failure.