Viscous engine damper lifetime?

[Tuesdak]

I was looking at getting a 6.7 damper for my 5.9 engine, but, it looks like used is a bad idea as they do have a lifetime. (Aside of dents from rough handling ruining them instantly.) The most interesting part of this is the "lifetime" impression I get from Fluidamper is turning out to be false. Lifetime before rebuild of a gas engine or other non-Cummins diesel maybe.

Heavy Duty Diesel Dampers Do Wear Out

Damper questions answered: How they fail, why you should replace them

Somehow I get the feeling that Fluidamper is misleading in their FAQ page as "good for life" is not defined as engine life w/o rebuild or like the above 500,000 miles.

Is there something special I am missing allowing Fluidamper to go 500,000 plus miles - come on what's the real lifetime as in service life?

 

[seafish]

JD, thanks for posting the cool links...I didn't realize that the silicone fluid used in viscous dampers has an actaul lifespan based on hours used, or the mileage driven equivalent. However, IMHO 500k miles or 15k hours is still MUCH longer then the oem, elastomeric damper is going to last on a 5.9 ISB. It actually might even be 2 or 3 times longer, according to Chryslers' inspection criteria, for which (IIRC) it is recommended to inspect at 100k intervals for elastomeric deformities and other damper irregularities.

And while you are right that it MIGHT be misleading by Fluidampr to market their product as "lifetime", in their defense, unlike the Cummins ISB, most engines do not run even close to 500k between rebuilds, with gas engines it's much closer to 200k, if that, and in race engines even MUCH less, so for practical purposes, a Fluidamper lasts for several engine rebuils,( of course, like your other article points out, as long as you DON'T drop it during the rebuild, but that is NOT really Fluidampr's responsability, right??...lol). But also in thier defense, they sells their design for many engine applications OTHER then the Cummins ISB that CAN last 500k or MORE between rebuilds, so really it is probably more of an oversight for the FLuidampr ISB applciation, rather then being intentionally misleading on their part. And ALL that being said, even more items on your truck in general, as well as some parts on the Cummins, including the exhorbitantly overpriced common rail fuel injectors, will need to be replaced during those same 500k miles. And in fact, without adequate oem fuel filtration, the $2500 injectors will likely even need to be replaced TWICE during that same 500k miles.

Why am I saying all this??? Simply beacuse I think the Fluidampr is a solid upgrade to the oem elastomeric dampers on the 5.9 CTD. and worth what it costs. Though I DO know that one or two members here on TDR had a ticking noise that they did associate with their Fluidampr install. The ticking bothered them so much, (rightly so, by the way) that they removed the Fluidampr and installed the 6.7 ISB damper.

Personally, I am running the viscous damper from a 6.7 ISB on my 5.9 ISB. I did it that way just because, in general, I like to upgrade my 5.9 CTD with 6.7 parts whenevr plausible and cost effective, but also, becuase the 6.7 damper is actually even heavier then the Fluidampr. ALSO if you also change the fan pulley, you can still slip in a serpentine belt replacement WITHOUT removing the damper bolts, which is DEFINITELY a plus for me in the event of unforeseen roadside repairs. And in fact I HAVE had the serpentine belt FUBAR on the road, though luckily the road was still on my property, and dam close to my garage!!!

Sorry for the long wind...just my .02....again, THANKS for posting the links...the MOST important parts of which should be to encourage poeplt to actually INSPECT the dampers on their truck as routine maintenance at higher miles driven.

 

[Tuesdak]

The main point of this is the Cummins engine is well known to reach the above service life and beyond. So even the 6.7 factory installed dampers do have a lifetime that likely isn't in the manual. Overhaul engine and replace damper 500,000 miles or just replace damper? You can't inspect the silicone fluid and testing costs too much vs. new so if it isn't dented time/miles matter. This is why the post is here rather than under the 5.9mod /6.7 factory sections as it applies to both and aftermarket parts.

Agreed most of the other engines they deal with are hard pressed to get 250K miles and the rest of the vehicle is done at 250K as well. Some rare ones may make it to 1/2 mil and very rare to 1 million miles. So maybe you can send it in at engine overhaul or 500K miles for a free replacement. In that case it would be a pretty cool deal.

Link to "Though I DO know that one or two members here on TDR had a ticking noise"

That thread is exactly why I am looking at the 6.7 damper mod. Ordinarily I would have picked them first while also looking at the ATI option. The belt change issue would have had me looking hard at the ATI. Fluidamper should have visited or borrowed one of the problem trucks to solve the problem: rare or not. At least then we might know what to look for. Production tolerances and wear (or even out of tolerance but slipped by at the factory) from any of the parts, Dodge, Cummins, and/or Fluidamper can have interesting results when mixed. I am not going to let Fluidamper waste my time to see if it happens on my truck - refund of the part or not. Understandably I have got a long list of better things to do then test a damper. (And with poor premium, you can't get better parts parts, quality nowadays also a list of things to re-do due to parts failure.)

 

[WalterJ]

The Fluid Damper is so big, that it would necessitate removal to change out the serpentine belt. So, based upon the excellent TDR article referenced by Geno's Garage, I investigated the ATI-917374 @ $454 from Summit Racing [Jegs had them back ordered till?]. Two interesting parameters came to light;

1-The ATI unit is rebuildable by replacing the internal O-Rings it uses for damping, rated for 800HP & 10years,
2-It's 7.8" diameter is much smaller than OEM, thus facilitating much easier belt changes.

TDR is da bestest man!

 

[JR]

Walter, can you point me in the direction of that article? I don't remember reading that one.

Thanks!

 

[inlinesix3million]

Thanks, Walter... I was unaware of this product. 150000 mi and getting close to needing one... probably