To Cummins or not to Cummins?

[MarshRam]

Did some digging around and made an edit to my original post. Getting closer, maybe???

Do the following:

1) DPF Delete
2) Install a CCV delete/reroute kit. Will consider reroute to a catch can and ensure it is checked very frequently. Or, go with an exhaust reroute kit.
3) Change oil every 6 months, or around 3-4K miles, whichever comes first.
4) Habitually warm the truck in forced high idle mode for a few minutes before taking those small trips every time.
5) Preferably weekly, but no less than every two weeks, just take it for that 45 minute highway drive. For 6 to 8 month out of the year, I do typically take a 1 hour drive each way every week to one of our favorite beaches, but much of the trip is at an average of 50-55mph with just about 10 minutes at 75mph and another 15 minutes doing about 35mph. This is real borderline here and I don't think it fully fits the weekly "Italian tune-up". I'll would need to pay attention to my temps here to see what happens. Otherwise, I just need to go for that highway drive.

I'm glad I'm on this early so I can really think about this before pulling the trigger early next year. I may just end up with a 6.4 and If I end up putting 500K miles or more on it, then I'll just live with the potential of replacing an engine and tranny or two along the way. Not preferred though.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Did some digging around and made an edit to my original post. Getting closer, maybe???

Do the following:

1) DPF Delete
2) Install a CCV delete/reroute kit. Will consider reroute to a catch can and ensure it is checked very frequently. Or, go with an exhaust reroute kit.
3) Change oil every 6 months, or around 3-4K miles, whichever comes first.
4) Habitually warm the truck in forced high idle mode for a few minutes before taking those small trips every time.
5) Preferably weekly, but no less than every two weeks, just take it for that 45 minute highway drive. For 6 to 8 month out of the year, I do typically take a 1 hour drive each way every week to one of our favorite beaches, but much of the trip is at an average of 50-55mph with just about 10 minutes at 75mph and another 15 minutes doing about 35mph. This is real borderline here and I don't think it fully fits the weekly "Italian tune-up". I'll would need to pay attention to my temps here to see what happens. Otherwise, I just need to go for that highway drive.

I'm glad I'm on this early so I can really think about this before pulling the trigger early next year. I may just end up with a 6.4 and If I end up putting 500K miles or more on it, then I'll just live with the potential of replacing an engine and tranny or two along the way. Not preferred though.

Do you honestly think high idle from a cold start is a good thing for any engine's longevity?

Lot of stuff to try and make that square peg fit...

 

[Islander39er]

You are worrying about the heart of someone whose dreams are about running marathons ….. but who sits in the recliner almost exclusively and watches TV.
The answer is “Yes”…. his heart is likely to fail…. Not because heart muscle cannot do the job…. but because the arteries which feed that heart can not stand that level of activity.

Diesels are capable of hard work and longevity…as long as they are used for that purpose.

A gasser is better-suited to what you describe you intend….and cheaper to re-build if you ever wear it out.

100%

 

[MarshRam]

Do you honestly think high idle from a cold start is a good thing for any engine's longevity?

Lot of stuff to try and make that square peg fit...

I don't know? I definitely don't do that to my HEMI, but all I know is HEMI. If doing that once or twice a week is detrimental, then no, I wouldn't do it. So is it implied everything else combined I mentioned is worthless in mitigating such issues? It may just boil down to I drive it once a week as intended. It will not be a daily driver at all, I have other vehicles. However, if I only do a once a week drive, I need to see if that is sufficient to avoid fuel degradation and clogging filter/destroying pump. I would think once a week might be just fine, but I'm not sure. I'm in FL, so lots of humidity.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I don't know? I definitely don't do that to my HEMI, but all I know is HEMI. If doing that once or twice a week is detrimental, then no, I wouldn't do it. So is it implied everything else combined I mentioned is worthless in mitigating such issues? It may just boil down to I drive it once a week as intended. It will not be a daily driver at all, I have other vehicles. However, if I only do a once a week drive, I need to see if that is sufficient to avoid fuel degradation and clogging filter/destroying pump. I would think once a week might be just fine, but I'm not sure. I'm in FL, so lots of humidity.

Best of luck.

 

[MarshRam]

Best of luck.

LOL Doc, thanks!

 

[06 Dodge]

Did some digging around and made an edit to my original post. Getting closer, maybe???

Do the following:

1) DPF Delete
2) Install a CCV delete/reroute kit. Will consider reroute to a catch can and ensure it is checked very frequently. Or, go with an exhaust reroute kit.
3) Change oil every 6 months, or around 3-4K miles, whichever comes first.
4) Habitually warm the truck in forced high idle mode for a few minutes before taking those small trips every time.
5) Preferably weekly, but no less than every two weeks, just take it for that 45 minute highway drive. For 6 to 8 month out of the year, I do typically take a 1 hour drive each way every week to one of our favorite beaches, but much of the trip is at an average of 50-55mph with just about 10 minutes at 75mph and another 15 minutes doing about 35mph. This is real borderline here and I don't think it fully fits the weekly "Italian tune-up". I'll would need to pay attention to my temps here to see what happens. Otherwise, I just need to go for that highway drive.

I'm glad I'm on this early so I can really think about this before pulling the trigger early next year. I may just end up with a 6.4 and If I end up putting 500K miles or more on it, then I'll just live with the potential of replacing an engine and tranny or two along the way. Not preferred though.

By using a quality 5w40 oil a Cummins should easily be able to go 10K or 1 year oil change intervals, doing so an oil change every 3-4 K would be a big waste of money, as for warming it up in cold weather they come with a block heart, put it on a timer for it to come on 2-4 hours before you plan the first start up of the day, yes block heater do help speed engine warm up time. Yes taking 45 minute drives several times a week should help keep the DPF happy, their be no need to drive X number of minutes at 75 and then another number of minutes at 55, btw I'm speaking as an owner of a 22 Cummins so I have a good idea of what it takes to keep my DPF happy...

 

[MarshRam]

Thanks @06 Dodge . I live in FL, so I don't think the block heater is going to serve much purpose, maybe just for a couple months during the winter season. DPF will be deleted, regardless if I'm driving it as it should or not. I just feel it would make sense to do those oil changes more often, strictly because of potential moisture buildup. Then maybe there is some help from a lift pump/fuel air separator to aid with the moisture problem in fuel area. Also, it wouldn't be hard for me to just keep the tank topped off all the time and drain the WIF separator as needed. The crappy thing about all this, is as soon as I move to my next home, all of this goes away. I'll be farther from town and will be on property doing projects where the truck will get it's use there and in a longer commute. +++ for even a few years down the line, where traveling around more often will be in the life experience. I just don't know when or even if this mortgage environment is going to get better for my last and final move to make sense. Could be a year, could be 5 years, could be never. If never, I'm pulling the trigger regardless, but that would be more like a 3-5 year out plan. In the meantime, I'm looking at every way to mitigate until then.

Thanks for bringing up the block heater though, I hadn't known of that. May not be super beneficial to me, but could for someone else looking at this topic. Not a single person has mentioned anything about what I edited in my original post as mitigation options, except for high idle, at least it was implied as not a good idea and the information was much appreciated. If all of it is pointless, then everyone can just say, people are wasting there money on all of it and all that info you pulled from years of posts on this forum is nonsense talk. I wish everyone would quit thinking this is some sort of wet dream I'm having or something. Maybe my lifelong approach of setting my future self up and "problems are opportunities for solutions" is not serving me well here. Thanks again!

 

[Gr8bawana]

I don't know? I definitely don't do that to my HEMI, but all I know is HEMI. If doing that once or twice a week is detrimental, then no, I wouldn't do it. So is it implied everything else combined I mentioned is worthless in mitigating such issues? It may just boil down to I drive it once a week as intended. It will not be a daily driver at all, I have other vehicles. However, if I only do a once a week drive, I need to see if that is sufficient to avoid fuel degradation and clogging filter/destroying pump. I would think once a week might be just fine, but I'm not sure. I'm in FL, so lots of humidity.

 

[MarshRam]

MarshRam, If you're going to do it anyway, now that you know the good and *potential* bad's, it's probably a matter of planning your days/drives to ensure you get it out on the hwy periodically for somewhat longer drives to keep the engine healthy. Maybe that incudes taking it to truck shows/cruises/cars&coffee, a bit further away on weekends to show off your mods. Or visiting friends/family a little further away a little more often. Or taking that little-longer drive to visit/see some local sites in some other state you've been 'thinking' about doing someday ...with your significant other/kids or whatever.

Whatever it look like...if you can weave a few longer drives 1/2hr+ (and a few even longer than that once in a while) between those short trips, you should be ok.

@Jeepwalker If the consensus is, I can do a once in a week sufficient trip + do everything else I mentioned, I'm good with that. I'd just like to know what the general consensus is, "I'll more than likely be very good", never any guarantees from anyone, I understand. It's all about if these mitigation efforts make sense and the "consensus" is, your probably good to go! Thank you for your input. I have no problem heading out once a week for whatever and ditching the projects I put myself thru for a day. That's how I can force myself to take a break and have a great excuse for it! If that is what I need to do, it wasn't part of the future routine plans, but so be it. In hindsight, it actually sounds easier and more enjoyable than half the routine maintenance I looked up to mitigate. LOL. I've been here ten years now and learned so much about my HEMI's, it has paid off beyond explanation. I appreciate the help with my illiteracy and dive into a new venture.

 

[MarshRam]

If you buy new or nearly new, might be worthwhile to shoot for a lifetime powertrain warranty deal since you plan to keep it a while. Considering the cost of maintenance, might realy pay off in your case.

I'm an honest person, go as far as refraining from screwing people who screw everyone over at every opportunity. But, this is a genius solution. I never buy absolutely brand new and always try to avoid buying from a dealership. But, I do buy close to new and could consider the warranty route, and if I have to buy the vehicle from a dealership for some extra $$, it is what it is. I could skip all aforementioned mods and purchase a warranty. If something goes wrong, it get's fixed with the money I put in the warranty and not the mods. That actually might be cheaper. I'm going to throw this in the contemplation bucket and explore my moralmeter and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

OP, gas truck for what you intend to use it for. Can’t say I know anyone who has kept a vehicle for 40yrs, much less put 1 million miles on it. But, it’s your money.

 

[jejb]

I'm an honest person, go as far as refraining from screwing people who screw everyone over at every opportunity. But, this is a genius solution. I never buy absolutely brand new and always try to avoid buying from a dealership. But, I do buy close to new and could consider the warranty route, and if I have to buy the vehicle from a dealership for some extra $$, it is what it is. I could skip all aforementioned mods and purchase a warranty. If something goes wrong, it get's fixed with the money I put in the warranty and not the mods. That actually might be cheaper. I'm going to throw this in the contemplation bucket and explore my moralmeter and see what happens. Thanks!

The Mopar extended warranty does not cover the DPF's. If you go aftermarket for a warranty contract, read the fine print carefully.