Dumb Dodge Diesel Question

[Twmaster]

Which model Cummins engine is in the Dodge trucks? Is the same engine used in other trucks?

Just curious as I am thinking about buying a diesel pickup truck (for personal use) and am considering a Dodge.

[merkurfan]

the 12 and 24 valve cummins 5.9. it is the same as a truck 5.9 but may have slightly different computer control systems.

If you are set on buying a diesel then go for it but remember how much more diesel is than gas. Also, if you want some opinions I have a few few friends that have Dodge Rams and once they get a few miles on them, they start acting up. I just bought a Ford F-150 with the Triton 5.4 liter V8 and couldnt be happier with it. I know there are guys out there that like Chevy, Dodge, etc. but I'm just giving my 2 cents.

[Twmaster]

Well thanks for the replies so far. I'm kinda agnostic about what brand full size diesel truck I'd buy. I'd prefer a new GM truck with Diesel but I am sure a new truck is out of my budget. I have owned Ford tow trucks with the old non-turbo and the PowerStroke motors and they have run well. I have driven the GM 6.5 turbo trucks and just for use as a daily driver would be fine. Never had a Dodge. If I am going with gas it's Chevy/GMC all the way for me.

Now back to my original question as I have no intention of starting a brand war. ;)

What I mean to ask, or was not understood is what is the Cummins 'model' designation of this engine for example the description of 'ISC' or 'L10' etc.

[merkurfan]

Unless I am mistaken, they call it the 6B/5.9 ;)

I have a dodge with the 5.9 in it at home. I would *never* buy another gasser again. That old 96 1 ton 4X4 gets 22 MPG far offsetting the higher price of diesel. Plus that old dog will pull anything.

The cummins is a 300,000 mile motor and has wet sleves. I believe both the ford and gm diesels are non-sleve motors.

I only wish the Sprinter had some sort of Cummins in it. Either the 5.9 (no one would EVER complain about lack of power) for the 4BT (4 cylinder turbo diesel)

Maybe during the slow season I'll stick a 4BT in a Chevy van, they where common in the step vans and bolt right to a chevy trans. I know a guy that did it in a Ford half ton and got 45 MPG.

[D_Green]

I have a friend in the business that owns three of the Dodge 5.9's pulling goosenecks. The engines seem well built, his olser '95 is pushing 400k. They all have five or six speed manual trannys, which are the weak spot. They need rebuilding about every 100k, the syncronisers wear out, they become hard to shift. The older 5sp had some problems with 5th gear going out.

Another buddy, just purchased a new 1t crew cab, 5.9 with the new (so says Dodge) HD automatic. Only 30k miles so far, but he loves it. I will say the 2005 5.9 is a much quieter motor than the older ones.

Let us know what you decide. I've been thinking about buying a Dodge dually also, though not a new one.

My old Chevy's have done an excellent job, but the fuel mileage of the diesel is what I'm looking at. Everyone I talk to is getting around 14 loaded, 18-20 empty (with trailer).

[merkurfan]

dodge did something to them in 04 that really quited them up. The new automatic is a 5 speed I think. I wish they would just break down and use a eaton 6 speed or a allison auto. Then again, I think Ford bought Cummins so I wonder what is in the future for the dodge pickup.

[Twmaster]

The new 5 speed automatics in both Ford (IIRC it's a ZF) and GM (Alison 1000 series) are really nice trannys. Many say even better than the engines they sit behind these days.

Ford has owned a very large stake in if not all of Cummins for like 10 or 12 years IIRC. That same rumor about a Dodge and Cummins split has been floating around ever since then.

The simple fact is that International Engines and Ford have a long term deal that is not going away anytime soon. Ford vis-a-vis Cummins has a large customer in DC. Why whould they kill that cash cow?

[Uncle Truck]

The Cummins Turbo Diesel is designated B5.9 for the older 12 valve version, ISB for the newer ones with 24 valve head. I park my truck at a furniture factory that uses a bunch of dually pickups with huge trailers to deliver their goods, and they have tried them all. The Fords and Dodges have the best engines, but if doing any heavy pulling stick to standard trannies with them, the automatics tend to be troublesome. They have had the best overall performance with the GM 3500's, and they tend to favor them as the drivers like to have automatics that saty together.
As far as the Cummins engine goes, it is essentially the same one in the pickups as used in some Ford and Freightliner straight trucks, the only major difference being the ones for the big trucks have much bigger capacity oil pans. I had the B5.9 in my old FL70, and other than a few oil leaks and a few water pumps, it had no serious problems and was inexpensive to run.

Drive Safely,
UT

[D_Green]

If Mike doesn't mind a little thread drift here...

Uncle Truck, can you espouse more on the furniture delivery folks using the GM diesel/Allison combo for their trailer totin'?

Just wanting to know if they had good/bad opinions on the Isuzu diesel.

Dennis

[Uncle Truck]

I'll see if I can get more feedback on the one Chevy 3500 I know they are running when I get home this weekend. I think they just bought a brand new GM 3500 dually also.

UT

[Uncle Truck]

Here is the rundown:

The Chevy 3500 is a 2001, before they had the Isuzu/Allison combo. It has had no problems, but has done the lightest work of the trucks, basically serving as the company owner's personal vehicle and as a backup.

The Ford is a 2000, and has seen the brunt of the work. It has had no engine trouble with the Powerstroke, but is on its second automatic tranny, the first one was replaced for free under warranty. This truck travels all over the country towing a heavy trailer.

The brand new truck is a Dodge Cummins TD, just put into service. It is replacing a 1998 Dodge that had no engine problems, but went through 2 automatic trannies in 300k miles. This truck is for local/regional trailer towing.

Sorry these guys can't give any feedback on the Isuzu/Allison, but my guess is that combo is going to work great. Allison automatics are by far the best torque converter HD automatics out there, and Isuzu has always built excellent little diesels. I was a little upset to see the tilting hood on the GMC 4500 trucks does NOT help with ease of service on the new Duramax. A cutaway of the Isuzu built Duramax was at MATS, and it looks to be quite beefy for a medium duty V8 diesel.

UT

[D_Green]

Thanks, UT. I'd heard some rumors about injector problems on the first year production of the Isuzu diesel. Never a complaint on the Allison. Now, if Ford/Dodge would use the Allison...

I ran heavy equipment for many years, most used Allison trannys, for good reasons, they lasted.

I ran a UD for a couple of years, my butt still hasn't forgiven me :D Don't know if I'd want the combo in the tilt-cab.

The FL60 I have now is rough, but I remember it riding like a Caddy when I first got it..