5.9 24V Cummins Question

So i am looking to purchase this 2001 Cummins 5.9L 24V and it has 190K miles on it. I have had mixed reveiws about if i should do it or not. I was told that anything under 200K is just breaking in the motor. Is this true?? Can you guys help me so i know a little bit more about what i am getting myself into?

Drove a '99 for three months, it had around 170K on it, no problems except the battery posts needed cleaning up.

R.

thank you for your input!! I will take that into consideration when i go look at the truck in person!

Valves should have been adjusted @ 150,000 miles. The lift pump is a weak point. Check if an aftermarket solution has been installed, Vulcan, FASS or Airdog, all upgrades over the factory pump.

Battery cables are expensive, check condition. Check dash carefully for cracks or a cover. Another EXPENSIVE fix.

Mines at 128,000, been through all but the valve adjustment.

Robert

Just like anything else in life...it all depends on how it has been treated by the PO. But first you should realize that a diesel truck is best used for accumulating a lot of miles in steady use and 190,000 miles in 13 years is only 14,610 miles per year and that is not good for it. Now maybe this was owned by a snowbird that used it to pull a 5th wheel to AZ or FL and then parked it for 6 months at a time and that might be all right...but not if they used it as a daily driver for a 5 day a week 10 mile commute BTW most Cummins will run 300K to 500K before overhauls with regular (expensive) maintenance.

Why do you need a diesel? They are more expensive to purchase and maintain than a gas rig, but make up for it in longevity and brute strength. But there is no reason to own a locomotive just to make trips to the local 7/11

01-02 are the best years, check to see if the injectors were changed or have had maintenance on them. I blew up 2 common rail Cummins engines due to injector neglect. Have the rear end and trans checked as the Cummins engine puts out enough torque to make those parts the weak point. If an automatic check the overdrive out, if a 4x4 check the transfer case and have a good look at the fluid in it.

I've got a 2001 245hp 6 speed 4x4 with 240000Km on it.

Overall it is a very good truck. As said, if the lift pump is still an original style (on the engine block) it will fail (if it hasn't already) and should be replaced with an aftermarket such as FASS or AirDog. The truck will still run with a failed lift pump, but it will destroy the injection pump due to lack of lubrication(expensive!).

The sure grip diff (if equipped) is a weak point as well. Mine is completely worn and makes some noise. Eaton has a Truetrac available for it.

Cracked dash is another expensive fix, and they all seem to break.

The turbo wastegate may seize and cause overboost defuelling (loss of power) if the truck is from the snowbelt.

Aluminum wheels are known to crack around the inner bead(as mine did).

Rusty door bottoms are very common.

Other than expensive regular maintenance, and the odd wheel bearing and U-joint, mine has been very reliable and tows great.

Dave

Most have already covered all the weak points of these years. Lift pump and or injection pump is a biggy. Even though I don't think I have abused my truck (2002 HO with 6spd manual, 2wd - only 61k miles on it now - owned since new), I still had to do the lift pump @ 40k miles and the injection pump. I am pretty nutso about maintenance. . . so other than that, the truck has been flawless . . . if you are getting to tow, you can't go wrong. Just make sure it is checked out thoroughly. Also can go to the dodge truck forum to see other issues . . .

Good luck

Cheers

Mark

As stated by others, lift pump and VP-44 injection pump are weak points. Many improvements have been made here over the years for replacements. 01 and 02 should be new enough to not be a 53 block which had a problem with cracking on the water jackets. Engine is built solid. Need clean air into the motor as they were a little susceptible to upper end problems. As long as these are understood, these motors /can/will pull for a long long time. Nothing like a good diesel setup for running on the road. Peak torque is right where you are driving!!

with most of what has been stated by others. The engine itself I would not worry too much about. It its no big deal for them to go over several hundred thousand miles if maintained. Remember, you are still bying a truck with almost 200K on it. So dont be surprised if it needs some work. Most people that buy them dont generally use them to run to the grocery store, they work the hell out of them. This takes its toll on the truck. The stuff you are going have problems with are going to be with the truck itself and the fuel injection system. Lately I have been seeing more and more ECM, sensor, and wiring issues as these trucks age. That used to not be the issue but nothing lasts forever. Good luck.

check to see if there has been a gooseneck hookup in it, if there is or was one then there's no telling what it has pulled

after having owned one with that kind of mileage on it, all I'll say is expect a lot of minor repairs that will add up.

Good place to lurk for Cummins info.

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/

If it's a 4x4, see if the front end has been rebuilt. I just did mine at 140k. Steering box and everything. It now drives better than new. The factory steering components were sealed other than the upper ball joints.

Bought my 02 4wd with 50k miles & drove it for another 100k. Great
truck that could get 20mpg on the highway & towed like a dream.
Here's some advice I learned the hard (expensive), way:
1. Don't tow in overdrive & you can, upgrade your trans for towing.
2. Don't use a first gen Edge EZ controller. After 3 yrs, mine shorted
out the PCM which took out the ECM, the injection pump & the lift pump.
Dodge employee cost was $7k to fix, so I sold it & built this...
(maybe one day, it'll get a cummins)
3. As others advised, weak link is the lift pump, so do some research
& upgrade to one of the good systems that are out there.
Oil changes are expensive & brake jobs, too, but the Cummins will outlast just about anything if well maintained.

Quote:

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Bought my 02 4wd with 50k miles & drove it for another 100k. Great
truck that could get 20mpg on the highway & towed like a dream.
Here's some advice I learned the hard (expensive), way:
1. Don't tow in overdrive & you can, upgrade your trans for towing.
2. Don't use a first gen Edge EZ controller. After 3 yrs, mine shorted
out the PCM which took out the ECM, the injection pump & the lift pump.
Dodge employee cost was $7k to fix, so I sold it & built this...
(maybe one day, it'll get a cummins)
3. As others advised, weak link is the lift pump, so do some research
& upgrade to one of the good systems that are out there.
Oil changes are expensive & brake jobs, too, but the Cummins will outlast just about anything if well maintained.

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If you just use common sense you can tow in OD with no problems.
I have put tons of miles towing a 34' 16k pound 5th wheel and a 32' 12k pound enclosed race car trailer all over with zero problems out of trans.
Only time you need to take it out of OD is if it starts to shift hunt back and forth.