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Old 10-21-2013, 08:40 PM   #1
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Diesel - whats a lot of miles?

I have loved my Winne Adventurer. But got the chance to drive a DPusher (2005 Journey) with 50k miles on it. Of course the sales man said " that engine isn't even broken in yet". Advice: what is a lot of miles for a a DPusher Engine? Given all thing a equal about maintenance.
I just can't get that smooth ride out of my mind.
Thoughts?
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Old 10-21-2013, 08:43 PM   #2
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Trucking companies usually start trading in their big rigs right at 480,000 miles. And that is more for the truck body issues, not mechanical.
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Old 10-21-2013, 08:45 PM   #3
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It depends on how well it was maintained. If it has service records than 50k is nothing. I bought mine with 100k on it and it runs fantastic.
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Old 10-21-2013, 08:51 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by 92TNTRacing View Post
It depends on how well it was maintained. If it has service records than 50k is nothing. I bought mine with 100k on it and it runs fantastic.
This is the key. If you are serious then ask to have an engine oil and a transmission fluid sample pulled and sent for analysis. Does it have the Cummins ISB or the Cat C7?
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Old 10-21-2013, 09:04 PM   #5
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FWIW- I purchased mine with just under 75k miles, I currently have 81+K and she's running just fine!
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Old 10-22-2013, 06:22 AM   #6
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Bought mine new and now has 183,000 miles. Runs better than the day I took it home.
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Old 10-22-2013, 06:45 AM   #7
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As others have said... Depends on which engine you're looking at.

If ISB, Is it a 5.9 ltr or the 6.7? Either of these you should easily get over 300k miles of reliable service in a motorhome.

If C series. Well up until about 2004, Cummins built all C series engines with an expected service life of 1 million miles. In 2004 (if I recall), they decided that it didn't make sense to build a million mile engine if the vehicles they were going into could only go 500k. So today the C series engines have an expected service life of 500k miles.

Again, oil analysis will reveal a lot. If properly maintained, you'll wear the coach out before you wear out the engine.
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Old 10-22-2013, 07:13 AM   #8
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One more note...

I purchased my old 93 Navigator with 120k miles. It is now almost 150k and still running strong.

If what my friends at Cummins told me about the million mile service life is correct... I'll wear out long before my engines does.

Seriously, do an oil analysis on the engine. While you're at it, also test the transmission fluid. The transmission is more likely to fail than the Diesel engine.

I have no hard data on the expected life of an Allison transmission, but Internet searching has revealed something in the neighborhood of 175k-200k miles. With that said I've heard tales of well maintained transmissions failing at 150k. Conversely, I read about one Allison 3000 series transmission that went over 300k in a garbage truck. That's hard duty for an automatic transmission. Then others will say "... Run Transynd and keep the fluid changed and it will run forever."

As you can see, transmission longevity is all over the board.
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Old 10-22-2013, 07:37 AM   #9
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As others have said before me, proper and timely maintenance is the key. If all was done when it needed to be done, a diesel engine will last over 500,000 miles and even then, if it is a premium engine with wet sleeve cylinder liners, it can be completely rebuilt to like new specifications and run another 500,000+ miles before it may need a second overhaul. I have a friend in trucking who had his Cummins overhauled for the first time 3 years ago at 1.3 million miles. He's still on the road hauling from coast to coast.

Should you make the decision to buy, it is essential to obtain the previous owners service records. Without that information, you'll never know if all the services took place when needed or for that matter, if they ever took place at all. If the records are nonexistant, you're taking a blind chance regardless of anything that may be said by the salesman or previous owner.
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Old 10-22-2013, 09:57 AM   #10
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Seeing all the recommendations for engine oil/trans fluid analysis, can anyone recommend a company who does this? Costs?

I may very well do this over the winter just for peace of mind.
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Old 10-22-2013, 10:09 AM   #11
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Seeing all the recommendations for engine oil/trans fluid analysis, can anyone recommend a company who does this? Costs? I may very well do this over the winter just for peace of mind.
I use JG Lube Services for my transmission fluid analysis. Go over to the Allison forum and subscribe to the thread authored by Tom Johnson. Tom is a retired Allison engineer and he wrote the specification for Transynd (TES295). Tom runs JG Lube and if you post your results over there he will give you a personal evaluation. You can also email him anytime with questions.

I have used Blackstone for engine oil in the past but will probably switch to JG just for simplicity. Polaris is another respected fluids lab.
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Old 10-22-2013, 12:09 PM   #12
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+1 for JG Lube Services.
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Old 10-23-2013, 08:42 AM   #13
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Wow, great info thanks gentlemen!
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Old 10-24-2013, 06:50 PM   #14
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I bought my WB Journey new in 2007 (Cat C-7 350 hp engine) and currently have 60K miles on it. Around 55K miles I noticed a bit more power and a definite increase in mpg, I'm averaging an additional 1 to 1.5 mpg now. I'm thinking the engine has fully broken in now.

We're happy we bought the DP and expect long service from the powertrain.

Best Regards!
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Old 10-24-2013, 06:54 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 92TNTRacing View Post
It depends on how well it was maintained. If it has service records than 50k is nothing. I bought mine with 100k on it and it runs fantastic.

Yep, spot on. Maintenance is everything....
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Old 11-03-2013, 08:37 PM   #16
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For fluid testing I would use Blackstone Labs. You can get their info on line. Just Google Blackstone Labs in the search bar. I used them for my 7.3 Ford and was happy with their service.
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Old 11-03-2013, 08:51 PM   #17
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[QUOTE=bjsweeney;1775800]

Advice: what is a lot of miles for a a DPusher Engine?

QUOTE]

1,000,000,000 miles but even then you still have a lot of miles left in the engine.

Proper maintenance and preventative maintenance is the key to a million mile rig.

Dr4Film ----- Richard
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Old 11-04-2013, 05:33 AM   #18
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Quote:
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For fluid testing I would use Blackstone Labs. You can get their info on line. Just Google Blackstone Labs in the search bar. I used them for my 7.3 Ford and was happy with their service.
Blackstone Lab is a good testing facility but I would like to submit another possibility also.

JG Lube Services is owned by Tom Johnson who is a poster over on the Allison forum. When you get your test results if you post it over there, Tom will give you his analysis. This is of course on the transmission fluid. Tom wrote the Allison fluid specification before he retired from Allison.

I have also used Blackstone in the past but with Tom's participation in the forum I have changed to JG for my fluid testing.
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Old 11-04-2013, 12:37 PM   #19
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[QUOTE=Dr4Film;1792814]
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjsweeney View Post

Advice: what is a lot of miles for a a DPusher Engine?

QUOTE]

1,000,000,000 miles but even then you still have a lot of miles left in the engine.

Proper maintenance and preventative maintenance is the key to a million mile rig.

Dr4Film ----- Richard
Whoa! You have three too many zeroes there. I think you meant that 1 million miles is the life of a diesel, but certainly not 1 billion miles!
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Old 11-04-2013, 01:49 PM   #20
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1 Billion miles.

I have a new goal!
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