Will a 10 mile commute kill a diesel?

wilber1 wrote:
I don't think lubrication is the real issue. Oil needs time at full operating temperature to get rid of moisture. This is true of all engines but the diesel has more mass to get up to temperature and more oil to heat when it gets there. Any damage would be internal corrosion over an extended period.

Also, the new trucks need some highway time to keep the DPF clean and avoid frequent regens. My truck probably spends 70% of its time towing and in 35,000 KM, I have yet to see a regen.

As to your original question, I don't think you would "kill" a diesel but it isn't the best way to operate one.

I would like to point out a couple of things. Ford and Chev don't make a manual transmission in a 3/4 or one ton truck so that leaves only the RAM Cummins diesel. In the paper version of the owners manual it states that if you do not use full synthetic 5W40 oil below -18C engine damage will occur.

While the Cummins engine is in "regen" there is no direct indication other than the fuel burn drastically reduced, if you have an EGT gauge you will see the increased exhaust temps displayed there. During regen exhaust gas is recirculated back into the intake just before the grid heater, if the engine is not at operating temp during regen that recirculated exhaust gas also contains unburnt diesel fuel which eventually runs down the cylinder walls and dilutes the oil causing the engine to "make oil" this unburnt fuel also runs back down the boost tube and collects at the exit to the precooler. Anyone start to see any problem yet?

If it's cold out the grid heaters will be on causing the unburnt fuel to become balls of hard carbon, these balls continue to grow in size until they can't get through the grid heater and then reduce the amount of airflow allowed into the engine. If a hard enough piece manages to get through the grid and out into the exhaust in one piece it can damage the turbo. Our 2011 3500 manual trans truck which was only driven on the hiway while towing at least 8000lb cargo trailer and often much heavier goose trailers even with a fast idle, winter front, synthetic oil, had problems from new. Oil change messages at 1500km and the oil so overfull and diluted with diesel fuel you wouldn't believe unless you saw it. The truck was forever at the dealer with exhaust codes, they changed a few O2 sensors but this is no way to treat a $15,000 engine if you have to replace it.

The truck would barely run in the end and the huge truck dealer here was no help. With about 30,000km on the truck I decided to tear it apart and document with pictures what I found. After my work the truck ran great and oil changes were in the range they should be with no oil dilution. The price was loss of warranty at 30,000km. I showed the pictures to the service manager, he was not surprised at all so he must have already seen this many times before yet would do nothing to correct it. I honestly don't think it was the dealer or the service manager, I think this came from Chrysler. They know the problem exists but the fix was the addition of DEF on the 2013 truck. I love the Ram trucks especially the 2013 with the Aisin trans but people need to know exactly what they are getting into before buying a Cummins powered truck and Chrysler won't tell you neither will the sales person.