Tim,
Good job on explaining the 'fleet' perspective on modern diesel trucks. It's all in the maintenance numbers. I bought my 2001.5 Dodge Cummins 5.9HO truck new, as I had a feeling the engine would outlive me. At the time, many were hot rodding their CTD's with wires, huge turbos and big injectors to get more power. I decided in the long run that was a mistake for longevity so left the engine essentially alone. The former 5.9 low output Cummins engines, also called Gen I's, have been faithful performers even with their stock, mechanically injected, smog device free, 160 to 190 HP limit. Those were essentially 'detuned' so as not to destroy the tinky Mopar automatic transmissions and running gear of the era. Those will be the only ones running come the EMP. But most of these have a LOT miles on them and get dirtier, and lifetime is reduced when you hot rod them, so they are fading from the scene. Which brings me to the Gen II motors, which in the 2001-2002 HO mode have 245 HP and 505 # feet of TQ. With a heavy load, it is just enough power. Being 24-valved, they run cleaner than the earlier Gen I's, with only a 3" exhaust, resonator, and stock muffler.
I can report these issues and addendum with the 5.9L HO Cummins @ 164K miles:
replaced lift pump with a pusher in front of the fuel tank instead of the factory sucker-on-engine a couple times, purely as preventative not on failure.
added a fuel pressure idiot light, which comes when you turn on the ignition switch or if the fuel pressure drops below 5 pounds.
an aftermarket 4" exhaust and free flow muffler with resonator delete after the salts and soda of the Mojave Road ate my factory exhaust system. The resonator was not part of the smog system and not required for a smog test.
Replacement aftermarket air cleaner.
added a short tube on the waste gate to make the turbo wind up at a lower rpm.
new fuel gauge sending unit in the tank.
I have run out of fuel twice. Both times I had to prime the fuel filter and do a few on-offs with the ignition switch to get the air out of the system.
That's it. It's not a 53 block. I still have the original VP-44 injector pump and it seems fine using Diesel Service injector cleaner every other tank.
It truly has been the most trouble free machine I've ever driven.
You learn to deal with the low power, compared to the newest diesels, especially with the 6 speed manual trans which will get me in the correct gear for the power band in almost every circumstance.
I bought this truck with the hope that it would outlive me. So far so good.
jefe
'01.5 Dodge 2500 4x4, CTD, Qcab, SB, NV5600, 241HD, 4.10's, Dana 70/TruTrac; Dana 80/ TruTrac, Spintec hub conversion, H.D. susp, 315/75R16's on 7.5" and 10" wide steel wheels, Vulcan big line, Warn M15K winch '98 Lance Lite 165s, 8' 6" X-cab, 200w Solar