Finally got my own truck

So let me get this straight...... I remember back then when the OP started this thread....... I gave you somewhat of a hard time. You was about to get into this business and was looking up the the op. You even had your own ideas which lanes to run. Anyways.... you seem to have Everything lined up. Even a truck. Question; did you take this truck you have now to a reliable shop to have oil analysis done and have them check it all out before you bought it ? You just said the oil level was high that got your attention, but I assume you knew something was wrong BUT.... the low price would be fair enough that if it did need major engine work, the money that it cost you and you was saving would balance out with a rebuilt done the road. Anyways..... I know a friend that had a similar situation as yourself and did the same thing. But his was backwards. Oil in the water and he would flush it every month(ran locally) and ran it like that for a year until he bought a newer truck.... and guess what he bought..... an international with a Maxxforce.....lol.. he said he couldn’t pass up the deal..and most of us know about those engines.

 

Well that depends on what the long term prospects of the truck are. Also, whatever you dump in you won’t get back. If you plan on dumping it soon then it doesn’t make sense to drop too much into it, unless you keep it as a spare.

 

OH SNAP! forget that...

I decided to go the immigrant/pilgrim way. pull myself by my bootstraps and get a straight-up paid off truck...then deal with whatever is thrown my way.

I only run friday pm ---> monday pm 2 X 1,200 miles round trip runs with "10hr breaks in between" on paper logs. I commit 36hrs to each run which nets me $4000 after fuel/tolls.

I plan to ride to the ground...so I'm kinda inclined to fix her

That's my line of thinking too. She rides good, rebuilt tranny @500K, new turbo @600K, body is good, she pulls good.

Oil pressure holding at 40-45psi on cruise, even after 1200 miles fuel dilution.

 

I actually did not have a truck/lane when @BoyWander started....I was just watching from afar.

I now have my own MC and paid off truck.

To answer your question: Did I take it to a reputable shop/oil analysis? - no...I know, I know...lol ...It only cost me $12K and it came with a stack of maintenance records showing no expenses spared. Oh, and I'm not making excuses, I knew I was getting an older truck, that would cost me $ some day.

It's all a question of how much I will ALLOW it cost me.

If It was a $20K+ truck, then I would have gone all out with dyno/oil sample/etc

I knew someone (you) will pinch my ears at some point...it's all good....hahaha

I have a friend whose more comfortable with working on trucks than I am. He is willing to help me do the job (pull the head out, have it welded & machined, then re-install it, do the overhead). I'm mulling on it (growing another pair)

He says early Volvo D12's were easy to work on just like Detroit S60's.

 

I'll tell you a horror story. The owner of a shop I would goto. Had a truck puts a new head on it, it didn't seat right, guy comes back. His mechanic didn't check the block. It wasnt level/even so the new head didn't fix the problem.

 

WOWZER!!!!

 

Nax, I think Boywander asked if you got your own thread, not because he was interested in that, but because he wanted you to GTFO from his lol

 

I suspected that.....lmao

but...

he may also benefit from this stuff, coz his truck is piling miles by the thousands per week.

he's already done injector cups...

 

Another option. Get an oem service manual for the engine and replace the head yourself. Heads are relatively easy to replace especially when you have a manual that basically give you step by step instructions. Wont require any overly expensive specialty tools other than a torque wrench, and you can rent one of them.

Also consider doing an inframe on it. 75% of the work of an inframe is getting the head off and back on. Other than that it's basically just rolling bearings in and pushing liners out.