Looking for advice on inspection of a pre used truck before buying

Many other dealers have dino. + eng. repair shops have them also call around city where you are buying, while its on dino truck is put under load like its pulling a load up hill, you cant do this bobtail, they will give you print out with Horse power to ground and blow by that will tell of piston wear, after finished they can tell if eng. can be run or will need overhaul soon?

 

For the most serious stuff, if you wanna call it, put it on the dyno, check for blowby in the oil fill tube. Inspect the whole front end suspension/steering of the truck and rear as well. Check the turbo shaft for any excessive play. You can't always rely on an oil analysis because they might've did an oil change prior to you checking it. Make sure the air/brake system is good with no leaks anywhere. Oil leaks around the engine, rear ends. Fifth wheel/components.

 

I presume you allready have the VIN?Go to your local Freightliner dealer and have them look in the Freightliner computer.That might give you more info then going to the truck.Manufacturers keep a LOT off data these days.

 

Once it's warm take the oil fill cap off and feel for blow by.

 

The more blow-by, air pushing out of the oil fill hole, the worse the shape the rings are in. You want less blow by. You want to let the engine warm up, when it's cold there will be less blow by.

 

Since nobody has said it yet I guess I will. Unless you are forced to run California why bother with an emissions truck period? Just going to equal thousands more out of your pocket both in depreciation and repairs. I would look for a truck with pre egr Detroit series 60, N14 or Cat 3406