the three+ decades old yet ---STILL--- currently produced 6.5 L turbo diesel is still the bread winner here. updated versions of the internal block using modern metallurgy are still being manufactured for US military applications and requires zero electronics (very durable for EMP). it's actually a direct injection application, even though it's mechanical. it uses only gears for timing if outfitted with a 1993 or prior mechanical stanadyne injection pump-which was a stock application. (1994 and later models use an electric timing sensor to fine tune the injection but can be easily deleted if retrofitted using a prior pump). these modern blocks drop directly into 90's - early 00's Chevy and gmc 6.5 TD platforms. they also (obviously) power military vehicles such as hummers. (they also don't use any crazy over complicated BS like what you find in the 80's Cummins oil-pressure driven injection system.... that always breaks. this is purely mechanical)
even though it's direct injection, you can run it off of anything that an earlier indirect would burn (hot oil, bio-diesel, etc), as it was a stepping-stone to the current computer controlled sissy models. IMHO, it's the best of both worlds, and is one of the reasons why we still use it in combat to this day.
delete the glow plug system with a driver activated switch and maintain a spare of the little lift pump (that is easy accessible Under the drivers door), you have a 99% strictly mechanical vehicle... I mean, you still need an AM radio. 🤣
Thank you for this info. I'm a dieselhead, but focus on what I own or have owned. Now I need to expand my future quests.
Well said John_Galt. Awesome that you bring up the 6.5TD, I have a 3/4 ton extended cab with 8' box 1993 GMC Sierra with the 6.5TD with mechanical DB2 injection pump as my emergency EMP proof BUGOUT vehicle, no sissy unreliable electronics. I designed a liquid to air intercooler system for it and I rebuilt the turbocharger with a larger compressor wheel C&C cut out of a solid block of billet aluminum. You would have appreciated to see it before I installed it, it was so perfect looking and it glittered brightly in the sunlight. It is so perfectly weighted that it has no ground out areas to balance it like the OEM cast aluminum low efficiency compressor wheels, and it is completely quiet, you only hear the rush of air in the manifold on acceleration. It is also equipped with the Duramax plastic radiator fan for improved cooling. Turbo manifold pressure is set at 16 PSI and is equipped with marine fuel injectors. Its really great on fuel millage, much better than my Duramax by at least 5 miles per gallon even though the 1993 has a real frame not welded sheet metal that weighs much more than the Sierra with the Duramax. I have owned Fords and Dodges in my early driving years with diesels and find that this 93 Sierra is the most reliable vehicle that I have ever owned. It is in excellent condition, the body gets oil sprayed once a year.
Although I don't drive it much anymore I still take it out once a week to keep the batteries well charged never know when I will really need it.
The 6.5TD has been much maligned over the years with issues dealing with cracks in the blocks and cylinder heads, but as you point out the improved metallurgy of today makes them very reliable and durable. Some of these older engines that are still being used obviously never had any of these problems. The 93 versions of the 6.5 seem to still be kicking around, just guessing that it may be that they used different metallugy that year which unexpectedly made them more reliable. I was amazed when I met a farmer in Indiana a few years ago that had this great looking 1993 similar to mine that had over 600,000 miles on it and told me that it was the original 6.5TD that came with the truck and he only used Amsoil synthetic in it and used Stanadyne with Lucas lubricant in the fuel for the injection pump. What was more incredible is that he had only changed the fuel injectors once and of course the glow plugs, but that little DB2 Stanadyne injection pump was original, never rebuilt! Anyway, thanks for letting me share.
Recommendations for Toyota diesel - America and German suck
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