LONG LIVE the 6.5
FOLLOW THE Maintenance guide
Keeping your 6.5 Liter Detroit Turbo Diesel alive
Maintaining The 6.5
The 6.5 is EXTREMELY sensitive to overheating - despite GM’s incredibly bad decision to put the temperature gauge “Red Line” near the end of the scale, the reality anything beyond 210 degreesis harmful to this 6.5.
- Engine Oil and Filter
- Every 3000 miles religiously, even if a synthetic is used.
- Fuel Filter
- Change element every 6,000 miles or once every 6 months. Drain moisture/sediment (one pint) every 2 weeks in winter, otherwise monthly is ok.
- CDR Valve
- Replace every 30,000 miles.
- Injectors
- Replace every 100,000 miles. I recommend our Marine Injectors for more hp and better mileage
- Glow Plugs and Relay/Controller
- Replace every 100,000 miles.
- INJECTION PUMP
- Average life (electronic or mechanical) 150,000 miles
- FUEL TREATMENT
- A MUST with the new ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) Fuel now sold at every gas station in North America. Unless a good additive is used in EVERY tankful, you will experience shorter injection pump and injector life.
- FUEL PRESSURE
- Check routinely, should be 3-5 psi at all times. Low or no supply pressure will create stalling, hesitation and injection pump damage. Replace the supply pump and OPS switch as a pair.
- HARMONIC BALANCER
- Replace at 100,000 mile intervals.
- ANTIFREEZE
- Replace every 24,000 or every 2 years. I recommend std green fluid mixed 50/50 and a bottle of Redline's "Water Wetter" to the mix
- RADIATOR
- Aluminum radiators last 10 years average if the coolant is replaced every 2 years. Much less life if not. Aluminum rads cannot be "boiled-out" successfully like the old copper rads, they are throw aways. Corrosion builds up inside the tubes and acts like a blanket is over the rad, and we all know overheating kills diesels.
- INTAKE MANIFOLD
- I recommend removing the upper intake plenum every 30K miles and clean and inspect for heavy gunk build-up. If other then a light film of oil, you may have bad turbo bearings or a neglected CDR valve. If the CDR has been replaced at the proper intervals, then replace the turbo as failure is imminent. If you see a heavy build-up in the lower section, it must be removed and cleaned also. If no automotive degreaser available, I find a can of spray "oven-cleaner" works great.