I'm headed to Denver, CO from Springfield, MO on Wednesday or Thursday. My truck has 245,000 miles on it and has never had the injectors or timing chain replaced. Its probably OK but i'm strongly considering replacement of the injectors and timing chain before i take off. Part of me says to leave it alone because, with my luck, i might run into a problem and end up not having the truck running to go on my trip in. Then ill be taking off to Colorado in a 76 pinto and YES i'm serious lol (would NOT be the first time i took a 2,000 mile trip in it).

How long would it take to do the chain and injectors? Should be able to do both in one day shouldnt i? I am paranoid over these things, lol. Always worry about wether the new components will work like they should or not. What if that brand new timing chain is defective and breaks half way thru my trip. Or what if i get a bad injector.

I dont know if i should leave well enough alone, or change it. I am more worried about the timing chain than anything. 245k is alot of miles for a timing chain...if that chain breaks its bye bye detroit diesel! I'm sure im worried about nothing as usual but you just never know. I dont even know for sure if i can get the injectors here on time. Local shop quoted me $26 per injector last year, for reman injectors. But i dont know if they rebuild mine, or if they keep them in stock, or what.

BTW oreillys sells the timing chain for $50 and it is a cloyes brand which is name brand. I think it is the chain only. How important is it to change the chain and the gears? Will i have to have the diesel shop retime the IP with the tech 2 scan tool after messing with the timing chain? Its last IP was at 200-220k and the timing was set then. That means there was 200k+ worth of wear on the chain and in my eyes that could effect the timing once its replaced.

So.... what do you guys think? Id also like to ditch my soot trap and *maybe* the muffler before I go. Cant afford a new exhaust, nor could I get it here on time. Getting rid of the converter would help a bunch im sure. It was run like 2 years or so with a dead vac pump. lol.

The chain is a double roller so its highly unlikely the chain will break.I've read on this forum of hearing of engines having over 500,000K on them and the chain had only very minimal stretch.I feel you will be fine.I would though change out the injectors.New delphi or bosch units would be great.Replacing the injectors is good preventative maintenance.

The driver side is a peace of cake in replacing the injectors.Won't take long at all.The turbo side will obviously take longer to do,but the turbo will not require removal.

Judging from the length of time you,ve been around and the advice and opinions you have given in the past to people, it would seem to me that you probably know all the answers to these questions already,.as for how long it would take you to replace the parts, again its probably only you that can answer the question as you know your mechanical abilities best. Good luck, and hope you trip goes well for you.;)

Nick

I personally would not try and do it now. You run into one little problem and it could hold you up or make you drve a 1976 Pinto. I think I would roll wth it the way it is and do it when I got back if I was still worried about it. Good luck on your trip. I'm taking a 2000 mile trip also to Yellowstone in a few weeks from CA.

My rule of thumb is not to change anything before a long trip. First, job always taking longer than expected, at least in my part. Second, at the chance of not putting it back together correctly, you don't want to use your long trip as the test drive.

Unless the truck does not run at all then you fix it.

I would do it after the trip.

Judging from the length of time you,ve been around and the advice and opinions you have given in the past to people, it would seem to me that you probably know all the answers to these questions already,.as for how long it would take you to replace the parts, again its probably only you that can answer the question as you know your mechanical abilities best. Good luck, and hope you trip goes well for you.;)

Nick

Well yes you are right but it never hurts to get the opinion of others. I could do it in 8 hours at the most i think. Alot of time right before a long trip and then of course there is the risk of problems. I think it'd be ok, but it sounds like everyone thinks i should probably leave it alone. I may still see if i can get some injectors from the diesel shop, the shop i use has the equipment to test them for spray and pop pressure. With a quarter of a million miles on the ones i have now, it could surely benefit it.

My rule of thumb is not to change anything before a long trip. First, job always taking longer than expected, at least in my part. Second, at the chance of not putting it back together correctly, you don't want to use your long trip as the test drive.

Unless the truck does not run at all then you fix it.

I would do it after the trip.

It runs great just has alot of miles. Hate to lose the engine due to snapped chain or poorly spraying injector. It runs so good tho there really isnt any indication that any of it is in bad shape. The injectors leak a little after shut down but not too bad.

From what my diesel shop told me, that drip can crack pistons.

From what my diesel shop told me, that drip can crack pistons.

Ive heard that before from walt at SSDieselSupply but thats it. My shop said they never have 6.5 injector problems.... I dont at all doubt that the injectors need changed, but i think a cracked piston is an absolute rare worst case scenario thing and that its more of a marketing tactic to try and make a sale. I'm going to change them soon, but right now I have to pay back all the money ($2400) I have been loaned in the last few weeks for my trip and some equipment before anything else. I think the injectors will be fine that much longer. I may even have to put it off longer, its starting to get to where it heats up to 210 degrees with the AC on. Might be time to go to the HO water pump and a dmax fan.