Help Me Decide #2

[MR. ED]

Didn't want to hijack the other thread, so here's my dilemma. I have a nice F150 but it's not working out anymore. I need more payload and a longer bed. I found a nice F350 with the 6 3/4 bed (which is better than the 5.5 bed). **See my Ford 350 6.2 thread**. And, I've got my wife's old '06 Dodge 2500 CTD sitting in the yard with its second blown engine! 4 door long bed 6 speed. I'm a bit hesitant to buy A THIRD CTD for the truck ($14k). I mean, what are the chances of blowing up another 5.9?? So.....What would you do? All and any advice is helpful for a very indecisive guy. I can add details as needed. Thanks a lot as always.

 

[twodollars]

I'm curious, what is failing on your engines and under what conditions? Where did you get the replacement and who installed?

 

[Ducky's Dad]

Yeah, how do you blow up two 5.9s?

 

[MR. ED]

Long story short. Brand new truck in 06. 97k on the odometer. Wife was traveling, heard a noise, lost power, pulled over, puddle of oil under truck. Had it towed to a nearby Dodge dealer. They said it blew the #6 cylinder. Had them put a new motor in. Four years and 10k miles later brought it in to a local diesel specialist because it was acting funny-hard start mainly. Number 6 cylinder wall was scored badly and about to go! They couldn't do anything because there wasn't enough material left to fix it-bore and sleeve it. He said he'd never seen it so thin before. Dealer told me to pound sand, and Dodge.....
I'm not a diesel guru but, I have a pretty good understanding and I maintained it regularly- Mopar fuel filter, oil, etc. This all went down this early spring/late winter so I'm recalling as best I can. So that's it in a nutshell. Again any and all advice welcome. Thanks

 

[twodollars]

That sequence of events sounds a bit suspicious, especially the first repair and second failure. Bummer for sure. Hard to sell a vehicle that doesn't run unless you give it away.

 

[MR. ED]

UPDATE. I went with the 350. The dodge will stay put and work on it's patina.