Older diesel ?

Bud Lefevre · 12-30-2008, 06:44 AM

Looking at a possable tow vehicle, 1991 Suburban 2500 with a 6.2 diesel , 150,000 miles. Any pro's or con's on this for towing ?

Thanks

bobby · 12-30-2008, 08:14 AM

Lotsa torque, no H.P. will get you going, but won't keep you there.

Bruce Schoenbaechler · 12-30-2008, 09:18 AM

Also good for breaking cranks and harmonic balancers

Lou SG2340 · 12-30-2008, 09:32 AM

We use to have 4 trucks with these motors at work.Not reliable past 100,000 miles.Had block & head warpage problems.

Mike Pearson · 12-30-2008, 09:34 AM

Bud,

If you are looking to tow with an older diesel pick up truck I would recommend a ford F350 with a 7.3 liter diesel. They were available from 1997 to 2002. They are real reliable and have lots of power. If you can find one with reasonable miles on it you will have a great truck. I had a 99 and loved it. I now have a 2005 chevy with a duramax diesel. It tows well also.

Alan Roehrich · 12-30-2008, 10:01 AM

I've got a couple of friends who have or had those. They are not the best diesel out there, but good service can be had with proper care. The later 6.5 is better. A close friend had a 97 with a 5 speed for 9 years, and about 450K miles. The 5 speed gave some trouble, but the engine was fine. It had 4.10 gears, we put a Flowmaster on it, took the converter off, and put a K&N filter in it, and it ran strong. We pulled a 32' enclosed goose neck with a Pro Street car in it for about 1/2 those miles, and rarely got under 70MPH, it got about 15 MPG. Far as I know, the truck is still running.

Mark Ruset · 12-30-2008, 11:01 AM

Bud,
If memory serves me correctly those engines had injection pump problems.You would be better off with something newer. If you can step up to a new Duramax I know the dealers are selling them at a loss.

Harry 6674 · 12-30-2008, 02:15 PM

Alot of people have swapped the 5.9 cummins in the chevy trucks and burbs.

buzzinhalfdozen · 12-30-2008, 06:48 PM

6.2 was a fairly reliable piece for most of the farmers around here, however they never hooked to a trailer and tried to travel any distance either. They suffer some common ailments , Inj. pumps glow plugs damper breakage Ect. not in my opinion worth the risk if you're looking to do some traveling with it. These were in my opinion about the worst attempt at a diesel engine by the big 3. Save yourself alot of trouble and get a 7.3 powered ford or a mid 2000 G.M. duramut. Can't say anything good about the Dodge except Cummins does make a very good diesel engine. Joe

sst3447 · 12-30-2008, 07:20 PM

I have had both 6.2 and 6.5 in my tow vehicals put injector pumps on both cylinder heads on the 6.5 , they both are underpowered and if you tow a large trailer you will have overheating problems my 6.5 would run about 240 degrees towing my gooseneck i would stay away . my duramax will pull with no problems

12-30-2008, 06:44 AM	#1
Bud Lefevre Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 250 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Older diesel ? Looking at a possable tow vehicle, 1991 Suburban 2500 with a 6.2 diesel , 150,000 miles. Any pro's or con's on this for towing ? Thanks __________________ Bud Lefevre 3075 STK IHRA World Record Holder

12-30-2008, 08:14 AM	#2
bobby Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 243 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? Lotsa torque, no H.P. will get you going, but won't keep you there. __________________ Next time wave all of your fingers at me.

12-30-2008, 09:18 AM	#3
Bruce Schoenbaechler Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C. Posts: 33 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? Also good for breaking cranks and harmonic balancers __________________ SCHOENY

12-30-2008, 09:32 AM	#4
Lou SG2340 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Disputanta Va (30 minutes from VMP) Posts: 122 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? We use to have 4 trucks with these motors at work.Not reliable past 100,000 miles.Had block & head warpage problems.

12-30-2008, 09:34 AM	#5
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,446 Likes: 614 Liked 1,919 Times in 576 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? Bud, If you are looking to tow with an older diesel pick up truck I would recommend a ford F350 with a 7.3 liter diesel. They were available from 1997 to 2002. They are real reliable and have lots of power. If you can find one with reasonable miles on it you will have a great truck. I had a 99 and loved it. I now have a 2005 chevy with a duramax diesel. It tows well also. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

12-30-2008, 10:01 AM	#6
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,111 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,814 Times in 413 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? I've got a couple of friends who have or had those. They are not the best diesel out there, but good service can be had with proper care. The later 6.5 is better. A close friend had a 97 with a 5 speed for 9 years, and about 450K miles. The 5 speed gave some trouble, but the engine was fine. It had 4.10 gears, we put a Flowmaster on it, took the converter off, and put a K&N filter in it, and it ran strong. We pulled a 32' enclosed goose neck with a Pro Street car in it for about 1/2 those miles, and rarely got under 70MPH, it got about 15 MPG. Far as I know, the truck is still running. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

12-30-2008, 11:01 AM	#7
Mark Ruset Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 263 Likes: 35 Liked 43 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? Bud, If memory serves me correctly those engines had injection pump problems.You would be better off with something newer. If you can step up to a new Duramax I know the dealers are selling them at a loss. __________________ Mark Ruset 2048 STK

12-30-2008, 02:15 PM	#8
Harry 6674 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 589 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? Alot of people have swapped the 5.9 cummins in the chevy trucks and burbs.

12-30-2008, 06:48 PM	#9
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? 6.2 was a fairly reliable piece for most of the farmers around here, however they never hooked to a trailer and tried to travel any distance either. They suffer some common ailments , Inj. pumps glow plugs damper breakage Ect. not in my opinion worth the risk if you're looking to do some traveling with it. These were in my opinion about the worst attempt at a diesel engine by the big 3. Save yourself alot of trouble and get a 7.3 powered ford or a mid 2000 G.M. duramut. Can't say anything good about the Dodge except Cummins does make a very good diesel engine. Joe __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

12-30-2008, 07:20 PM	#10
sst3447 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: erie ill Posts: 69 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Older diesel ? I have had both 6.2 and 6.5 in my tow vehicals put injector pumps on both cylinder heads on the 6.5 , they both are underpowered and if you tow a large trailer you will have overheating problems my 6.5 would run about 240 degrees towing my gooseneck i would stay away . my duramax will pull with no problems