service strategy for million mile truck

Sounds like you got the plan. I just sold a 12.7 with more miles than that. 1.7.

I am by know means a knowledgeable motor guy but, As long as its not using alot of oil its good to go. Run the overhead and see where its at. The detroit can get tight and break wrist pins.

 

Find a reliable shop and/or Mechanic. Sooner or later your going need one. The stuff you can't do, they will. Ask other drivers for references to a shop. Word of mouth travels fast. What kind of work are you going to do? Local, regional, or OTR.....

 

Waiting for things to fail and then replacing them is the worse service strategy for a new to you truck with no records.a simple repair can turn into a huge bill if it happens on the road.i will start with the basics:replace shocks starter,alternator and compressor and all brake chambers.keep saving money for a water pump and a turbo.check all hoses and fuel lines for signs of wear and replace as needed.oil samples is always a good idea and dont go too long between oil changes.
Most of these things u can do on your own and it will save you lots of money and downtime.im sure theres more things but thats all i can think of right now

 

You don't save money on cheap lubricants ,coolant or filters.
Leave the actual fuel system alone unless you get , smoke , fuel in the diesel , low power or poor fuel mileage.
Keep your air tanks dry (Drain them daily).
If excess water or oil in air get it sorted right away (Air dryer or compressor).
Any vibration is a problem that needs immediate attention.
I believe on your motor the timing gears and damper need changing now and then to keep all going well.
Have the top end set every year .
Keep radiator and cac (intercooler/aftercooler) clean.
Don't put the truck under heavy load or peak revs until heat picks up.
Keep everything tightened up , all breathers open and pipes and wires from chaffing through.
Check bearings on all belt driven components including tensioners by hand for smooth operation or excessive play at service intervals and change if necessary.
Keep battery connections and terminals tight and clean including earth straps and connections to starter etc.
Check each wheel bearing end play every second service.
Keep an eye and also run your hand over your tires often to feel for any uneven wear.
Have alignment done once a year by a reputable place , they can do more harm than good if they don't take care or know their job.
Do these simple things and trucks are usually very reliable , even when old.

 

your engine is a good one parts are not expensive & available everywhere.1 of 1st things I would do is put your engine ser # and keep it in your phone or written down somewhere. I would buy all the sensors that will shut that truck down when bad & either keep for spare, or put new ones in & keep ole ones for spares. if you replace anything. get the part # and keep it in your records. belts, tensioners, filters, e.t.c. do a oil analyst on your oil changes. that could help you see a problem before it becomes one. I use blackstone labs.

tools & spares of all your belts on board. check all coolant hoses. if need be replace all & keep ole ones as spares. there is a lot more info, but this is a start. I have over 1.8 mil miles on my 11.1 ser 60 detroit.

 

you can buy on e-bay a lot of things for your engine at about 50 to 80% discount. new items I'm talking. good luck

 

get the detroit flash codes & keep in truck & when you have an issue you can look up to see what it is.

 

my 11.1 shows 585K on the odo. i think it's a million and 585. it runs good tho. i get the wix XE filters,they (reportedly) filter to 5 micron,the standard filters are like 17 micron. the detroits are kind of a dirty motor as far as oil so i like the better filters. i can get them online for a small amount more than the plain filters locally,.

mine has the bypass filter too.

great motors,great electronics and easy to work. a month ago mine started up,ran like it was out of fuel. the check light came on,it was a low voltage code. the fuse holder on one of the 2 computer feed lines was bad,in where the fuse plugged in. i woulda looked elsewhere for a while had it not been for that code.

when it gets to where it won't fire up warm,or starts cutting out as you rev it,it'll be the cam and crank sensors. easy to change out in the parking lot.

remember,the flash codes are easily accessed without a scanner.