2005-2010 Duramax diesels & rust

[dodge man]

It seems every diesel truck has a so called “holy grail” year. The best power, bet fuel mileage, what ever. I see a place in Missouri that gets their hands on them, usually very nice, often low miles and sell them for prices I can not believe. I owned an early year 2004 Dodge with a Cummins. Great truck, by some Cummins guys a desirable year, and got tired of fighting rust. The problem is you drive a newer truck and you realize how much improved they are.

I now own a 2017 F150 XLT. I owned a 2011 Chevy 2500 gas after the Cummins, but bailed on it the minute I saw rust bubbles above the rear wheels. The F150 has 1940 lbs of payload, is vey quiet, nicely equipped, get 18 mpg, and with a 36 gallon tank has great range. If you have one of those great older diesel trucks that is solid, hang on to it and enjoy it.

 

[5030]

The biggest problem with used trucks down here is they all have 300,000 miles on them and people still want low mileage prices.

88K on my 97....... Any Ford OBS diesel is 'Holy Grail', but especially the 97's with the 7.3's. In very high demand and always has been.

Not for sale either.

 

[Mat4644]

Want to see real rust look at the Ram trucks from this time frame.

 

[Hay Dude]

Want to see real rust look at the Ram trucks from this time frame.

Yeah, they were bad, too.
Ive seen bad rust on all 3.
My technique for rust prevention is if I must take it out in snow/salt (which happens more often than I like when plowing), when I get home, I was the underside with hot water> shocks, frame, spring towers & perches, inside of fenders, behind rockers-just about everywhere I can reach with spray, until the water runs clean, then I pull into garage and run my shop fan on low along the floor to dry it out. Same with snow plow and my plow still looks like new
Im sure theres better ways, but Ive had very little rust problems.

 

[5030]

Want to see real rust look at the Ram trucks from this time frame.

Early to mid 90's RAM trucks rusted in the dealer's lots...........:laughing:

Actually, the best way to prevent rust is my way, don't drive it in the winter....lol Second best way is a good pressure wash underneath with hot water and paying close attention to all the wheel arches because that is where the crud collects and stays wet and starts the rust. Same with the backside of the rockers. I put a street Ell on the end of my pressure washer lance so I can get up and behind the rockers and the wheel arches.

 

[5030]

It seems every diesel truck has a so called “holy grail” year. The best power, bet fuel mileage, what ever. I see a place in Missouri that gets their hands on them, usually very nice, often low miles and sell them for prices I can not believe. I owned an early year 2004 Dodge with a Cummins. Great truck, by some Cummins guys a desirable year, and got tired of fighting rust. The problem is you drive a newer truck and you realize how much improved they are.

I now own a 2017 F150 XLT. I owned a 2011 Chevy 2500 gas after the Cummins, but bailed on it the minute I saw rust bubbles above the rear wheels. The F150 has 1940 lbs of payload, is vey quiet, nicely equipped, get 18 mpg, and with a 36 gallon tank has great range. If you have one of those great older diesel trucks that is solid, hang on to it and enjoy it.

They are 'improved' for sure. DEF, DPF, EGR, SCR and total computer control. No thanks. If I ever bought a new truck, it would be a gas engine.

Again, the rust bubbles were entirely your fault for not cleaning the wheel arches out and leaving the moist crud there to corrode the sheet metal.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Can you imagine, the fantasy if they applied the money that goes into gimmicks and emmissions compliance and applied that to anti corrrosion? Galvanized frame, Stainless Body Panels and brake components?

 

[dodge man]

They are 'improved' for sure. DEF, DPF, EGR, SCR and total computer control. No thanks. If I ever bought a new truck, it would be a gas engine.

Again, the rust bubbles were entirely your fault for not cleaning the wheel arches out and leaving the moist crud there to corrode the sheet metal.

I bought the truck used so it was the previous owner. By the time I got it it was apparently to late. I owned the truck a couple of years before it started to rust.

As far as what brand rusts the most. They all do. I’ve not noticed a brand of truck yet that doesn’t, some are worse than others. I’m hoping the exception is the new aluminum body Fords.

 

[crreed67]

Same here. 2006 Duramax with a 6 speed manual. I got it a year ago with 110,000 miles on it. It looked great and runs like a top. Found a bubble over a fender well, pulled the flares and there it is.....Rust. You can't see the rust with the flares on but it's coming. Still only 113,600 miles and runs like a new one. Guess I'll run it another year or 2 and go bed searching unless I decide to sell it. The rest of the truck is solid. It came out of North Carolina so I can't figure the rust...unless it was dunked in the ocean or a lake a lot with a boat.

 

[5030]

I bought the truck used so it was the previous owner. By the time I got it it was apparently to late. I owned the truck a couple of years before it started to rust.

As far as what brand rusts the most. They all do. I’ve not noticed a brand of truck yet that doesn’t, some are worse than others. I’m hoping the exception is the new aluminum body Fords.

Too early to tell on that but aluminum 'rusts' too. Called galvanic corrosion or white rust. The other 'hidden' issue with Ford and GM's aluminum parts (yes GM has aluminum body parts too) is dissimilar metals in contact with each other causing corrosion by electrolysis.

I was surprised about the GM aluminum in as much as GM had that big advertising deal touting the 'benefits' of steel over aluminum and the quietly went with aluminum as well....lol

My friend just got a 2020 Silverado and I put the magnet to it so I know what is aluminum and what isn't.