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.

 

[5030]

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.
View attachment 665949 View attachment 665950 View attachment 665951

Flares look macho but that's it.... Anytime you drill holes into the sheet metal to add stuff like flares or mud flaps, you compromise any coating on the sheet metal and rust (corrosion) has a nice, hidden place to grow.

Why I never add stuff like that and if I do, I'm always careful to apply a rust barrier on the BACKSIDE of the hole in the sheet metal AFTER THE FASTENER IS IN THE HOLE.

Like running boards. 99% of trucks today come with shin knockers. Just took them off my wife's Suburban and sold them on CL. Useless accessory unless the step in height is excessive. All running boards / step rails are good for is to collect mud and salt and allow the underside of the rockers to stay damp and rust and the mounting holes for them are another source of corrosion points. When I took them off my wife's Suburban I treated every hole with rust preventative.

If the step in height is excessive (like my '97 350 is), I can see them but on a stock vehicle, totally useless macho thing. My 97 F350 is 6 over stock and was high to begin with so getting in requires a step but instead of mud catchers I put on stirrup steps instead. Less holes, less mud accumulators, less corrosion.

Running boards are like the non functional hood scoops and 'power bulges' automakers like to add. Totally useless macho stuff that you get to pay more for....duh.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Also, funny how OEM vehicles are always more desireable used. All that EXTRA stuff someone paid good money for, just makes a vehicle look more tired and old. Like an old lady with way too much makeup! lol And sweat pants that Read JUICY!

 

[KennyG]

Like an old lady with way too much makeup! lol And sweat pants that Read JUICY!

OK, now it's going to take all day to get that image out of my mind.

 

[deezler]

I searched for a long time before buying my truck. With a limited budget, a low-mile, rust-free 03+ 2500HD 6.0L gas doesn't come up for sale in Michigan very often, if ever. Finally found one that started life in New Mexico, and hadn't been a daily driver for a while. Unfortunately I did daily-drive it through two Michigan winters before I realized that it needed attention ASAP to prevent all-but-certain cancer from setting in. Deliberated for a while but finally went with Zeibart rust-proofing and under-coating, after stripping the skid-plates, bumpers, nerf-steps, spare tire, etc. and sandblasting it all down myself. Finally wised up and bought a cheap used GTI as a daily driver, and now I flat out refuse to drive the truck on salty road days. I'd love to have the power and efficiency of a DMax, but the $6-8k price penalty for comparable used ones, and the thought of subjecting my kids to all those diesel particulates convinced me to accept a 14mpg gasser instead. Still carries 3600 lbs payload and tows 10.5k, just enough for my needs.

Picking up pallets of brick

Hauling the camper (9 mpg, ouch)

 

[deezler]

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.
View attachment 665949 View attachment 665950 View attachment 665951

Beautiful truck, crreed. I have vowed to never pull my OE fender flares and look underneath. When the rust creeps out the top of one, I'll just have to accept my fate. Only 105k on mine as of today.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Buddy installed Black aftermarket fender flares on his white 09 GMC. Like my 08, the body style makes it necessary to make these things HUGE and HIDEOUS! I'm glad he did it so I could see it and opt out of that plan.

 

[coobie]

Had my 2016 Ram 2500 Krown rust proofed a few days after I purchased it.Not a single issue with rust.It costs $125 per year for a respray worth ever dime.IMHO..

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Local Krown dealer was a great consciensious guy. Without telling customers, he sold out and some kids are doing it. So that's it for Krown. Cancelled my annual appointment and will just go to my regular Mechanic (and customer). His stuff actually smells the same. I had actually become kind of suspicious of Krown as they are heavily environmentally oriented. Show me something that actually works that isn't really bad for the planet!

 

[coobie]

My Local Krown dealer was a great consciensious guy. Without telling customers, he sold out and some kids are doing it. So that's it for Krown. Cancelled my annual appointment and will just go to my regular Mechanic (and customer). His stuff actually smells the same. I had actually become kind of suspicious of Krown as they are heavily environmentally oriented. Show me something that actually works that isn't really bad for the planet!

Your point is what?Just because ONE Krown dealer sold out all are bad?Sorry you had a bad experience.My dealer has been excellent and so is his product.Had my wifes 2018 Ford Taurus done also NO RUST issues with this vehicle also.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My point is, that my Krown dealer was worth going to, because he was known far and wide for his good work. Often typical of older owner/operator run business. Now just some 18 year old kid, probably a different one every time. I'm not taking my chances or spending my money on that.

That process is only as good as the person doing it. Heard enough stories of customer abuse from my then 18 year old friend working in fast oil change joints.