Info on a Diesel
 

my brothers looking at a 1986 GMC with the 6.2 diesel and a 4spd in it. How reliable are these diesels.

The guy wants $750 for it and says it runs great. from the outside it looks alright we havent looked close at it yet.

Do you think it would be worth buying?

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

If you don't except it to pull like a Cummins, or accelerate like a modern Powerstroke / Duramax, those 6.2L diesels are pretty reliable little engines. They are classified as light duty diesels, and are not designed with towing in mind, just getting great gas mileage in a daily driver.

I'd put one at similar acceleration to a 4.3L V6, but with tons more torque. My 4.3L truck is bogged right down and looses the gas mileage it normally gets by putting a quad or two behind it, while my old diesel K5 wasn't any slower than normal with a couple quads behind it and a bunch of camping gear inside of it, and it always got good gas mileage.

If the diesel is in good shape, you can get it to perform similar to a stock mid 80s 350 by turbocharging it, but expect to spend a bit of money on the turbo stuff to do the swap.

$750 bucks for a full running and driving truck is a great deal in itself, so if you need a good truck, I'd say to go for it!

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

One of the least favorite of all the diesels EVER made!!!

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

Yeah, but diesel was cheap back then! They are great for fuel economy but power sucks--unless you do the turbo upgrade like russell indicated. But even then it's nowhere near a modern diesel. Lastly, for $750 for a complete running truck the argument is done--BUY IT!

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

There not like GMs 350 diesels are they?

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

No they are not like the 350 diesel, The 6.2 is a good little engine. My crew cab 4x4 has a 6.2 with a 4 speed and i just drive it 855 miles towing 6500 pounds and top speed was about 65 mph.

If you need a truck that is pretty cheep to operate this would be a great truck. espically when you notice the fuel mileage you are getting.

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

Yes they r a friend of mine has an 85 with one in it

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

A lot of people talk bad about "GM" diesels, but most of those people are just repeating hear-say, and have never actually owned a 6.2 or 6.5 diesel before.

Its true that the actual GM diesel, aka olds 350 diesel, was a real piece of crap, and rarely made it more than like 30 000 miles. They are so unreliable becuase they basically converted a gasoline engine to a diesel engine, which simply didn't stand up to the pressures of a running diesel engine.

The 6.2 and 6.5 diesels are not in fact GM made diesels, they are Detroit diesels. If they are run like a medium or heavy duty diesel engine they can, and do, break under the pressure.

They have a habit of breaking cranks if the harmonic balancer isn't replaced when necessary, and occasionally crack along the main webbings as well. Heads are also prone to cracking between the valves on the rear cylinder, but it rarely makes it to the water jacket if the engine isn't abused.

Overall, reliable engine for daily driving, not good for frequent heavy towing, and don't even hold a candle to how the modern diesels perform.

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

Ok thanks guys

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

[QUOTE=Russell;2253668]A lot of people talk bad about "GM" diesels, but most of those people are just repeating hear-say, and have never actually owned a 6.2 or 6.5 diesel before.QUOTE]


Yep...........above is VERY correct!!!!!!!

BUT...........they got that reputation some how. I am one of the ones who have owned more than my share and have had bad luck in some form or fashion with all of them.

Thats not to say they were all bad.......its just the laws of averages the Im going on!!!

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

The good thing is that parts for these motors are a pretty good deal. The injectors and injection pump are reasonably priced.

I wouldn't mind a mechanical injection 6.5 Turbo and a NV4500 5 speed. :burnout:

Re: Info on a Diesel
 

my brother ended up buying a 1984 Scottsdale for $500 instead cause we knew it was in good shape