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Detroit pdf with pictures of failure causes
I found this while looking up engine failure due to ‘ two part piston ‘ failure. I was trying to find which years/serial #’s might have higher rates of failure.
piston cylinder inspection after failure
I was surprised that there can be such damage done due to intake air leaks/filtration in fairly low miles of use. They refer to it as ‘ dust out’.
The pdf also shows how cavitation due to coolant issues causes liner damage.
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3 Replies
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Try not to overthink this. Obviously a poorly maintained engine can suffer premature failure, but in all the years I have been on various bus forums and the number of coaches represented by forum members the number of engine failures can be counted on the fingers of one hand with three of the fingers missing.
But what you have underlined is how simple routine maintenance greatly impacts engine life and performance. Clean filters, clean fluids, adherence to the maintenance schedule and routine inspections protect one of the most important parts of the coach. A coach with good records showing a history of care becomes significantly more valuable than one with no records.
Just don’t dwell on the negatives because these Prevost conversions are robust and significantly more durable than conventional motor homes. But do keep in mind if there are no good maintenance records or proof of regular service you are assuming any risk associated with the lack of maintenance.
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Maintenance records are your best bet. Most of us would never get into the engine that deep but this is good to know. Used to drag race a Super Stock car under NHRA Rules back in the late 70’s and 80’s. Have seen most of the damage these pics show but would never attempt to go in my engine as most of us wouldn’t. Before you buy, take coach to a Prevost shop for a level 3 service. Other than internal engine parts they will let you know the scoop on everything on there (Prevost’s) side. Just got mine out last week from a Level 3, Houston Prevost Service. Don’t put very many miles per year on mine but they get it every year to check all systems.
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From my own research, the DD Series 60 is one of the best heavy duty (12-14L) truck engines out there. In truck service, 1 million miles before overhaul is common. If well maintained, there are few common problems. One exception might be checking the bull gear for excessive run-out around 500-700k miles. The 2004 on versions have lots of EPA mandated gear that can be troublesome. But that pretty much applies to all over the road diesel engines.
Dust can kill any diesel engine quickly due to tight tolerances. I change air filters frequently and make sure that all seals up to the turbo a intact. You do not want to see any dust in the air pipes leading up to the turbo.
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