The Legendary First-Generation Cummins 6BT Diesel Engine

You can tell who the diesel guys are by the way the write about diesel engines and diesel power. From the getgo, there's a sense in which we're always having to be a little defensive, write in a more calculated manner. 

So it is that Henry Cesari's article Monday at Hot Cars begins with this observation: "Diesel engines are divisive: there are many unfair myths surrounding diesel engines." It's almost as if he's saying, "Let's get this out of the way. If you don't like it when I write about diesels, go read something else." We like it and yes, we know diesels have pros and cons, but they're not going to be extinct any time soon. Their role is currently too important.

This article is about when Dodge trucks were mated with Cummins engines to produce the popular, much-heralded 1989 Dodge Ram. It's titled, Looking Back At The First Generation Cummins-Powered Dodge Ram Truck.

It's a great story. From initial vision to completion it took more than five years. When I think about how impatient everyone is today it's obvious that it takes real resolve to complete truly great projects. In most cases--the exception being the Harrier jet--the bigger the plane, the longer the runway required to get it off the ground. Kudos to Dodge and Cummins for their determination and commitment.

Dodge was famous for its trucks long before the Cummins-powered Dodge Ram. The Power Wagon and the Li'l Red Express, for example, were exceedingly popular. Today, 75% of Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 buyers opt for the Cummins engine option, which is able to tow nearly 15 tons with ease.

Cesari not only did his homework, he produces a stimulating read, writing "when thirty years ago, Dodge shoe-horned a Cummins-built diesel engine--intended for heavy equipment use--into their Ram pickups, the two companies incited a diesel revolution. Today, we're looking back at the Cummins-powered 1989-93 Dodge Rams." 

It's surprising how much was involved with making it work. In addition to an impressive engine makeover they followed up with 11 million miles of testing to ensure they'd actually produced a a power plant that was strong but that would also last.

According to Cesari, the Cummins team overbuilt every aspect of the new 6BT engine. The engineers incorporated "seven main bearings on the crankshaft, and six head bolts for every single cylinder. The company built both the block and head out of cast iron. They spared no expense in forging, hardening, and testing components such as the crankshaft, the connecting rods, and the pistons. When Cummins purchased components from outside vendors, they opted for the highest possible quality: the injector pump and the injectors are all durable Bosche units." 

The Cummins-powered 1989-93 Dodge Rams were pretty special. They set the bar high for everything that would follow. The Dodge team knew there could be no shortcuts. Their reputation was on the line.

Read the full article HERE at HotCars..com

For another fun Cummins/Dodge related read this one by Michael Van Runkle also, about a slammed 2019 SEMA special that features a 5.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine, stacks, and drop dead good looks.

Towing Basics: Better Safe Than Sorry

One of the primary features of diesel engines--besides the fact that they last longer--is the power they generate for towing. Open your eyes and look around. What kinds of engines are doing all the work? It's diesel. 

So, whether you're towing horses to the county fair or hauling a bulldozer to a job site, your truck is likely a diesel powered machine.  

Having the right engine isn't the only thing you need to know about towing. While checking out the Diesel Power Products website yesterday I found this article on towing that was chock full of useful information for people who tow. Having written about towing in the past, I found it to be a fairly thorough discussion of issues you need to concern yourself with. These include:

Attaching the Load

Stopping the Load

Supporting the Load

Securing the Load

Balancing the Load

and Moving the Load

Years ago I heard a story about a bulldozer that slid off the back of a flatbed and killed two people because it wasn't properly secured. This is not an experience you want to have. When I was young I saw an inexperienced driver flip her car while towing a small house trailer. I was with my uncle who was a volunteer fireman and rescue squad worker. We were first on the scene and helped avert a bigger tragedy. 

If you ever do any towing, or plan to, this helpful article on The Basics of Towing with Your Diesel is informative and worth bookmarking.  

Related Links
A Quick Guide to Diesel Power Products 
Pickups That Can Tow More Than 30,000 Pounds

Rudolph Diesel and the Birth of Diesel Power

I've always loved reading biographies. Perhaps it's because every person has a history and it's intriguing to learn about the early influences of people who have later become influential. Rudolf Diesel is one of these.

The name sounds so German you would think he was born in Munich or Heidelberg, but no, he was born in Paris, to German immigrants there, in 1858. A few weeks later he was given away to a farmer family in Vincennes, only to be returned nine months later.

How this experience informed his later development is unknown but when the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870 the family was forced to leave France. Why they did not return to Germany but instead went to London is also a curious development. Instead, they sent young Rudolf back to Germany to live with relatives in Augsburg. At age 14 he wrote a letter to his parents saying he wanted to be an engineer.

For what it's worth, this incident reminds me of a joke, if I may digress here. 

What is European Heaven? British humor, French cuisine and German engineering.

What is European Hell? British cuisine, French engineering and German humor.

To verify the facts of these stereotypes, my father wished me to also be an engineer, so while in high school I was encouraged to study German.

Diesel proceeded to study engineering in Munich, where he graduated with honors. His first efforts upon graduation were related to refrigeration, which he pursued with his former professor, now in Paris. After acquiring numerous patents in that field he went on to do research and development on steam engine technology. This ultimately led to the development of an internal combustion engine, since his ultimate goal was the maximum efficient production of power.

Because he understood thermodynamics and the practical limits of fuel efficiency he knew that steam power wastes as much as 90% of the power potential of the fuel. This knowledge is what inspired him to do whatever it would take to develop the engine that now bears his name.

Diesel power is the result of applied science, at the dawn of an emerging scientific era. The first successful Diesel engine, now on display at the German Technical Museum, ran in 1897.

There's little doubt in my mind that Rudolf Diesel would be astonished to see how far his original ideas have been developed and the power supplied by a diesel engine today

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Diesel

3 Life Tips for Diesel Builders

1. We don't know what we don't know 

I'm not sure what the trigger was, but when I woke this morning I was reminded of the saying, "We don't know what we don't know."  It applies to so many things. From home front issues like marriage and parenting, to career matters and office politics and, finally, to getting familiar with a new vehicle. 

Learning the difference between what is and is not something worth losing sleep about often boils down to experience. But then there's that niggling thought. "What if I'm wrong?" And the more that's at stake, the more it keeps us awake at night because all too often, we don't know what we don't know. That's why it's nice to have friends who are smarter than we are.

This is why tens of thousands of diesel owners belong to diesel forums. When we own a Ford, Chevy or Dodge, we become part of a large family where everybody is your neighbor. This is why I've included links to all the diesel forums (that I was aware of) over on the right hand column down below the Crude Prices chart.

2. Where there's a will there's a way

I once read a book called Real Power which talked about the levels of personal power and empowerment. The very lowest level was Helplessness. They used a symbol for each level and the symbol for this first was a person seated in a chair with their hands tied behind their back, a gag in their mouths.

This is how many people feel about themselves. They can't do anything and won't even try.

The diesel enthusiasts I've met are cut from a different piece of cloth. Like "the little engine that could" they're convinced that nothing will hold them back. They have internalized this saying, "Where there's a will there's a way." And to my way of thinking, that's Real Power.

3. "I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."--Jonathan Winters

I'm showing my age by quoting Jonathan Winters, the Hollywood funnyman who inspired Robin Williams. A master of improv, Winters was an ex-marine who starred on the silver screen and even garnered his own television show. 

This quote makes me think of Nike's "Just Do It" slogan. People like this are inspirational because they know it's better to try and fail then to have never tried at all.

I remember a tractor pull at a county fair in Ohio when I was visiting my cousin decades ago. There were all these veteran pullers and tricked out machines, and one clean cut teen who just didn't seem like the rest, but his eyes were beaming with joy as he commandeered all that horsepower, and beat them all. 

It made an impression on me. He couldn't wait for success and went ahead without it. He was the Little Engine That Could, and he did.

* * * *

Just a weekend ramble here. Maybe someone who reads this will get inspired. These are the kinds of thoughts that inspire me.

P.S.--If you have a truck you'd like to showcase here on the Blue Flame Blogger pages, send an email to: blueflame1952 AT gmail.com
ATTN: Frank Owens

Train photo by Denis Chick on Unsplash

Where Do You Turn When You Have Trouble?

I'm not talking about trouble with the law here. I mean, who do you turn to when the Check Engine light comes on or you fry some wires, or your engine keeps shutting off while driving?

In the old days, it helped to have a friend who was a mechanic whom you could call in time of need, assuming you were near a phone. We didn't have cell phones then. (Even better would be a brother.) Today we have something still better. Diesel forums.

Yesterday someone had a dash fire in their Powerstroke and has been dealing with shorted brake light switch wires. Within 16 hours he had five people discussing the situation with him.

Nine hours ago someone named Juniebuck posted some steps they had taken to resolve some issues in their Powerstroke and less than an hour ago there were suggestions of steps that could be taken.

In short, online forums have been a real life saver for all kinds of vehicle owners, especially those in the Diesel World. Instead of relying on your brother, you have a whole family of diesel lovers, many of them directly experienced with your engine type, whether Duramax, Powerstroke or Cummins.

IF YOU LOOK below in the right hand column you'll find links to a full range of diesel forums. If yours isn't listed I would like to add it. Please leave the name and URL in the comments.

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In the Beginning There Was a Need for Performance

Diesel. Power. Performance. History. Nostalgia. The smell of burnt rubber.

Blue Flame Diesel Oil was central to all of that.

With the same idea in mind, the Blue Flame Blogger hopes to become a central resource for everyone who still has a passion for Performance with a capital P.

If we learned anything this year, it's that we can never take tomorrow for granted. Just around the next bend in the road after you just missed hitting a deer, you find a huge detour sign at Mile 2020.

The good part is that All Things Must Pass. Eventually we'll be looking at 2020 through the rear-view mirrors.

As much as possible it's my goal to become a resource for everyone everywhere who's involved with diesel performance in any capacity. It's my hope that I and my team of ne'er-do-wells can keep you current with major market trends and pricing issues, government regs, who the players are and all the happenings that will emerge or re-emerge in the months ahead.

It's a long and winding road on the highway of life, but when you're doing a tractor pull, straight ahead is the way to go. Todo derecho, hombre.

Let's get real. You only live once.