Duramax Engine Failure - Engine Filled With Deisel due to fuel injector failure = SPUN BEARING

I have a 2001 GMC Duramax truck that had the injectors fail and fill
the motor with deisel fuel to the point where it was blowing out of the
fill tube. The truck only has 80,000 miles on it. There is a GM service
bulliten that was issued that says they have extended the warranty on
the injectors to 200,000 miles and 10 years so the local dealer
replaced them under warranty. I told them at that time I didn't think
that running deisel fuel inside that motor had done it any good and
that the whole motor was suspect in my opinion and was told that
"deisel contains some oil so it won't damage anything". I got a whole
2144 miles before a bearing spun and now my motor is trashed and they
are telling me that the area rep is denying my warranty coverage
because the truck is out of the official 100,000 mile 5 year warranty
by 9 months, even though the faulty injectors that caused the failure
are warranteed for 200,000 miles or 10 years . My point is that the
injector failure flooded the engine with solvent, basically, and washed
all oil away from the contact areas which caused the failure and the
mechanic who is working on it at the local dealership agrees with me
completely. I'm looking at $15,600 to get it replaced. I was hoping for
some expert opinions on the lubricating properties of deisel fuel as an
oil substitute. I'm no expert but I suspect that deisel is not really
acceptable as an engine lubricant, and I suspect that the oil pump
would not pump it as the viscosity is so low. Any
help/tips/advice/pointers towards anything printed that says DO NOT ADD
DEISEL FUEL TO YOUR ENGINE, IT WILL DAMAGE IT would be greatly
appreciated as the motor is torn apart as I type this and they are
awaiting the new engine.

P.S. I've been calling deisel mechanics all morning and I have gotten
100% confirmation that running your motor with deisel fuel in side of
it washes the oil from the contact surfaces of the motor, no ifs ands
or buts abou tit

P.P.S. DURAMAX FUEL INJECTORS CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE UPDATE: Well, I just
got off the phone with the GM Customer service people. They say that
since the 100,000 mile 5 year warranty is expired by 9 months they will
not warranty the motor even though it was RUINED by an injector failing
and flooding the engine with deisel. The injectors are warranteed for
200,000 miles or 10 years because they are DEFECTIVE ( see
http://www.thedieselpage.com/duramax...orwarranty.htm ) and are
going bad on a regular basis according to the local dealers duramax
mechanic. I talked to this mechanic at length who took the engine out
and HE AGREES WITH ME 100%. The mechanic told me that he has seen a
bunch of these injector failures and every time an engine gets filled
with deisel the trusks start coming in with low oil pressure readings
and "it's only a matter of time before they FAIL". He has told me that

That's right folks, A GM TRAINED DURAMAX MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT HE
SEES THESE FAILURES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THAT HE HAS TOLD THE AREA GM
REP THAT THE ENGINES ARE FAILING AS A RESULT OF THE INJECTOR PROBLEM
AND THAT GM IS REFUSING TO WARRANTY THE FAILED ENGINES.

Let me re-state the facts he my truck is a 2001 GMC 3500 with 80,000
miles on it that only made it 2,144 miles AFTER THE ENGINE WAS FLOODED
WITH FUEL THAT WASHED AWAY THE LUBRICANT before FAILING as a result of
OIL BEING WASHED AWAY FROM THE BEARINGS. GM is refusing to honor the
warranty on grounds that in their opinion THE OIL PUMP FAILED AT 80,000
MILES which is unrelated to the flooding problem.

If they are right, THAT'S EVEN WORSE NEWS FOR DURAMAX OWNERS. YOUR OIL
PUMP COULD FAIL AT RANDOM AT 80,000 MILES AND GM WILL NOT STAND BEHIND
IT.

I suspect that eventually there will be a class action lawsuit that
will force them to pay up on these failures but right now I'm SCREWED.
I have a wife and 2 kids and make my living with the truck and now I'm
looking at $15,600 for a replacement engine from GM that I'll have to
throw on high interest credit cards if I want to be able to provide for
my family. They have me by the b@lls here. I still owe $10K on the
truck and now I'm looking at buying it again, basically, and I'm sick
inside over it.

Any helpful hints on how to proceed or any other forums you could
suggest to post to will be appreciated, as well as any help in
spreading the word. My only hope at this point is to somehow generate
enough publicity that they agree to fix it.

Thanks in advance for your help/time.

> wrote

<terrible nightmare experience snipped>

> Thanks in advance for your help/time.
>

Should have bought a Cummings.

Steve

"Steve B" > wrote in message
news:GlcZg.1650$BC6.780@fed1read01...
>
> > wrote
>
> <terrible nightmare experience snipped>
>
>> Thanks in advance for your help/time.
>>
>
> Should have bought a Cummings.
>
Then he'd have an good engine with a crap Dodge running gear.

"Steve B" > wrote in message
news:GlcZg.1650$BC6.780@fed1read01...
>
> > wrote
>
> <terrible nightmare experience snipped>
>
>> Thanks in advance for your help/time.
>>
>
> Should have bought a Cummings.
>
> Steve

That's real helpful.

> wrote in message
oups.com...

>I have a 2001 GMC Duramax truck that had the injectors fail and fill
> the motor with deisel fuel to the point where it was blowing out of the
> fill tube. The truck only has 80,000 miles on it.

<snipped>


If you handle this right, I suspect you can get an acceptable response and
action by GMC.

First, it's obvious by your post that you are upset and frustrated. That's
normal and understandable. Get it out of your system before taking further
action.

Then, document in writing everything that happened with dates, dealership
and names if you have them in a short, to the point letter. Forget about
the mechanic who told you about all the failures ... means nothing. Write
it all up as concisely and objectively as you can with your logical
conclusion that the faulty injector with a 200k mile warranty caused the
engine bearing failure. End the document by requesting: a) a new engine or:
b) for your engine to be rebuilt to new specifications, or: c) financial
reimbursment to have the engine replaced or rebuilt by a third party
facility. Request a response to your request within a reasonable time
frame, (two-three weeks). Indicate that a failure to respond will
unfortunately require you to turn the matter over to your attorney. Send the
letter by certified mail to all parties.

In any face to face meetings explain in a calm, non-threatening or
adversarial way that you feel the engine bearing failure was due to the
faulty injector and GMC's failure to replace or repair the engine is
unacceptable. Indicate that your position is non-negotiable. Be polite, but
firm and resolute.

Again, do this in a business-like, straightforward way without allowing your
emotional frustration to come to the surface. Don't take no for an answer,
but don't lose your cool.
Eventually they will realize that you are not just venting, but are very
serious, they will do something.

Been there, done that.

Eisboch

On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 19:22:12 -0400, "Eisboch" >
wrote:

>
> wrote in message
roups.com...
>
>>I have a 2001 GMC Duramax truck that had the injectors fail and fill
>> the motor with deisel fuel to the point where it was blowing out of the
>> fill tube. The truck only has 80,000 miles on it.
>
><snipped>
>
>
>If you handle this right, I suspect you can get an acceptable response and
>action by GMC.
>
>First, it's obvious by your post that you are upset and frustrated. That's
>normal and understandable. Get it out of your system before taking further
>action.
>
>Then, document in writing everything that happened with dates, dealership
>and names if you have them in a short, to the point letter. Forget about
>the mechanic who told you about all the failures ... means nothing. Write
>it all up as concisely and objectively as you can with your logical
>conclusion that the faulty injector with a 200k mile warranty caused the
>engine bearing failure. End the document by requesting: a) a new engine or:
>b) for your engine to be rebuilt to new specifications, or: c) financial
>reimbursment to have the engine replaced or rebuilt by a third party
>facility. Request a response to your request within a reasonable time
>frame, (two-three weeks). Indicate that a failure to respond will
>unfortunately require you to turn the matter over to your attorney. Send the
>letter by certified mail to all parties.
>
>In any face to face meetings explain in a calm, non-threatening or
>adversarial way that you feel the engine bearing failure was due to the
>faulty injector and GMC's failure to replace or repair the engine is
>unacceptable. Indicate that your position is non-negotiable. Be polite, but
>firm and resolute.
>
>Again, do this in a business-like, straightforward way without allowing your
>emotional frustration to come to the surface. Don't take no for an answer,
>but don't lose your cool.
>Eventually they will realize that you are not just venting, but are very
>serious, they will do something.
>
>Been there, done that.
>
>Eisboch
>


I do not think that being nice about it is going to get his truck
fixed. This is is a tuff one because both parties are right. My
suggestion is to make a LOT of noise and spread the word and contact a
lawyer. I have little doubt that he has grounds to recover but the
gray area will be that engine did not fill up with fuel overnight and
it may had been running a bit different too so they will likely claim
neglect on his part. In the long run though if he does not make a lot
of waves, GM is not going to fix it out of good nature even though
they should enlight of long know injector problems with that model
year and a few other years too.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

there is no "G" in Cummins.

--
Steve Barker


"Steve B" > wrote in message
news:GlcZg.1650$BC6.780@fed1read01...
>
> > wrote
>
> <terrible nightmare experience snipped>
>
>> Thanks in advance for your help/time.
>>
>
> Should have bought a Cummings.
>
> Steve
>

Steve B wrote:
> > wrote
> <terrible nightmare experience snipped>

Don't you mean "troll snipped"? Why else crosspost such an emotion-laden
message about a contentious topic to these three groups?

> Should have bought a Cummings.

Is that a poetry book?

"SnoMan" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 19:22:12 -0400, "Eisboch" >
> wrote:

It does lead one to wonder doesn't it? I mean full till it was "blowing out
the fill tube"?
By the time it got a 1/2 gallon of diesel in the oil, oil pressure should of
been low as hell, and idiot light on. How far did he drive it like that?
There is a lot here not coming out.

Whitelightning

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 03:02:25 GMT, "Whitelightning"
> wrote:

>It does lead one to wonder doesn't it? I mean full till it was "blowing out
>the fill tube"?
>By the time it got a 1/2 gallon of diesel in the oil, oil pressure should of
>been low as hell, and idiot light on. How far did he drive it like that?
>There is a lot here not coming out.


That thought had crossed my mind too because I always check my oil
pressure from time to time even though they are gas motors as it is
your engines life blood. If it was blowing out of crank case it had to
have been leaking for a while and had several gallons of fuel in it
with very low oil pressure and running poorly too. Fuel makes a
terrible engine lube for a diesel with the demand it places on proper
lubrication too.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com