6.2 diesel - special things to check?

[Careful34]

I'm looking a truck with Chevy 6.2 in it. Has about 177,000 miles on it. I've never owned a diesel before. Can any one tell me anything special I should check?

[FSJeeper]

1. Find out what kind of maintenance was done on the engine. If it did not get regular oil changes, etc., walk from it. These engines are good for 250,000 miles if properly maintained.

2. The Stanadyne injection pumps wear out at around 125,000 to 150,000 and if it is the original, plan on a new injection pump for sure. Same goes for the injectors. 1984 and earlier Stanadyne pumps need to be upgraded anyway.

3. The timing chain starts going south on these around 150,000, check to see if he has changed it, if not, plan on doing it yourself.

4. Check to see if he changed the glow plugs, if not, plan on that also.

5. If this truck is high geared (3.73 or higher) and he ran the truck on the highway at high rpms (2800 or higher) for extended periods of time the bottom end tends to sling rods.

If he properly maintained the engine with regular oil changes, fuel injection cleaner added every month or so, and changed out the injection pump, timing chain, and glow plugs at the right time, you should be good to go for another 70,000 miles or so.

[Swede]

Look if you can see airbubbles in the coolingwater when the motor idles. I forget this and this cost me about 2000 dollars, to buy 2 used but overlooked cylinderheads, and I had to change them myself. It is not unusual with cracks in the heads. 6.5 liters head will fit and they are better so that is what I have today.
By the way I have today spoked to a guy wich had installed a 6.2 GM diesel in a J20 truck with the Tf 727 gearbox. The truck is for sale in Sweden for about 6500 dollars. Model 1981 registrated and legal in Sweden with the dieselmotor.
Swede

[Stolen76]

FSJeeper hit it on the head with #2 and #3 in his list. These 2 things are important to find out about, they fail very frequently in that range. If they haven't been done, plan on spending the money very soon !