How many miles on a multi fuel?

[Larry S.]

I'm looking at a m35a2 with 34,000 on it. How many miles are too many on a multi fuel?

 

[98G]

I'm looking at a m35a2 with 34,000 on it. How many miles are too many on a multi fuel?

Varies widely.

There's documented instances of failures in 20k. And plenty of examples of high mileage.

Personally, if the engine passes my inspection, 34k would not be an issue.

 

[rumplecat]

Got 57K on one of mine and still going strong, except for a leaky radiator!

 

[Larry S.]

Varies widely.

There's documented instances of failures in 20k. And plenty of examples of high mileage.

Personally, if the engine passes my inspection, 34k would not be an issue.

Thanks 98G. I thought I had read about early failure in some of the multi fuel engines but I didn't think 34k was excessive on any diesel.

 

[Larry S.]

Got 57K on one of mine and still going strong, except for a leaky radiator!

Thanks rumplecat. Better get that radiator fixed so it can live for many more miles!

 

[M35fan]

My M35A2 is a 1972 model that was overhauled in 1987. The odometer reads just over 46K. That doesn't really tell me much. From what I've read, odometers, hour meters, and even engines were swapped out as needed. Sometimes with used units. So my engine could have way less than 46K or it could have more? Not sure about the life expectancy for one, but I hope it's a lot more than mine has. Good luck with your purchase!

 

[SCSG-G4]

The same engine block was used in the Oliver tractors, which went 8000-14000 hours between overhauls. Of course they were not multi-fuel, did not have as high a compression ratio, and were used most every day, but I doubt they got the rpm's up very high.

 

[williamh]

I got 48000+ on mine. Got it with 22000 , still runs like a champ

 

[BKubu]

I concur with the other posters. 34K miles would not concern me at all if the truck ran well and was in good shape. What would be of interest to me is the care provided by the current owner. Did the current owner put a decent amount of mileage on it (e.g., they put 5K of the 34K miles on it) and properly service it? If it is an auction truck, this goes out the window, in which case I'd stick with determining if it "ran well and was in good shape."

 

[Robo McDuff]

Check the engine tag (on the engine) and the relief print on the engine. My 5-ton multifuel was supposedly from 1973, but I later found out that I have a 1965 M51A2, and both engine and truck were overhauled in 1973. Maybe its still the original combo of truck and engine, maybe they repaired the truck and replaced the engine with an overhauled engine from a different truck.

 

[cattlerepairman]

@Larry S. You have no way of knowing what the odometer reading means. Gauges, engines, transmissions etc. were swapped as needed and you cannot verify what's original to the truck and what isn't. Unless you have the unit maintenance records, the miles or hours on any component are unknown.



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[dmetalmiki]

Over the years I must have had over 20 of these trucks, Both two and a half
and five ton..
No failures in any of them.
However, As soon as any truck arrives here, in very short time ALL the oils get replaced..
And as I have mentioned before in other posts..
Military grade oils are put in, And ALL and EVERYTHING component has Molyslip Engine..Molyslip Axle, or Molyslip Transmission oil added.

(( And, 'knocks bangs vibrations squeaks rattles and crunching or grinding removed!.))

 

[98G]

There's documented cases of failures of new trucks that were working as intended hauling cargo in Viet Nam, in ~ 20k miles. (We can all speculate on what kind of aggravating circumstances were involved)

My own speculation on multifuel engines in general is that quite a bit was compromised in order to be able to run a bunch of different fuels. Power, efficiency, and longevity all took a hit.

I own one. I like it a lot. But it would not be my first choice for a high mileage live forever engine.

 

[Robo McDuff]

As mentioned above, it might differ what was used as fuel. I use only straight diesel in the multifuel, as was the intention to use if possible. If you do so, probably these engines will continue waaayyy longer than the rest of the truck.

 

[frank8003]

~ How many miles are too many on a multi fuel? ~
It is a Diesel so the question is how many hours, how much time lugging and how much time at high revolutions above the torque peak. i.e. Can't know that either.

 

[SCSG-G4]

~ How many miles are too many on a multi fuel? ~
It is a Diesel so the question is how many hours, how much time lugging and how much time at high revolutions above the torque peak. i.e. Can't know that either.

Which is why the farm tractors go so many hours between overhauls, 8,000 hours at 30 mph is 240,000 miles, 14,000 hours would be 420,000 miles, but those tractors rarely get revved over 2100 rpm, and the compression ratio is less than the multi-fuel.

 

[frank8003]

I'm looking at a m35a2 with 34,000 on it. How many miles are too many on a multi fuel?

A truck speedometer could have been changed out with any that works, higher or lower miles.

 

[Hummer Guy]

I'm looking at a m35a2 with 34,000 on it. How many miles are too many on a multi fuel?

I got one with 34k and its great besides the fuel sender unit needs to be replaced since it works whenever it wants too

 

[Gunfreak25]

The Multifuel is a durable design. If a man took a brand new Multifuel that was properly assembled, never abused it and ran modern oil filters from hour 1 I see no reason it wouldn’t go an easy quarter million and more. Lower compression would help longevity.

All the veterans tell me stories how they ran balls to the wall, often hours on end. Over revving, lugging, poor lubrication at initial start up, that’s why they call it surplus! You never know what your going to get and how it was treated before you.

These motors really shouldn’t go above 2100rpm for maximum longevity. I cruise at 2000. That long stroke and high compression, I don’t know how some of y’all run at 2400 or 2500 rpm. You can hear she ain’t happy about it, engines have feelings too…..I try to listen to what she’s telling me.

 

[Hummer Guy]

The Multifuel is a durable design. If a man took a brand new Multifuel that was properly assembled, never abused it and ran modern oil filters from hour 1 I see no reason it wouldn’t go an easy quarter million and more. Lower compression would help longevity.

All the veterans tell me stories how they ran balls to the wall, often hours on end. Over revving, lugging, poor lubrication at initial start up, that’s why they call it surplus! You never know what your going to get and how it was treated before you.

These motors really shouldn’t go above 2100rpm for maximum longevity. I cruise at 2000. That long stroke and high compression, I don’t know how some of y’all run at 2400 or 2500 rpm. You can hear she ain’t happy about it, engines have feelings too…..I try to listen to what she’s telling me.

I'm the same here, I never take mine over 2100 Rpm, do you know if I should be mixing some kind of oil with the diesel? I always use straight diesel