Interstate Driving Etiquette

[biggestc69]

When I was in the Army convoy speeds were 45 with a "catch up" speed of 50. Kinda what they were designed for in my opinion. 55 is about all I take mine and only for a short time and thats with 34" tires. I'd really kick myself for grenading a perfectly good engine to get to my destination 10 minutes sooner.

 

[wallew]

OP, you are aware that the 6.2 is a fairly stout engine and that the 3500 red line is no doubt for some wet behind the ears GI that has a heavy right foot?

6.5L Diesel Land Speed Truck, Bonneville Salt Flats, 6.5L Diesel

this guy has campaigned a 6.2/6.5 diesel at Bonneville salt flats for THIRTY YEARS.

they have taken the 6.2 up and over 5000 rpm with no damage.

NOT suggesting YOU do that with yours, but read the article and understand that these engines were also used in a MARINE environment, where the RPM was higher than that 3500 rpm.

just something to consider

proper maintenance, judicious driving and not just beating the snot out of it will keep you driving your truck for a LONG time

I use Royal Purple in mine (engine, difs, transfer case - but not the tranny) and I've not had ANY issues. I don't hot rod either of mine, but I also DO NOT WORRY about the occasional and short burst of up to 70 mph - say to keep from being crushed by a big rig that just 'changed lanes' without regard to what was occupying the lane where he was going...

 

[ridingshotgun]

Around here, if you display a SMV, you can get a ticket for travelling over 25 mph. You can even get a ticket for exceeding 25 mph while hauling a piece of equipment that is displaying one! It all depends on the mood of the authority figure.

 

[K9Vic]

I am from Milwaukee area and I have driven that route many times from either Milwaukee to Chicago area, or Milwaukee to Green Bay area. There really is no good way to go that is not on the Interstate as Wisconsin does not have a very good state highway system like here in Texas with Farm to Market roads that you can travel all over the state without touching a Interstate. However many of these back roads still have speed limits of 65-75mph on single lane roads.

It will be a long trip at 50-55mph even on the interstate and you will have to be very observant of what is around you. You will have semi trucks pass you like you are standing still, cars cut around you and pull back in too close. You will probably piss people off in the large cities, especially Milwaukee area. If it was me I would pass on taking it unless you can find a way to mingle the back roads. That would also take you about 2 hours longer to make the trip and you also have to consider the cost of diesel along the way as they rip you off along the major highways.

If you do make the trip, do not put a slow moving sign as it would be illegal in Wisconsin. You may want to just put a small yellow magnet mount strobe beacon on the roof to warn drivers with at least something. On my M1031 I have two strobe beacons on the rear that I will use if I am on the highway driving under the posted speed limit.

 

[chevyCUCV]

Listen to this above and you will soon have a boat anchor for an engine. Go with larger tires and you can go a bit faster. Look at Novak gear calculator to figure your rpm for a given tires size and gear ratio and 1 to 1 final gear ratio in your trans. Im running 34" tall tires vs the 31" stock tires I had before and run 60 or so now. But I sure dont like even doing that for long distances.

Stay in the slow lane (FAR RIGHT LANE). When you start to go up your speed will quickly go down. Hazards on and do your best. I drove 8 hrs with the last four in the mountains. Take lots of rest breaks for your truck and check for leaks. Make sure your belts are in good shape. Good Luck!

I disagree, i have not read any storys about engine's blowing at high rpms. Seems most break at idle, or easy driving.
We will see what happens

 

[wayne pick]

I'll run my truck up to 65, thats it, and I have a 700R4. My 1031 rides like a skid steer Bobcat on these crappy New York roads so I keep the speed to a minimum. Contrary to the above statement, over revving a 26yr old 6.2 for long periods of time is not a recomended practice. An old dried out harmonic balancer, Head cracking, lower web cracks are the death of these engines, why push it? I really don't know why anyone would want to run these trucks past 65 anyway, with all the noise and bouncing you might as well run that Bobcat down the road.

 

[donalloy1]

I'll run my truck up to 65, thats it, and I have a 700R4. My 1031 rides like a skid steer Bobcat on these crappy New York roads so I keep the speed to a minimum. Contrary to the above statement, over revving a 26yr old 6.2 for long periods of time is not a recomended practice. An old dried out harmonic balancer, Head cracking, lower web cracks are the death of these engines, why push it? I really don't know why anyone would want to run these trucks past 65 anyway, with all the noise and bouncing you might as well run that Bobcat down the road.

I reverse commute daily with my 09 on California Race Tracks. My Motto is get it to 55-60 and keep it there! When its time for me to grab a lane. I signal and start coming. No breaks here! Many middle fingers and Pumped Fists though? Tomorrow is another day for me and 6k#'s of 1986 M1009 hitting the Nor-Cal Highways. Not like they will hurt me. Rest assured, I do not loose much sleep over those that do not appreciate my sharing road with them.

CHP seems to approve. All good here. DMLII sends...

 

[ilovemyblazer]

My main concern is to not get rear ended by a 'distracted' driver doing 75mph. I trust my 1008 to protect me in the case of an accident, but Im unsure if I can control my own actions after the fact

 

[M1008driver]

I went on the interstate today and up airport hill today to go to FedEx. 4 cylinders have a problem on that hill. I was accelerating the whole time and hit 65 mph easily. Nothing blew up or fell off my M1008. I was smiling too thinking about this thread!

 

[WARWAG]

Oh you can run them up there but I wouldnt do it for long periods as in his journey. 2000 rpm is the sweet spot with these diesels. Running 65 and high with 4.56 gears, No Over drive and stock 235/85R16 tires will see your engine short lived. I dont care what anyone else says. Facts are facts. This diesel is not and never had been designed to run at high RPMs for any amount of time. It has a CAST crank shaft! Anyway Im not trying to get into a pissing contest. He asked for "GOOD" advice.

 

[hunderliggur]

AN 09 is not an 08, but my 09 is my DD, and is sees 55-65 (sometimes but seldom 70) around DC. About 10K of this with no observed issues. It does go faster now that I put in the hood liner I think it has something to do with the sound level in the cab.

 

[McCluskey]

Oh never mind i do have milk and cookies!!!!lol

That doesn't sound rapey at all. Does your Deuce have a sign for free puppies and naps?

 

[kassim503]

I cruise 55-60 in my 1008, as long as its not hammer down uphill it sounds like its motoring rather nicely. Really wouldn't take it over 65 though. The concept of doing 50 on a busy 65 posted limit road really isn't a great idea, you really could be annihilated by a careless driver.

 

[chevyCUCV]

Oh you can run them up there but I wouldnt do it for long periods as in his journey. 2000 rpm is the sweet spot with these diesels. Running 65 and high with 4.56 gears, No Over drive and stock 235/85R16 tires will see your engine short lived. I dont care what anyone else says. Facts are facts. This diesel is not and never had been designed to run at high RPMs for any amount of time. It has a CAST crank shaft! Anyway Im not trying to get into a pissing contest. He asked for "GOOD" advice.

My advice was different, yet backed by other people, but its bad? People can have different opinions you know
and the op asked for recommendations, so i shared. Thats the point of forums, people sharing vehicle info and data right

We all like , we just dont all do it the same

 

[patracy]

Can a 6.2 rev beyond 3400rpm? Yes.
Are the harmonic balancers prone to failure? Yes.
Are the cranks and bottom ends prone to cracking? Yes.
Are the 6.2's an interference engine? Yes.
Do interference engines typically result in catastrophic failure from piston to valve contact? Yes.

Not going to argue either way, just stating fact. You choose if you want to push past these shortcomings. In all likelyhood, it will survive being revved high for a period of time. I've ran mine to 65mph (back when it was on stock tires) to get home in the middle of a storm.

 

[saddamsnightmare]

June 21st, 2012.

Just get the reflectorized "Convoy Ahead" sign from Rick Larsen, hang it on the rear and do a sane 50-55 MPH, anything above that and you are cooking the engine... Patracy said it correctly immediately above. If you value your truck you will hold the speed down, if not, trash the truck and then go buy a civillian version, you'd likely be happier with it anyway.

Just IMHOP!opcorn:



N.B> Patracy: Note correction above. Mistake was mine, must be CRS or some equivalent attention defect on my part. Please accept my apologies!

KFM

 

[patracy]

Kyle, why do you always misspell my screen name? (I've noticed you do this in the past) I know a lot of people try to re-spell my last name as Tracey. But I've never seen someone always place the e in front of the last name to replace my middle initial.

 

[WARWAG]

The engine in that article someone posted has NO bearing what so ever in how durable or how high an RPM you can run a stock 6.2 6.5. LETS GET THIS STRAIGHT. For you people who dont know. The stock cranks are cast., as in NOT FORGED as in they are the engines weak link (at high rpms) as in if you run your stock engine at HIGHer than recommended RPMs for long periods of time you will BLOW your F#@K!%G engine to HE!!! Your carnk will crack eventually and then fail sometime there after. PERIOD. I dont care if you say youve run it at 4,000 rpms at 75 MPH for 10 hours straight. BULL S.H.I.T.. If you want to do so and beable to drive it ever again go get a FORGED STEEL CRANK for it and all the other goodies needed. In Fact just get a whole diffrent type of Diesel! Stop giving advice if you dont know what the **** it is you are talking about. This thread will forever be read by young men and women who dont know S.H.I.T about anything mechanical. They read this and think "**** I can run my truck all day longat 80 mph and not have a care in the world". This truck may be someones only means of transportation and may not have the money to fix it when it GOES TO **** because they took someones advice who didnt know jack! Bottom line. IF you want your engine to last a LONG TIME run it at as low an RPM as possible. If you go to the store dont go 70 with stock tires. STAY AT 55. Change your Harmonic balancer out if its old. The Crank Shaft is weak (for high RPMS) and cannot take the stress of high rpm use. It may for a "liitle while" but thats it. It will ALWAYS break on you at the absolute worst moment and usually when your just putting around not knowing that your 16 year old son the night before read the threads before this one and ran it at 75MPH while he was doing the beer run for that hot young Red Head.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not pointing my finger at anyone in particular. Please do post this with a quote and start to defend your self. I am not pointing my finger at YOU. HOWEVER, If you FEEL GUILTY for giving wrong advice then feel free to quote me................

 

[WARWAG]

AN 09 is not an 08, but my 09 is my DD, and is sees 55-65 (sometimes but seldom 70) around DC. About 10K of this with no observed issues. It does go faster now that I put in the hood liner I think it has something to do with the sound level in the cab.

An M1009 has I believe 3.09 gears? I know they are allot taller than the 4.56 gearing found in the M1008 1010 1028 ect. If you have tall gears like that then you are not even approching the RPM levels we are talking about.

 

[Scooteerr]

The engine in that article someone posted has NO bearing what so ever in how durable or how high an RPM you can run a stock 6.2 6.5. LETS GET THIS STRAIGHT. For you people who dont know. The stock cranks are cast., as in NOT FORGED as in they are the engines weak link (at high rpms) as in if you run your stock engine at HIGHer than recommended RPMs for long periods of time you will BLOW your F#@K!%G engine to HE!!! Your carnk will crack eventually and then fail sometime there after. PERIOD. I dont care if you say youve run it at 4,000 rpms at 75 MPH for 10 hours straight. BULL S.H.I.T.. If you want to do so and beable to drive it ever again go get a FORGED STEEL CRANK for it and all the other goodies needed. In Fact just get a whole diffrent type of Diesel! Stop giving advice if you dont know what the **** it is you are talking about. This thread will forever be read by young men and women who dont know S.H.I.T about anything mechanical. They read this and think "**** I can run my truck all day longat 80 mph and not have a care in the world". This truck may be someones only means of transportation and may not have the money to fix it when it GOES TO **** because they took someones advice who didnt know jack! Bottom line. IF you want your engine to last a LONG TIME run it at as low an RPM as possible. If you go to the store dont go 70 with stock tires. STAY AT 55. Change your Harmonic balancer out if its old. The Crank Shaft is weak (for high RPMS) and cannot take the stress of high rpm use. It may for a "liitle while" but thats it. It will ALWAYS break on you at the absolute worst moment and usually when your just putting around not knowing that your 16 year old son the night before read the threads before this one and ran it at 75MPH while he was doing the beer run for that hot young Red Head.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not pointing my finger at anyone in particular. Please do post this with a quote and start to defend your self. I am not pointing my finger at YOU. HOWEVER, If you FEEL GUILTY for giving wrong advice then feel free to quote me................

what he said...
I may not know anything bout' cucv's but it's common sence(?).....!!!! They did not put a top speed there just to piss people off.... They did it cus that's the highest speed you can go without having the risk of stuff go wrong rise exponentially...... I say stay within the TM's and junk... There there for a reason... But that's just my .....