Grid heater on ram trucks

[jsasker007]

Found out that the grid heaters on the Ram diesel trucks(cummins) have a problem with a bolt melting off and falling into the #6 piston causing all kinds of issues usually causing engine replacement for tens of thousands of dollars. Banks has come out with a replacement to fix this issue from what I've heard. I'm looking into it right now before it happens to me. I've already had my truck deleted to eliminate the emissions issues that come with the def system and the recirculating the exhaust back into the engine. Not sure if there might be another way to fix grid heater bolt problem or not. The replacement from Banks is around $1,000 but is way better than burning a piston or destroying my engine completely. Not too happy to find out it's not covered under warranty due to some bullshit excuse as usual. Figured I'd give a shout out to anyone with the cummins engine that might end up having this problem.

 

[West_Fork]

Talked to the guy I bought my cummins from and he said he thinks its mainly a problem for 2010 and newer. He also said there are other advantages to the banks system besides the heater. I may look in to it myself. Everything costs $1000 these days....

 

[Bill]

Never tried one but dip stick heaters exist pretty cheap.

 

[jsasker007]

Sounds like it's not very common for any owners who plug their trucks in all the time during the colder months. I've never plugged mine in. It's always started without a problem so I didn't bother. I'm nervous now. I'm hoping that the banks replacement is something I can do myself. Always something. The thing that pisses me off(there's always something) is that I feel that it should be a recall and fixed by the manufacturer. Guess it doesn't matter what I think as usual. DAMN IT!

 

[jsasker007]

Looking at the instructions for replacing with the banks it looks like you need to buy a shoe box full of tools and have the touch and finesse of a brain surgeon. They recommend a telescoping magnet as one of the tools needed. The magnet only comes in handy if you know you dropped something in the engine. Was hoping 2025 was gonna be a good year. Well, maybe next year.

 

[jsasker007]

Banks manual shows you how to do it yourself in 129 steps. I'm out. I don't have the patience for that. I talked to the guy that I paid to delete my truck and he didn't think it's a very common problem and told me to periodically check the grid heater wire where it goes into the grid for any play. I guess I'll just try to remember to keep checking that for now. The banks replacement costs about a grand and doesn't heat worth a damn for anyone who lives in colder climates(ME). Better option would be a new grid heater from Chrysler is what I was told. I would gladly spend $1,000 on the banks if it would solve my potential problem and save me the cost of a new diesel engine but it doesn't sound like it's the right thing for me living in Minnesota. Keeping my ears open for other options.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

What the heck is this bolt made of that it can melt off, some sort of pot metal?

 

[bigboreblr]

Grid heaters were very common in the 1980's to get early fuel evaporation issues under control on engins that still just carbs.

This heater he is talking about is 12v powered and built into the intake manifold assembly.

Cummins or Ram have a service bulletin with an update for it, not necesarily a recall. Is the EGR system cooking the grid, or the electric is staying on too long. Could even have a siftware update to fix this too.

Possibly this could overted as easily as removing a ice cube relay for the grid heater, if it's operated by that. Might be pulse with operated to modulate amount of heat output.

Some people need the towing power of the diesel, but I like the simplicity of the gas motors. Truck is technically wifes vehicle, although she works from home. 2019 ram 1500 68k miles on it. If we keep it much longer, buying a mds delete kit for it. A full one If lunati still offers it. She need exhaust manifold gasket work on the passenger side for about 2 years, still not bad. Seals up when warm. Could even be a manifold crack too.

They still using the ZF 8 speed on the diesels?

KILLER GRID HEATER UPGRADE KIT DODGE/RAM 6.7L CUMMINS 2500/3500 PICK-UP 3500/4500/5500 CAB & CHASSIS 2007-2024

The Killer Grid Heater Upgrade Kit is purpose-built to address a major flaw in the 6.7L Cummins engine that can result in total engine destruction.

us.bddiesel.com

 

[bueller]

Grid heaters were very common in the 1980's to get early fuel evaporation issues under control on engins that still just carbs.

This heater he is talking about is 12v powered and built into the intake manifold assembly.

Cummins or Ram have a service bulletin with an update for it, not necesarily a recall. Is the EGR system cooking the grid, or the electric is staying on too long. Could even have a siftware update to fix this too.

Possibly this could overted as easily as removing a ice cube relay for the grid heater, if it's operated by that. Might be pulse with operated to modulate amount of heat output.

Some people need the towing power of the diesel, but I like the simplicity of the gas motors. Truck is technically wifes vehicle, although she works from home. 2019 ram 1500 68k miles on it. If we keep it much longer, buying a mds delete kit for it. A full one If lunati still offers it. She need exhaust manifold gasket work on the passenger side for about 2 years, still not bad. Seals up when warm. Could even be a manifold crack too.

They still using the ZF 8 speed on the diesels?

KILLER GRID HEATER UPGRADE KIT DODGE/RAM 6.7L CUMMINS 2500/3500 PICK-UP 3500/4500/5500 CAB & CHASSIS 2007-2024

The Killer Grid Heater Upgrade Kit is purpose-built to address a major flaw in the 6.7L Cummins engine that can result in total engine destruction.

us.bddiesel.com

You have broken exhaust manifold bolts. Very common problem on the 5.7 hemi. Not fun to repair, especially on the driver's side. I had mine done at the shop. Cost is all in the labor

 

[bigboreblr]

I am the labor...... I have mig welded a nut to the broken bolt in the head. Spring 2024 I had to clean up a few bolts on a 3.6 jeep motor. Oldest kids girlfriend had a thermostat housing break and overheat the motor, causing the heads to warp. I am skilled with the curse of repairing cars. Doing the heads was easy, getting the cam timing right was a pain. While I was in there put a used passenger side exhaust cam in there. Lash adjuster/ lifter took out a cam lobe making a tick and probably a weak cylinder too.

Steering wheel is hard to turn, looks like a bad intermediate shaft from the steering wheel to the steering box. Another fun weekend........ Hoping to shoot some reloads out of the 450 marlin.

 

[West_Fork]

The alternative block heater I used was a magnetic ~500w heater from an auto-parts store, but I had to JB weld a piece of steel to the aluminum oil pan. I would use a timer to turn it on 2-3 hours before it would be started.