What to inspect before buying?

[truckyard1]

Looking at a couple SD's to replace the '95, and I wanted to get some info on what to look for on these trucks. I know the OBs 7.3 really well, but I'm sure there's alot of changes going to an SD. What are the common issues and what can I do to inspect for them? Also, what years had the powdered metal rods? Thanks folks

[jesilvas]

Basically the same things you'd check on an OBS.
01ish is when the PMRs started. They go by serial number.

[NoRalPh]

Here's a good link -> What to look for when buying a USED 99-03 PSD

Also, the whole PMR thing is kind of a Red Herring, nobody's having trouble with them... So, unless you plan on dumping like 5K into engine mods, it shouldn't be a concern

[Snake]

I asked the same question last week.

Check the latches on the air box and see if the lid is well secured. It's a crappy design and known for letting dirt pass through. Pull the intake tube and check the turbo compressor wheel and make sure its not all jacked up. Look for puking coolant and separation (layers) in the coolant. Smell the degas bottle lid and if it smells like diesel, the injector cups are likely cracked. Unscrew the oil fill cap while the engine is running and set it back on top of the tube. If it blows off, don't consider buying the truck. And look for a rusty oil pan and oil pan leaks. Keep in mind that to replace the pan you have to pull the motor.