Before you drop a bunch of money on a reman engine, remember this one thing about ANY diesel engine. If the rings are shot, you will have low compression. If you have low compression, it will be extremely difficult to start with a cold engine. If you do manage to get it started it will smoke much more when cold than when up to operating temperature.
If your engine starts without a lot of cranking and/or roughness in the morning with way more smoke than when fully warmed up, chances are the engine is still ok.
I'm not trying to step on your mechanic's work here, just trying to help.
I went and re-read your original post once more just to be sure.
I very highly recommend that you pull your injectors and replace the o-rings just to be sure that all is ok there first, before you condemn the engine.

 

I have to tell you guys, if the posting from the guy using all the oil in his 350 is correct where he mentioned 16/17 mph. you just have to love the fact that your driving a diesel.Serious drivers know that unless that diesel engine isn't hauling a load or making you money every day it't not a practcal investment. Ask any truck driver.I think it's overkill for average Pickup use and that includes hualing rec vehicles. I drive a 1999 250 superduty, no duallys and a V-10 with 3.73 rear end. after 125k i get 13/15 in town,17/19 out of town when under 65mph and it pulls my 28ft 5th wheel in cruise at 70 mph no strain on any grade and my computer shows 10.7 mph. My computer will show thecurrent mph instead of the tank average if you choose. that engine was a $310 option when i bought the truck.( for those of you who have the 3.73 rear end expect some noise around 120k. All of fords superduty rear ends have heaveier carrier bearings except 3.73 and they will fit in that rear end no prolblem. I changed mine and it's working fine.

 

Question, Engine dusted at 200 miles....
I have been around diesels for over 20 years since i drive truck here in michigan, if your rings and pistons are bad i would expect to see alot of blow buy, And would'nt the intercooler be filled with oil, unless the CCV mod was done then you would see it smoking out the tube, There is no way possible for you to have bad rings without blow-by....(Blow-by is caused when the compression in the cylinders fires off and you have the burnt gases entering the block past the rings)......I would have to agree with Kwik...its probly seeping into your cylinders from the injectors...I would really get a second opion before I went though the time and money (not counting stress) to possibly replace a good engine, this guy might not be straight with you if he know he might not see you again.....

 

Hey all,
I've been away from the forum for a couple of days. I just want to say thank you for all your opinions and advice!

The smoke gets worse everyday as does the engine, poor power etc. I bought this truck in Houston a few months back and knew this truck was driven and worked hard as a contractor's vehicle. For the price I paid for it, and the features I was looking for: CC, SRW, 6sp, I knew and didn't mind the fact that I would have to spend more $$$ to get it up to par.

To keep from this truck being a money pit, I went ahead and ordered a reman drop-in engine from this place: http://www.motorworksengines.com/dengines.html. I got this engine for $6800 with a $1200 core and a 2 year unlimited mile warranty. This company will have the engine built and dyno tested within 5-7 days and shipped to my mechanic, who will charge $1200 to install. So I'll have a new truck for under 20k. I'm happy!

As for the comment about using this truck for daily driving and/or casual use, I have to disagree. I sold my 2000 Ford Ranger with a 3.slow to get this one. The Ranger got 12-13 city, and 18-19 highway. This 350 has never gotten below 16 in any driving condition and got 20mpg once. And, after I move and get settled in Yuma, Az in 3 weeks, this 350 will be towing a 28' toy hauler loaded with dirtbikes, or musical instruments as we travel to bluegrass festivals. So I think for my case, this truck was a good investment. Much better than paying 50K for a new truck!

 

These trucks can handle alot of work...just as long as the oil is kept clean, 200,000 miles is not alot for these engines, (that is probly about nearing half it life span as far as the rolling block goes, but then what i believe gets you is that the exterior of the block that you have to deal with more,, HPOP, Turbo, sensors,water pump, injectors, things in that nature

 

how much blow by is normal from these engines?

 

i really would'nt expect to much...I know even on semi's the force of the gases that you can see just kind of putter out the blow-by hose....may see a real force of it under heavy pulling on older truck but they still pull good...

all fuel engines have blow-by, just depends on the motor.
if you ever get a chance..when your at a light and you can see a semi taking off next to you..watch under that engine, they all have a hose hanging just above the bottom of the frame rail...you can get an idea of the blow-by from watching it.

An engine has to have some kinda of blow-by or the oil would have problems,
some engines like cars have a Positive crankcase vent feed back into the intake...those are set up like that becasue the the gasoline is more voilitile, if heat got though the piston and into the crank then the left over gases could explode with enought force to blow the valve covers off, so on gas engines they must be rerouted for reburn and it helps to suck out the gases,

On our diesel they did the intercooler set up for emissions, so if you would take a look at a blow-by of a good running motor that had the CCV mode then you could kind of judge yours the more blow-by the more the rings are worn...

Sorry if i babbled off on this....

 

babblings ok as far as im conserned...just more reading.
ive been around semis,pullin tractors and race engines of some sort or another all my life, i just was wondering just about these engines inperticular.. thanks

 

being honest i have seen them doing alot of different things...the only thing i hav'nt seen is a blown rolling block...and we have alot of these trucks around the different construction sites...