Any Feedabck On Fluid Dampers?

[Ace]

My engine fuels nicely up to 3k rpm with the 366 spring in there, but seems to get a little peaky or buzzy past 2300 or so. I rarely run it that high anyway and always just assumed this was the nature of the beast. Wondering whether or not a fluid damper might be a good investment to alleviate this and make it run smoother all the way through the powerband?

[75Dodge]

Possibly. But have you checked your motor mounts? Also, check to the condition of your stock dampener.

[Ace]

Truck's just now coming up on 80,000 mi, just broke in far as I can tell, so I doubt those things would be the issue. I can see the passenger mirror dip when I blip the throttle at a stop sign, so motor mounts seem tight. I'll have a look at the stock damper, but not sure what I'd be looking for. Is it obvious how they fail?

[oldestof11]

But the mounts have rubber that will deteriate after time. After 17 years, they just might be pooped. The mirror will do that because all the weight will shift with a little torque. Plus the mounts have it made so the rubber doesn't stretch to kingdom come when you have lots of torque applied. Its design is to dampen with a little pressure on it and when it stretches, it hits a couple of tabs and pulls on it instead of the rubber.

Clear as mud?

Jon

[Ace]

So the engine mounts look fine and I don't see anything wrong with the stock damper either. Anyone got any info on the fluid dampers?

[GO OVRIT]

I can't give any feedback on a fluidamper for a diesel, but they great on a high reving gas engine. As for the stocker, if the rubber isn't poking out and it hasn't rotated then its just as good as it was new.

[fasttalker83]

your dampner on your truck is a elastic dampner thats why everyone wants a fluidampner cuz they will hold up better rather than te elastic one isnt as good as fluid and also if you find a marine 5.9 12valve it will already have a fluid dampner on it rather than elastic

[seeker1056]

A Fluid damper is NOT as good as a proper elastomeric damper.

Fluid does not run equal around the damper at all times and is quite often out of balance. There are no moving parts on an elastomeric dampner

For that reason you can Talk to just about any reputable crankshaft company and they wont even guarrantee a crankshft with a fluid dampner on it.

I lost two motors directly attributable to fluid dampers, and none to elastomeric

Think about this - there arent any fluid dampners on winning nascar engines.

The reason most people want a fluid damper - is because it is available - whereas an sfi approved elastomeric is not so available - its called marketability or bling bling and manufacturers want sales.

[SChandler]

Seeker, what do you recommend using instead of the fluid damper if you are required to have an SFI certified model?

Ace, I think that what you are describing is just the nature of the beast. It is my understanding that it is due to the pump being turned up enough that the governor is on the verge of losing control over the pump. I don't think that a different crank dampener will have any effect (unless it was a lot heavier than the stock one).

[flashgordon]

I have heard several people that have use and are using a fluid dampener that claim much smoother eng operation.........so they can't all that bad now could they.

If you want a Elastomer HB maybe the new 6.7 one would work.........I know there larger then the 5.9


flash

[Ace]

Well that all sounds good, and I don't think there is anything wrong. Like was said, just the way they are, prolly. I've been accustomed to relatively smooth-running V8's until I started driving this Dodge Cummins a couple years ago. I think I'll just keep the stocker on there unless somebody who has one installed can say it made a very noticeable improvement. Those things aren't cheap!

[CumminsPride]

I don't see them advertised real big on the trucks that turn 7k rpm. I have heard alot of mixed feelings on fluid dampers. I hear alot of rave but the shop I used to use, felt the same as seeker. They said the engines they pulled and rebuilt that had fluid dampers on them, the crank journals looked worse as an average than that of the OEM balancer (They rebuilt alot of 6.5's LOL:-).

[seeker1056]

well if yur stuck for sfi - there isnt an elastomeric out there for us at the moment.

What do i suggest - well I be workin on adapting an elastomeric from another engine type - the engine doesnt care what engine damper is on it for a damper so long as it has one.

the trouble with finding a donor dampner of course is the integral pulley.

The new LS1 appears close as a donor so far -

[SChandler]

I thought for racing or sled pulling purposes, a SFI approved model was required (at least in the higher rpm classes). I'm mostly just looking for options if it ever becomes necessary for me.