How hard can a 6.2 diesel be run?

[1984blue6.2]

well im 18 and have had my grand dads old 6.2 for two years now. i turned the fuel up about a 1/4 turn and advanced the timing a couple degrees and beat the piss out of it even with about 240,000 on the engine. truck has 340,000. my problem was that the 700r4 didnt want to stay together after being rebuilt several times. If you do regular maintenance to it like fuel filter and oil changes and keep and eye on the balancer you wont have any problems. I've tried to kill it. it wont die

[jitteryguy]

no matter what engine you ask about there will several people give a list of problems they had that prove's that engine is junk.
the 6.2 is a good engine when maintained. it wont make the power that new diesel's will but it will do what it does very well.

[Edahall]

What's hard on these engines is high EGT's, too much turbo boost especially at low rpm's and lugging these engines. They're high revving engines (for a diesel) and can run all day that way. But for best fuel economy empty, about 1700 - 1800 rpm is where you want to be at cruising speed. And for pulling, these engines do well at around 2800 rpm.

[crashz]

Sorry - I was a bit too sarcastic in my last post. I've been frustrated with an air leak in the fuel system on my 87, and haven't had the time to thoroughly flush it out.

My point was that there is a lot of experience out there with these engines that can help a newbie overcome some unique issues. Not all of them will have every issue, but some quick checks of things will save potential headaches. When I was driving my 83's (two of them) I wish I was as connected as today, as I've learned many lessons the hard way. Still learning.

To the OP - in naturally aspirated form, the engine will run fine right up to governed speed. Like Edahall said however, the EGTs are critical if turbo charged. The 6.2's did not have coated pistons, so their EGT tolerence is not as high as the 6.5's.