Detroit 6V92

Reliable? Every one has there idea of reliable but I will step out on that limb and say yes.

They are really simple honestly, however very few left that really know much about them. Kinda sucks needing info and no one to get it from

 

My 1st reaction was, but the 6V92 really wasn't a bad motor, gutless thing, but spin it would. I think they were in the 270 hp range. Pretty hard to kill them, unless a rod went thru the block. I think the mileage was down a bit, but same as most for the era, 5-6, mostly because you got the pedal mashed all day. For that kind of mileage, you can do a lot better, if that's an issue. What kind of truck? Get it cheap, be a great local truck.Local freighthaulers used those motors for years.

 

They were reliable for the most part but low powered.
They leaked oil out the drain tubes and were obnoxiously loud to drive.
Also they need to be shifted an extreme amount to keep them in the power band of what little power they have.

 

Good engine

Narrow power band

Problem with parts so buy extra

Problem with people who can work on them, not many left.

 

I wouldn't buy it to make money with, bunch of other, better options out there.

 

They were huge in bus and vocational segments; in part because they absorbed a lot of the abuse inherent in those markets. Married with an Allison transmission and they were virtually indestructible. We had tons of them in the oilfield all over the world and as previously noted, the throttle only had two usable positions; full-on or off.

Personally, I would consider one if the truck was nearly free and it was intended for occasional use only or as a field truck. It isn't something I would consider for daily use or to make a living with these days. YMMV.

 

If you get one with a manual trans before you even start the truck slam your hand in the door. That will make sure you're pissed off sufficiently enough to be able to drive the truck all day.

 

1st DEEtroit powered truck I drove, was a Ford tri-axle dump with a 238 and an air 4x4. The guy told me straight up, "drive it like you're pissed off at it",,,worthless crap.