Trying to buy a Kenworth T660

Where abouts are you located ?

 

I ALMOST bought this exact truck, but the dealer did not want to negotiate on anything, so I suppose I dodged a bullet! But MAN WAS IT A BEAUTY!!

 

I can 2nd, 3rd and what ever else about anything 2007 - 2010 with the C15.

Its not that the C15 is a bad motor. But unless you understand how the Regen and DPF system works.. you can run into a lot of emissions related headaches with considerable down time.

I have spent a year in a 2008 T660 with C15 and 18 speed pulling reefer. 120k miles. I also spent a year a 2007 Pete 386 with C15 13 spd pulling flat. Also about 120k miles.

They dont like to idle over night or for extended hours or expect a manual regen light to come on. The DPF filter needs periodic maintenance. The ARD head and igniter in the ARD head have about a 4 - 6 month failure rate. Then there are upper and lower sensors that either fail or just cause unwanted problems. The fuel needs for a rolling regen while loaded put stress on the fuel system. Fuel mileage is less then a C15 with out the DPF zystem. I could go on.

Hurst

 

I'd like to emphasize... its not the ACERT C15 itself. I have an 05 Columbia with an 04 BXS 435hp ACERT C15. First year cor the ACERT. No emissions on this motor.

I am just shy of 1.2 million mi now and I have not had a single mechanical failure in the 2 yrs I've had this truck. Electrical gremlins, coolant hoses, air lines. Things you would expect from a truck this age.

So Cat and the C15 have been great for me. I also average 5.8 mpg. I do flatbed so it fluctuates. I can go as low as 4.6 mpg grossed out doing the north west or get up to 6.3 mpg with light to medium loads while in the south or mid west.

Also this past summer the truck ran pretty much 24/7 to keep the A/C cranking. No issues to report.


Hurst

 

Wow I've had nothing BUT repairs in my 09 prostar, but I gotta be honest since it's a 100 % write off as far as repair bills go, I'd rather be in this truck than my old freight shaker!! It's very quiet and the dash and the doors don't rattle .. Oh LAWD I don't miss that! That was like Chinese torture!!

 

They dont call them Freight shakers for nothing.

Mine has all of the notorious Freightliner cab and interior issues. Door skin shakes when being passed by another truck. The dash clip in the middle is broken. Easy fix.. just been lazy about it.

Pete 386 I had had similar issues. KW T660. That was a nice well built truck. Nice and quiet, very smooth and predictable yet very forgiving while going down the road.

Hurst

 

If you want a Cat motor I would definitely be thinking pre emission..

Im in a 660 now they are nothing like the old 600's were as far as build quality goes but I'd be thinking 660 over any freightliner...I owned 2 freightliners and they were money pits..

 

I know a small outfit that just traded 5 2012 T700's low mileage in on 5 new CASCADIAS , stated the KW's spent too much time at KW to be profitable.

 

as a company driver over one year I've had two frightshakers.... miles in the 200s and 400s
In both of them when it rained water came in through the window seams and from under the dash.
POS!

 

Chorizo,

The emissions stuff is a constant pain on almost all of the newer trucks. The big question is if you will run Cali?

No Cali = get 2003 or older pre emissions truck. Detroits seem to be the lowest cost to maintain / rebuild. The auto shifts of that vintage are starting to get major electrical gremlins so I would stay clear of those. You should be able to find a good one in the $20k to $25k range. That would leave you with $20k for maintenance/rebuilds.

If you are going to run Cali you will need the 2008 or newer that tend to give the headaches no matter the engine manufacturer and you then need to question going to Cali.