What are some engines to avoid not matter what.

Striker, the Mack motors do have their cam issues, BUT they are under powered and get terrible fuel economy. Good news, the jakes sound really good though.

 

Any cummins or detroit experience I've ever had was poor power and poor fuel economy. The 95 3406E I've got in my truck now doesn't suck fuel and doesn't burn oil at all? In fact it's the complete opposite. It's actually the detroits and cummins motors that anyone I know and any truck I've run had both those issues, not to mention, no power. And no power means poor fuel economy. 6-6.5 is what I average hauling 80k+ most of the time as well. If driven properly a Cat can last forever. Cat will be making parts for the older engines forever as well due to the demand for them now. The twin turbo cats were also great motors if set up correctly. Most of old werner trucks have them in them and are also quite reasonable in price. We've also got an ex werner 01 Pete with a 6NZ and it's clean and was maintained quite well. Just an idea for ya. Cummins have 3 heads on them as well so keep that in mind. And I don't believe detriot has much of a warranty from the trouble others I know have with them. Cat is 1 year out of the box reguardless of who installs it as long as it's done correctly. Hope this helps

 

I've said many times before - 3406C. Pre-EGR heck, pre-computer even better! Never breaks down.

I just got a tad over 8 mpg fill up in Savannah, GA to fill up in Harrisburg, PA last week with a load of shingles driving between 55 and 65 mph. Must not be bio fuel they sell in Savannah!

Lovin' my 8PN.........

 

Look for the EPA sticker, look up the JD power remarks.
Lots of guys love their Cats, that is great, I spent years fixing them and made a lot of money doing it.
Telling someone that a Cat is fuel efficient is a flat out untruth, Detroit won the fuel efficiency ratings every year.
Telling someone that the acert is a good engine, that is just wrong, it is a nightmare to work on and very expensive to fix.
People that used big Cats for years in this area hauling logs are going to the DD16 and are getting a lot better mileage, better Jake's, better reliability.
Highway trucks are using the DD15.

 

John , just come out of the closet and just say you hate cats. Everybody knows you love the n14 and the series 60. The only reason you fixed a lot of them is because back in the day when you were wrenching cat was king. Every 8 out of 10 trucks around your area had a cat in it. When the b model was out , it was the engine to have. E model was no diffrent. Of course you fixed lots of them, they were the most popular engine in a truck. Although I do agree with you, the other engines are great as well, but to say cats are bad on fuel is not true either. If driven correctly they can do well also.

Nobody in this thread has come out and said the accert is a good engine. Not sure who your referring to there?

Times have changed and as of now, your right , the dd15 seems to be doing the best on fuel and reliability. Everybody is entitled to their opinion and really you can't go wrong with any engine before 2003. They all had their good and bad. Cats are no more expensive then anything else either. Have you priced out a injector at cummins lately for your beloved n14 lol!!!

 

Rarely see a new truck advertised with the DD16 and hear nothing about them. How are the operators in your area liking the DD16?

 

The guys buying the DD16's are hauling logs, many of them had Cats or Cummins all 600 HP plus. They are hauling 144,000 lbs down mountains, they have had them for a while with no problems. Some have bought the Volvo to early to tell on them. Many of them are tri drives.
I fixed what ever engine came in the door, in their day the 3406 B was the best, then the N14 came out it was very soon replaced, the Detroit's were found to be reliable and cheaper to operate. The N14's had lots of problems when they came out with Injectors, water pumps, and pass threw connectors. Some operators kept the Cats, bought the early "E" It was a disaster, a "C" block with a copy of the Detroit bolted to the front , It still had the cam holes and bearings in it, You were lucky to get 6 months out of an oil pan, before it cracked. I replaced multiple cams in the same engine, rocker arms, the first one in the door the rocker arm studs stretched it destroyed the head and we waited weeks to get parts. Cat did not seem to care.
I like any engine that the owner can make money with.
Cat had the 1693, why they could not upgrade that was beyond me, the crap they put out was a disgrace. Many of cats problems were caused by the coolant eating away the aluminum, cover plates on the water pumps

 

The cat water pumps were a plastic impeller on a stainless shaft. The plastic would stretch and spin on the shaft. We cross drilled a few and put roll pins in . Then at the head gasket the return was much smaller in the block , spacer , and the head than the gasket . Open up the return in each with a die grider to flow better. Port to the gasket. A good rad usually good to go. All this was before accert .

 

a engine to avoid would be a detroit V-12 with duel super chargers, that engine has a fuel line about the size of a garden hose

 

johnP3 i run 1693ta cats for years the main problems with them were #1 bad mpg about 3 mpg but some drivers would lie and say they got 4mpg #2 the motor was heavy #3 injector problems one of the better motors if you could live with the low mpg. b careful ps. around 77 some tractor company made a V-8 for kenworth but cant remember who it was, terrible motor it was not a cummins 903.