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What engine do you prefer.

johndeere123

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Messages
176
Location
Nova Scotia
What kind of engine do you run in your trucks, and what advantages or disadvantages have you experienced.
Year, Power etc.
 

ben46a

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
773
Location
Waverley NS/Fort Mac AB
Well, right now most of out fleet is mercedes 4000 series with 1 ISM cummins, and. 1 13L maxxforce international and 2 cat C9s. The international seems to be the best of the lot so far with performance and reliability. The ISM and 1 mbe 4000 have 18 speeds, the rest 8LLs.
 

johndeere123

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Messages
176
Location
Nova Scotia
What do you think of the cummins, I've heard good and bad about them. I heard that they burn quite a bit of fuel compared to others and that they have turbo problems. I've also heard that they are the best motor out there.
 

ben46a

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
773
Location
Waverley NS/Fort Mac AB
The ISM doesn't work badN but was sold to us. Under a false premise. Its in a tractor that pulls a Triaxle end dump, and for 430 hp and 1550 torque it doesn't work great, good with a tandem trailer or would be perfect in a tandem. Its not bad on fuel considering what its doing. No real serious issues other than egr cooler (common across the board of newer cummins engines)
 

johndeere123

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Messages
176
Location
Nova Scotia
It depends entirely on what you are doing with them and what era of truck you are buying, and what is available at the time for what price.

I am not buying a truck, i just asked to see what people are running and what they like or dislike about their engines,
 

buckfever

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2010
Messages
813
Location
southwest pa
We have 3 cat 3406b's and 1 c-15. Don't know what it is about the B model motors but we love'em. Lots of power and runs great but on the 425-450 motors the fuel economy sucks. Haven't gotten much time on the c-15 yet but seems to be a real horse.
 

Soodude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2011
Messages
140
Location
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
When I use to drive for a docking and dredging outfit I had a Kenworth W900 with a CAT 500hp and I loved that motor but when she broke down it was expensive as all hell. With my new job in excavating the owners trucks have L10 cummins in them and I don't have much to complain about those motors. Simple, easy to fix, easy to crank up the HP without spending a $hit ton of money. Even my personal semi that I conveted has a L10 engine. Not the biggest powerhouse on the road but it gets you from point A to point B reliably everytime!!!
 

JBGASH

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2011
Messages
758
Location
Missouri
Occupation
Plumbing & Excavation Contractor / farmer
We have M-11 Cummins in a couple trucks, very easy to work on and have been reliable with plenty of power. Also have Mack E-7 engines that have been very good also.
 

Tiny

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
2,126
Location
NW Missouri
I have run an N 14 Cummins , other than a set on injectors it pulled everything the company had . Drove it to 650,000

Run an older 855 cummins and no trouble .

Run a 8V92 , Under powered but never broke anything but my ear drums .

Running a C 13 cat at the moment so far 1 computer , two throttle pedal switches , tad under powered but it is a tractor boom truck weighs 33,000 bobtail .

Company has 4 C15s . Lots of things , turbos on 2 , All of them have blowby separators that when they get dirty will blow the dipstick out and oil down everything in sight , Valvetrain parts broken on 2 ,

If I had a choice I would run another N14 , Decent amount of power . After the factory injectors were replaced it was change the oil at 250 hrs. and stand on it .
 
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Greg

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
1,175
Location
Wi
Occupation
Excavating Contractor
Have run Mack Diesels here for a long time. Very good experience with them.
 

Ryanrb25

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2009
Messages
146
Location
Australia
we have 7 various VOLVO engines in trucks, graders, excavators and never had any real problems. Economical and Pull like a freight train.
 

busdrivernine

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2007
Messages
163
Location
TEXAS
I have a Cummins Big Cam IV was low flo cooling but converted the nasty system ( being nice ) can not type what I think about the lo flo cooling system the only other engine we had was a Cat C15 435 6 NZ would love to have it back was getting a MPG od 6.0 the Big Cam is about 5.234
 

Fattie6SS

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
5
Location
Snow Shoe Pa
Where I work we have a varity,

2 Mack E-7's 1 mech. 1 Elc. I won't be biast to Mack fans as I am not one hahaha.:my2c

2 Detroit's a 12.7 that works great and a 14L that works good when it wants to.

3 N-14's Love them good power, good milage and not many issues other than normal wear,

Then there's a 3406E in need of an overhaul but still runs strong!

Just my opinions/experinces.
 

tctractors

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
2,382
Location
Worc U.K.
The engine to run in the U.K. now is the 16 litre V8 Scania motor it knocks out 730 Draft Horse's and pulls like a Loco, on the older style motor the Cummins 855 big cam is some tool, with a jake is best.
 

RollOver Pete

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Messages
1,510
Location
Indio, Ca
Occupation
Operating Engineer/mechanic
Once upon a time, a 7FB-3406B or a 500hp fedral version of a 8V92TTA were my engines of choice.
But that was yesterday. Today....thats an entirely different story. Here in the state of confusion, the government , carb, epa, the railroad and every other tree hugging, whale loving, sap sucking hippie and those dip ships who financially support them have made it next to impossible to operate in this god forsaken state. I would prefer.....for things to be like they used to be or for me to go postal on these college educated retards.....but for now, I'm gonna stop before I get banned. Yeah.....this is a really sore subject for me. :thumbdown
 
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