VD12 or VD16

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by NEW_OWNER, Sep 7, 2011.

  1. NEW_OWNER

    NEW_OWNER Bobtail Member

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    Sep 7, 2011
    illinois
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    looking to purchase 2007/2008 volvo780 with d12 465hp, auto trns or w/vd16 535hp and 13 manual, both trucks have approx. 500,000 miles.
    most of my driving is chicago-california and back, and loads around 40,000lb. I will use Lone Mountain Truck Leasing for the truck financing.

    Your input please, thanks
     
    123456 Thanks this.
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  3. fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    Tourist Town, FL
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    Google "volvo d16 problems" and read all about the d16. I imagine you will then run away. LM has some 670's with ISX and 13 speed which is probably the best setup you can get in a Volvo. Remember, in general, the only places that work on Volvo motors are Volvo dealers. Down time and tow charges can bankrupt ya. My .02 from a guy that was looking for a 730 with an ISX/13 spd until a couple months ago when I decided to keep my WS.
     
  4. JR OTR

    JR OTR Light Load Member

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    I drive a 2007 780 with the 2006 D12 engine... I think the 2008 and newer have the D13 version.

    The company I lease through has all three Volvo motors and it seems like the D16's have the most problems of the bunch, but it is a small sample size. I know one driver with a D16 and he didn't see anything out of the ordinary, repair-wise, while a different driver with one has had all manner of injector related issues.

    My biggest problem with the D16 is the massive weight... it is something like 1,500 lbs heavier than the D12 so scaling heavy loads is a chore. Most of the D16 drivers I've heard from have to constantly run 1/4 or 1/3 of a tank of fuel in order to scale and thus have to refuel frequently.

    Good luck,

    Jim
     
  5. NEW_OWNER

    NEW_OWNER Bobtail Member

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    Sep 7, 2011
    illinois
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    LM has 670 w/ISX400hp and w/vd12 465hp. I think that I may need more power to drive the mountains in Salt Lake City and others with gross wt. of 78,000 plus?
     
  6. fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    That 400 ISX can be uprated by Cummins for less than the tow bill to a Volvo shop. On top of that, there are many engine tuners out there that can giver you even more HP than Cummins will.
    I seriously did a lot of research including speaking with a lot of Volvo drivers and not one was extremely happy with Volvo engines, and very few were happy with Volvo service at dealers. That is why I decided against getting a 730. No one can make the decision but you, but I'd do some research on those motors before you jump in. I really don't like the ISX either, but it was the lesser of two evils when it comes to buying a Volvo.
     
  7. WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

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    I drove a 730 with a D16 for my last employer. Had problems with a mistimed injector (which at some point is going to cost an arm and a leg to replace), and electrical problems. But I seem to be one of the more fortunate ones. Most D16 owners I've talked to have had significantly more problems than I've had. And, as already mentioned, there's the weight issue. Made me wish I had 315s on the steers instead of 275s, but anyhow.
    If I were hell bent on a Volvo, I'd seek out one with the ISX. Focus more on torque output than horsepower, though. I'd be willing to bet that 12 liter D12 motor at 465 hp doesn't match a 14.6 liter ISX at 400 hp.
     
  8. BigBadBill

    BigBadBill Bullishly Optimistic

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    I have a 780 with D12 (2006) and love the truck and motor. I did a lot of research and found that the issue that you hear about are old news. Now dealer service issues are case by case. My dealer is great. Have been to some Volvo dealers that are a joke. But this isn't a "Volvo" issue. The only way the Pete dealer near us stays in business is from out of the area breakdowns.

    These are by far the best ridding trucks and if you feel comfortable that the issues on the D12 have been addressed then you can't go wrong.

    But talk to service managers, mechanics and people that doing oil testing. The two largest companies doing oil samples rate the D12 as the longest lasting motor on market. 1.5 million miles is not unheard of with these motors.
     
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  9. Mr. PlumCrazy

    Mr. PlumCrazy Road Train Member

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    Lexington NC
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    Like Bill said one of the keys is to find a good dealership. I use to take mine to Central Carolina Trucks in Kernersville, NC and could never get anything fixed right guess I should have figured that out by looking at the place. Last couple times I took it to Advantage in Charlotte I had an air dryer go out about six month ago and Central Carolina replaced it but I had told them I beleive there was something wrong with the compressor because it would bleed air back through the intake when you shut it off and I was getting oil out of the tanks. They told me it was nothing wrong with it and it was normal to get a little oil it wouldn't hurt nothing well it caused another air dryer to go and because it was due to excessive oil in it it couldn't be warranty but Advantage air dryers cost about $100 less than Central Carolina that goes to show that some dealers will mark prices up more than others. I imagine if I had started taking my truck to Charlotte to begin with I would have been a lot better off.
    And as Bill said the 780 is the quietest and smoothest riding truck out there. The only problem I have now is the weight, I have the D16 and those engines are heavy and to top it off I have a APU and it sits right behind the passenger seat with this my empty weight on my steer is 12200 so I am always over on my steer but I have never had a problem with DOT about it
     
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  10. vangtransport

    vangtransport Heavy Load Member

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    Volvo D16 owner here. Stay away from the D16 if it's pre 07 emissions.(first model of D16 in the US). It's a great motor if, and that's a BIG IF, the dealerships that worked on them knew what they were doing. I can get some pretty good fuel economy numbers out of mine, but I also stay on top of maintenance items like cleaning out the EGR cooler and such. The D16's biggest issue when released in the USA is the lack of technicians to work on them. They tend to not follow the recommendations of Volvo. For example, when the engines had issues with the coppers, allot of the dealerships would not invest in the tool required to seat them properly, resulting in them failing. Setting the overhead was a issue, over/under tightening of nuts/bolts. If your thinking about the D16 invest into some manuals and tools and do the work yourself. Volvo fault codes narrow most issues down pretty good. Their books are pretty good also, they are pretty well illustrated. Any D16 with below average milage for the truck year, should be a red flag, walk away. BigBadBill would be correct about the D12!!
     
    BigBadBill Thanks this.
  11. BigBadBill

    BigBadBill Bullishly Optimistic

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    Chattanooga, TN
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    Plum, have apu as well and 11,400 MT on steers. Weight would be my overall complaint about 780's. Looked at 880 with D16 and passed. Guy was selling because all of the issues he was having. Great sales pitch.
     
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