Best engines need your opinions

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by CoronadoDriver, Dec 18, 2014.

  1. CoronadoDriver

    CoronadoDriver Light Load Member

    182
    30
    Nov 11, 2014
    South Carolina
    0
    Who remembers the signature 600 cummins they made for 2 years than stopped.But out of the all the engines tell me your favorite and why.

    My favorite engines are cummins are the cummins n14 That was probably the best serious cummins made with the three heads and if im not mistaking they are read heads but the reason i like them is because of maintenace cost is low and also if one of your heads go out you dont have to spend thousands to take the heads of see whats wrong then put them back on and thats labor fees but now if im also not mistaking the cats have 2 heads i know nothing about cat motors but i think cats are for show trucks my opinion i've never driven at cat just cummins and detriot
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. rickybobby

    rickybobby Road Train Member

    4,843
    6,672
    Jul 10, 2010
    greensboro, nc
    0
    This has been discussed numerous of times... Just hit the research button.
     
  4. russtrucker

    russtrucker Road Train Member

    1,767
    337
    Mar 27, 2012
    Central PA
    0
    I never liked the early isx. about n-14, my dad used to team drive a 98 volvo with n-14. Coast to Coast. It was a good engine. With detroits, I like the 12.7 non egr. They fit perfect for gliders. We used to have a 2000 century with 500 hp 12.7. It was pulling like a rocket and had good fuel mileage. With CAT, the best engines I know from it is c-12, c-16, 3406E, and early c-15 (6nz). Right now we have a mbn c15. It got power and torque but bad fuel mileage. It gets 5.1 mpg thanks to pto blower, mountain driving, mbn camshaft, mbn turbo, and the ecm.
     
  5. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

    12,246
    28,113
    May 19, 2011
    0
    SDP Cat's are the best!
     
    BeN DaViS and Boardhauler Thank this.
  6. russtrucker

    russtrucker Road Train Member

    1,767
    337
    Mar 27, 2012
    Central PA
    0
    It's more likely 6nz not sdp the painful dpf engine.
     
  7. Wolfyinc

    Wolfyinc Road Train Member

    2,888
    966
    Apr 21, 2013
    Salem, or
    0
    I know honestly I do not even know my exact engine but I know I have a cummins in my 2012 cascadia and I prefer the cummins over the detroit for sure, drove a 2012 freight recently that had the detroit and it didnt have near the power going up the hill compared to my cummins.
     
    russtrucker Thanks this.
  8. mc8541ss

    mc8541ss Road Train Member

    1,462
    1,993
    Sep 22, 2007
    Lower Alabama
    0
    CAT 3406E.
     
    russtrucker Thanks this.
  9. marmonman

    marmonman Road Train Member

    1,414
    2,828
    Dec 14, 2009
    central illinois
    0
    1693ta cat was the best then the B model was good to me and now my E model is treating me real good .
    So I guess now that I look at it I am just a cat guy .

    I have had a couple of Cummins that were gutless wonders and I had one Detroit that was an oil leaking angry bumble bee sounding piece of junk .

    Since I am a Cat guy I have another reason to keep my old truck .
     
    russtrucker and 7-UP Thank this.
  10. Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

    4,075
    3,835
    Dec 27, 2007
    Elkhart, IN
    0
    The Signature 600 was basically the original ISX motor. I think they had a couple years that were true pre-emissions motors so those would be highly sought after by certain people.

    The "post-mechanical/ pre-emissions" motors of the 90's and early 2000's are generally considered the best for power, fuel economy and reliability. Cummins N-14, Detroit Series 60, CAT 3406e all solid motors. Then there were a couple "unicorn" motors such as the pre-Acert Cat C15-6NZ and C16 and the aforementioned pre-emissions Signature 600's.

    "EGR only" motors from the mid-2000's (no DPF or DEF) aren't considered too bad at this point by today's standards but the EGR components are expensive to replace if they go bad. It is possible to eliminate the EGR system on motors of this vintage if it's your truck.
     
  11. commontrack

    commontrack Bobtail Member

    47
    22
    Aug 25, 2013
    Reno, NV
    0
    Early 80's Big cam Cummins.
    The N-14 is an industrial/stationary engine, good low rpm high torque motor. Don't over rpm or it will blow a head.
    All ISX motors pre/post egr and DEF/DPF are built off of the big cam base block.

    All of the pre-emissions Cats are good.

    Early 2000's Volvo ved-13 are long running motors. Million mile plus before rebuild. Not much for power though.
    Avoid 06 to 08 ved-13/15/16 serious wiring issues.

    Detroit Series 60 12L/14L pre 08 were good
    If a motor is equiped with an EGR system DO NOT eliminate the system. You will cause unrepairable damage to your engine.
     
    BeN DaViS and russtrucker Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.