Cummins vs. Cat

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by gtn428, Oct 26, 2008.

  1. OwnerNotOperator

    OwnerNotOperator Light Load Member

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    Nov 5, 2008
    El Paso, TX
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    I have a 3406E 435hp CAT and it has been nothing but reliable until some drivers blew up the head.

    Since putting the new head on and doing the main bearings it has been running so much better and getting amazing fuel mileage.

    I also just bought my first Detroit Diesel 60 series that is rated at 470hp??(I think) so we will see how it holds up. The detroit is in a 99 Freightshaker Century and has a new head, turbo, compressors, main bearings, and new radiator. It runs great so hopefully it will make me some good money.

    I have never had anything but CAT powered riggs. Although I can't vouch for the other brands, all the used trucks I have looked at, the N14 cummins that I have seen are always leaking oil or covered in oil. Why is that?

    I have heard nothing but good things about Detroit and as far as CAT goes most people ask me how I put up with the poor mileage but I don't my CAT powered Classic is averaging 6.72MPG???? I still can't believe it.

    The only Cummins I hear good things about is the one in Dodge Trucks...
     
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  3. 2fuzy

    2fuzy Road Train Member

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    Jun 19, 2008
    Granite Canon,WY
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    yes the cummins B is a great little motor have one in my pickup and it has been proplem free
    they have been real good in the med duty apps I used to run but the Cs was junk now the last N wasn't real bad just always seemed to have an injector going bad
     
  4. 24valve puller

    24valve puller Medium Load Member

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    N.E. Oh
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    well I guess I'll have to stick up for the cummins,almost all of my problems are from the previous owner haveing incompetant people work on it. Anybody that has ever worked on a cat and a cummins would have to say that the cummins if far easier to work on and that parts are cheaper. Water pump on a Accert cat in a 379 exhd @450k. cost a friend of mine $1400 (700-800 for the pump, 150 for new antifreeze and the rest labor)at a kw garage 3 months ago, and took like 5 or 6 hours of labor. water pump on my n-14 done on a 25 degree day out in the cold took a little over 1 hour and cost $180 for the pump and I reused the old antifreeze so figure half the time for saving the old antifreeze and then trying to find a funnel. The older 3406, C-15 cats are cheaper than the new ones but are still 2-3 times what mine cost, and far more time consuming to change The total parts list for my O/H last nov. was $4800 with genuine cummins parts and 3 rebuilt heads, everybody I know that has re-built their 3406/c-15 spent double that. Injectors are about the same price and both have as many problems as each other. While I will admit that a cummins will not make hp like you can make a cat do but in stock form a 525 cummins will be right behind a 550 cat on any hill in the left lane passing a detroit! and driven right will give you as good as mpg as anything on the road. Engines are just like everything else, some people like large cars some don't, some like green tractors and some for an unknow reason like red ones? about the only thing most of can agree on is that detroits are best left to someone else
     
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  5. 550hpW900L

    550hpW900L Road Train Member

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    Jan 29, 2008
    norcal
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    I will agree with 24valve here, although i had some serious issues with a N14 but i did buy it used and the previous owner took poor care of it im sure as it still had an original air filter with 320k miles. Yes the water pump on a CAT is a pain in the arse to do, especially on the acert. A rebuilt pump is $190 from a shop and $380 from CAT for the older C15/3406E, and ill tell you ill never buy the $190 one again.

    One thing though i bought all CAT parts for a 3406E overhaul with reman head for $4350, some parts may be cheaper but ive noticed that cummins has jacked their prices up on the N14 now and i noticed CAT has dropped their prices to keep a customer base with guys who run their old engines as they are planning on pulling out.
     
  6. 24valve puller

    24valve puller Medium Load Member

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    N.E. Oh
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    I don't know where the guys I know got their parts at but it sounds like they paid too much, I think he said he paid $9k for parts with a new turbo and recon head. Cummins did raise their prices alot last year, I think the o/h kit went up about $800. Should never wear it out sittin in the driveway, I got to work 1 1/2 days this week
     
  7. C16KIWI

    C16KIWI Medium Load Member

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    New Zealand
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    I would love to buy parts in the US,over here a full rebuild on a C16 with a new head but not a new turbo cost $34,000 nzd including labour thats about $21,000us.
    cummins is about 10% less.
     
  8. 550hpW900L

    550hpW900L Road Train Member

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    I havent moved in 2.5 weeks myself!

    Cylinder packs for a 3406E were $280 per cyliner, head was just a hair under $1300, head gasket kit with every O ring the engine needs was $400, water pump $380, rod and main bearings were around $250 for the set. Some misc parts and countless 24 packs of beer brought that up to $4350.
     
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  9. C16KIWI

    C16KIWI Medium Load Member

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    I have found a brand new C16 with full warrenty for $60,000nzd fitted thinking this might be the way to go when this ones out of its 12 month warrenty.
    I am sure the engine I have is jinxed so I might start again also not to sure on the new ACERTs.
     
  10. 550hpW900L

    550hpW900L Road Train Member

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    Stay with the C16, its a way better engine over the acert. See how this one runs over the 12 months, if its good just keep it. I found one here for $7500, probably needing a rebuild but thats still a hell of a deal for the 15.8 beast.
     
  11. C16KIWI

    C16KIWI Medium Load Member

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    Why would the head of CAT truck engines say the C16 is at its limits at 600/2050???
    The feeling I get from CAT over here is that the C16 is a C15 pushed to the edge with a block that at its limits with the 5.5 bore.Your thoughts??
     
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