MBE 4000 Mercedes engines.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by farmbig_01, Aug 8, 2007.

  1. DieselTech

    DieselTech Bobtail Member

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    Mar 13, 2012
    MN
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    Egr engines you can gain fuel milage by using a frost plug to block off exhaust gases from entering the hot pipe. pull the hot pipe off and install frost plug. no egr is monitored on mbe 4000
     
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  3. leftlanetruckin

    leftlanetruckin Road Train Member

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    Mo Via Blackpool,Lancs.
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    Welded steel plate on the EGR tube where it goes into the exhaust manifold.
    Plasma cut plate to replace the gasket on the intake manifold, leaving the center section solid.
    No EGR, no codes.
    This is all in theory of course, I would NEVER do it myself....:biggrin_25522:
    And whoever paid $7,000 for new head gaskets got it broke off inside them. All 6 HG's and new injector nozzles in the heads....$3200 out the door.
    Martin
     
  4. localtrucker

    localtrucker Light Load Member

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    Dec 5, 2008
    Minnesota
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    is the mbe 4000 engine a high rpm or low rpm engine? where should i be shifting this motor. I know it has high torque at a low rpm.
     
  5. Mr Ed

    Mr Ed Road Train Member

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    Retired in Taunton Ma
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    I drive [when not in shop] an 09 Columbia 410 MBE 4000.It's been in the shop about 10 times for EGR,regen ,head gasket, throttle body,fuel line,and recall problems.It only has 275,000 miles on it.my boss says 200,000 alone from road tests at the dealership.
    Since we are so small,we have to send everything out for repairs,and it takes forever to get it back.I would run from this engine.Freightliner dealership told us that they stopped using them because of problems and went with Detroit instead.
    I loved the Cat,which went by the side of the road because of emissions,but my last 475 hp 3406E had half a million miles on it with no problems.
     
  6. dave26027

    dave26027 Road Train Member

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    Sep 10, 2009
    Dallas, Texas
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    Everything said above about Mercedes engines is true. They're built so bad that Mercedes doesn't build them any more (so that their mechanics can get some time off from fixing the ones that are broken). Mine went through three rebuilds in a few weeks' time- is on it's third turbo, second exhaust brake, second clutch (auto trans) and a BUTTLOAD of small broken stuff. Alternators, egr valve, J-pipe, etc, etc..

    The last rebuild was done three hundred thousand miles ago but I've been watching a minor head gasket leak develop- a bad omen..

    Buy a real engine, not a real problem. Get something made of steel with gaskets in it, not aluminum and plastic with O-rings sealing everything. Get an older Detroit, Cat or Cummins, not a "girlie-motor" like the ones we're all stuck with.
     
  7. leftlanetruckin

    leftlanetruckin Road Train Member

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    Mo Via Blackpool,Lancs.
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    Wow, Sounds like there are some truly bad "mechanics" out there.
    I have had mine from brand new. In 2005 it was the ONLY motor without major issues and decent MPG.
    Detroits turned to junk when EGR came out, talk about failing EGR coolers and valves.....Now that was a weekly affair.
    Cats and Cummins went South too, with the emission stuff installed. I haul equipment for Cat, and their own truck shops said to stay away from the new motors:biggrin_2559:
    The MBE 450's have their quirks, just like any other motor these days.
    But if looked after right, and serviced by folks who actually know what they are doing, they can and do last. I know that there are 3 of us leased on here where I am that all run them, and no one has had a quarter of the headaches described here.
    They head gaskets are just like all other head gaskets, so not sure on the o ring part. Now there can be a problem when the "mechanic" doesnt check the liner height, doesn't clean the heads correctly, and so on. But otherwise, not a big deal at all. And they are cheaper to do vs other HG jobs I have messed with.
    And Mercedes stopped building Mercedes engines?:biggrin_25523:
    Are they perfect? Nope.
    Do they need bashing from guys that haven't had their hands in them? Nope.
    Are any of the emission motors anything to write home about? Certainly not.
    Detroit went to crap with the installation of EGR, like Cummins did.
    Cat had their Acert garbage installed, which gave enough headaches itself.
    MBE didn't sign the initial emission's contract with the EPA, thus had an easier time with it all back then.
    I know our company trucks with the Cat motor's are having 10X more problems than the MBE's ever had. Regen on a big Cat? $4k to start with as a shop bill, then it goes up from there.

    Martin
     
    Dan.S and botoler Thank this.
  8. Mr Ed

    Mr Ed Road Train Member

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    no..............Freightliner stopped putting Mercedes motors in their trucks,Mercedes still builds engines.My truck went to the dealership BECAUSE it had problems,not because of any mechanics' fault.
     
  9. leftlanetruckin

    leftlanetruckin Road Train Member

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    Freightliner have gone to the DD13 and DD15 motors. If you have a look at one, you will find they are pretty much MBE motors mate:yes2557:
    Have a look over one, and compare that to a series 60 and a MBE. The similarities will be blatantly obvious to one, and nothing to do with the other.
    I can just speak of personal experience over the past 753k miles is all, as well as the other 2 O/O's that bought them too that I know personally.
    If a rebuilt motor goes bad soon after, then I would be looking at the shop that did it myself. I am pretty picky about who wrenches on my truck, and if I am on the road, there is a good chance I will fix it myself due to not knowing the "mechanics" that would be working on it.
    Not saying they are perfect motors, as non of them are. Just that they aren't as bad as some make out.

    Martin
     
    botoler Thanks this.
  10. iamred

    iamred Bobtail Member

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    May 25, 2012
    Canada
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    Reading about blocking the EGR. On the hot side could you unhook the EGR shutoff valve from the pneumatic cylinder and lock the valve in the closed position. Would this be as effective as the frost plug.
     
  11. WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

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    Broomfield, CO
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    I ran one in a vocational truck.. MBE4000, 450hp. Good for that application. IIRC, the DD13 is more the same, just under a different name.
     
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