N-14 or N-14 Red Top?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Charuck, Feb 23, 2011.

  1. Charuck

    Charuck Bobtail Member

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    Feb 17, 2011
    New Castle, IN.
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    Is there a difference between the N-14 and the N-14 Red Top? If so, is one better than the other? Are there any major problems that they had with either one of them? Also, how does the ISX motor compare to these motors. Thanks, Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
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  3. Poor boy

    Poor boy Bobtail Member

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    Feb 10, 2011
    Kansas
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    I have never noticed much difference performance or reliability wise. I own one of each and have always thought they are pretty well equal. I think one of the main differences between the two is ecm options.
     
    bullhaulerswife Thanks this.
  4. Charuck

    Charuck Bobtail Member

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    Feb 17, 2011
    New Castle, IN.
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    Can you interchange the ECM's? Thanks again.
     
  5. AUSSIE DAVE

    AUSSIE DAVE Road Train Member

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    Feb 21, 2010
    OZ - Brisbane
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    im no expert but i have heard time and time again from differant people that they wish they still had their N14 and not the ISX because of the ongoing problems with the ISX engines.
     
  6. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Borispol, Ukraine
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    N14 is very reliable engine.

    There were two diffferent ECMs on N14/M11. Celect and Celect+. They are used with different engine wiring, becouse of different connectors.

    Early engines were with Celect ECMs.

    Later - with Celect Plus ECMs.

    I did ECM swap an DAF 95. Driver drop cabine down with tools under cabine and ruined ECM. I got used Celect+ ecm with wiring and I did swap and calibration. Runs well.
     
  7. melpromud

    melpromud Medium Load Member

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    Jan 29, 2010
    camden ny
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    N 14 - 855 cubic inch, ISX - 915 cubic inch. From the driver seat the ISX runs better but the throttle responce sucks. N 14 parts are much cheaper than the ISX and are easier to work on. Have a lot of injector problems with the N14s. Electrical problems and turbo problems with the ISX. Dont have a DPF my self but anyone I know with a ISX and a DPF had all kinds of problems. When the ISX is running right I would take it hands down over the N 14. Like I said when its running right. When its time to buy parts, pay for labor, or do the labor your self then the N 14 is nicer. Their both great when all is good. Both junk at time too!
     
  8. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Injector problems are cheapper to solve. Turbine and EGR are expensive things.

    All other parts for N14 are cheapper too.

    Fuel milage difference betveen ISX and N14 is about 4%. So from economical spot N14 is better.

    Why owners purchase used ISX? The unswer is simple: trucks are newer and in better condition. Later they pay more.
     
  9. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    Nov 25, 2008
    Kellogg, IA
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    The ISX, internally, is a stronger engine. But there is no denying that the N-14 was far more reliable. Hardly a day goes by that I wish I had any N-14 I was around in the past in place of the ISX I own now. Sensors have been the biggest headaches I have had with it.

    True, the only real meaningful difference between N-14 and Red Top is the ECM. The Celect + allows for more parameters you can set compared to the Celect. That being said, not all Celect+ ECM N-14's are Red Tops. Most Red Tops are 500 hp or more.

    I have an ISX in my 2006 International, but I can readily get my hands on a used N-14, rebuild it, and put it in sometime in the future. Will require a different wiring harness to match things up, but already have that covered. Other option I am looking at as well, is getting a pre-EGR ISX and doing the same thing.

    My last N-14, I took it to around 1.4 million miles and it only got opened up for overheads and 1 injector. Also an accessory drive seal. That's it. Original turbo. Sure wish I had that engine again.
     
  10. Charuck

    Charuck Bobtail Member

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    Feb 17, 2011
    New Castle, IN.
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    So, the N-14 is a Celect and the Red Top is a Celect+ and they're basiclly the same motor right? But you said that not all Celect+ ECM N-14's are Red Tops. How can someone like me tell the difference? Is the Celect+ the better of the two? I'm looking at a 2000 W-900 with a Red Top motor and just don't know that much about these motors. Thanks for your help!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 26, 2011
  11. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Celect + is a newer ECM for N14 and M11. The software is more sufisticated, work with other stuff like ZF Astronic, Autoshift via J1939. Celect+ is based on newer components.

    Mechanically both the engines are the same.

    The only thing with Celect is better. No risk to get 111 fault code.
     
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