any mack drivers

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by dieseldan2005, Jul 23, 2009.

  1. dieseldan2005

    dieseldan2005 Light Load Member

    185
    17
    Feb 6, 2009
    North Branch, MN
    0
    I was just wondering if there were any mack drivers out there and how you liked your trucks. We are looking at some newer macks. 04-07 pre DPF trucks. How is the power compared to a cat or cummins in say a 460 mack? Also what kind of mpgs are they getting and are there any major problems with any of them or anything i should avoid? I have driven lots of the older E7 powered macks and they ran forever and outpulled anything of comparable horsepower, but i haven't heard of anyone driving a newer one yet to see if they are any good.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. power freak

    power freak Light Load Member

    220
    60
    Apr 23, 2009
    0
    Stay away from them nothing but trouble. They call those engines ASET and they get horrible fuel economy and a bunch of problems including but not limited to exh. man. stud breakage, vgt turbo problems, and cooling system trouble.
     
  4. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

    7,625
    6,023
    Feb 4, 2009
    0
    We had one of our techs take 11 hours to change a starter on one. It was relatively new still, out of warranty though. All the starter bolts were so tight that the heads were stripping off, had to cut the heats off and drill the bolts out! WTF? Only on a Mack! The newer the truck, the more you need to rely on someone with electronic experience. If you don't have a competent Mack dealership near by I would stay away from the odd-balls!
     
  5. 24valve puller

    24valve puller Medium Load Member

    399
    89
    Sep 8, 2007
    N.E. Oh
    0
    I drive a 04 460 mack granite from time to time and it could possibly be the biggest pooch I have ever driven, there is about a two minute wait after you hit the throttle before anything happens and by the time it does you are done. this is with a mack 18 spd and some low gears, like 1700 rpm to do 65 mph in 18th. Its been to mack so many times I think they know the ser. # by heart, said there is nothing they can do for it. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole if they all run like this one. And you don't even want to know how it runs with a legal load on it, I'll just say that when you see a hill ahead you better already be turning the flashers on
     
  6. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

    10,311
    5,253
    Jan 1, 2007
    NASA HQ
    0
    I just came out of a mack that was a piece of junk. This is the worst truck I have ever been in. I have had macks before that was OK, but this was just plain poor maintenance and driver neglect. I avg 6 mpg.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Got reefer?

    Got reefer? El Coyote

    187
    126
    Jan 9, 2009
    Midland, TX
    0
    We have 3 O5 macks, one already has new motor less than 500k. One is constantly having electrical issues. The other keeps blowing injectors out of the motor. Are older ones do a little better they are 03-04 but they have the same issues as these.

    I cant stand the transmission(eaton) in the O5 macks its fills like your shifting in a bowl of wet noodles.
     
  8. dieseldan2005

    dieseldan2005 Light Load Member

    185
    17
    Feb 6, 2009
    North Branch, MN
    0
    man i guess they are not what they used to be then. I appreciate the input. The old CH's that i used to drive had E7 350's in them and all had over 900k on them and were never touched. They would outpull anything of comparible hp, like a 3176 cat or M11 cummins in 350hp settings. I also drove an 03 granite with the 400 and that was a great truck, but it was before the 04 egr emissions garbage.
     
  9. Mack185

    Mack185 Medium Load Member

    448
    262
    Feb 25, 2008
    0
    All the 97-01 CH's I've driven have been pretty good trucks. The 350 and the 454 are the two best motors I've run while the 427's and 460's left alot to be desired. Every 427 I've seen has had major injector issues while the 460's are electrical nightmares plus 2 out of the 3 we have had had the bottom ends redone. Remember, Mack dealers are few and far between and every #### part on a Mack has to be bought at Mack :smt002
     
  10. Mack427

    Mack427 Medium Load Member

    323
    92
    Jan 22, 2009
    0
    03 and older is what i would prefer the aset is a good motor its the stuff bolted to it that gave trouble, egr, turbo, belt tensionors, fuel lines, most have been updated its a shame it took them 4yrs to straight it out,

    which 460's are they Mack made 4 diffrent ones straight 460, and 460E's are weak 427 has alot better torque and will pass them like they are on blocks 460p (480hp) 460xt (490+ this setting has been trash canned thanks EPA)
    the Motor's can be made to run by chaning programs adding hi flow injectors 150hp at $90 buck a injector tuned ECM is even a option now

    I have not had any issues with my 427 lots of hp pulls stronger than my n-14 460

    the motors that didn't last past 500k I have noticed 2 things either the overhead was never run and the camshaft give up or the truck has 30,000 engine hrs on a pto app. but I'll get off my soap box now so the rest of you can tell us all how great a accert cat is
     
  11. poppy

    poppy "I Love that Cushaw Pie"

    263
    114
    Jul 31, 2007
    ky
    0
    sounds like the same ole same ole. we have i guess 75 macks. the old 300's, trucks are like anvils, they will wear out 2-3 drivers. the ch's, the 350's are good, but are worn out. the 6 ch's with 427's have averaged a dropped sleeve every 150-250 k miles. the one i drive has been majored 3 times in 500 k.

    the last 25-30 trucks bought have been internationals with cummins. good trucks, but they have a few problems also.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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