Fix old(er) or buy new(er)??

12k ? What is the list of parts they say it needs? Presuming its what they say it is and not an oil cooler that's leaking.

 

Good question.

I might be inclined to fix the current truck because you know it, and the 3406E is a good engine. I would take pains to make sure the diagnosis was correct, either by multiple opinions, or great trust in a shop you know.

I can also see some real business sense in getting a newer truck. But there is the unknown with this choice and you could spend the same 12k on it. Then you would wish you overhauled the shaker.

Good luck making a decision

 

Absolutely. I would personally keep my used than buy some one elses used.
But what do you know of this newer truck? If you don't know the truck and only know what the sales man is telling you then IMO I'd keep the frieghtshaker.

And what ever the "mixing" is caused by, I feel that 12k is high.

 

You do hear of compressors doing that but its very rare.

What I have done b4 is just replaced 1 liner and put the old piston and rings back and it ran great for 3years untill it turned over and was written off. Its not "the rite way" of doing things but its an option at times depending on situation.
If you are going to spend 12k on it I personally would go for the 18k premium, presuming u get a warranty with that?

It may be worth 10k but only when you selling it, when you running its worth what its worth to you!
I vote keep it!

 

That 18,000 is Cat's "platinum" inframe package. It'll have a 3 year unlimited miles warranty. 850,000 miles is nothing. You know this truck. I know its a lot of money on a truck worth 10k and easy for us to spend yours but you know what you've got and you wont have to sweat it if something breaks in motor, at least not repair bills anyways..

 

My truck is an 01 with over a million miles on it and 400,000 since overhaul. The truck is in show room condition and if the engine goes I would replace it in a heart beat. I don't think you can go wrong fixing up what you have. You know your truck. You may just be buying someone elses problems.

 

If you buy a newer truck you will have to deal with payments. I would much rather spend the money on a rebuild than to buy an over priced Walmart truck. The FLD was one of the best trucks that Freightliner has made. Spending $2,500 on the engine is nothing for a paid off truck. That is only 2 or 3 payments on a newer truck. As long as the truck isn't leaking coolant into the engine I would keep rolling. The 3406E is a good engine. While the truck may not be worth the price of a rebuild, as long as it is in good shape, it may be worth spending the money. As others have stated, you don't know what you will be getting with another truck. While Walmart does a good job with maintenance, you still won't know about the truck until you put it on the road. I would not pay as much as they are asking. You also need to be careful of some of the newer trucks. With all the emissions fuel mileage and performance can suffer.

You could just replace the liner, if that is the problem. However, it would be better to replace all of them while you had it down, with that many miles on the engine.

You will need to replace tires on any truck. If you were to sell your truck you would probably do good to get $4,000 for it. The truck is probably worth more to you than someone else. If you rebuilt the engine you could get another million miles on the truck. If you buy a newer truck with the money you would spend on the rebuild you would be about even in about 12-18 months. Personally, I think many of the older trucks are more reliable and better made than some newer trucks, as long as they are properly maintained.