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The Best High Mileage Engine?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Tire, Dec 14, 2011.

Page 1 of 5
  1. Dec 14, 2011 #1
    Tire

    Tire Bobtail Member

    38
    2
    Dec 11, 2011
    channelview,tx
    0
    Good day all. I am looking to get back into flatbedding and would like some advice from experienced truckers. As much as I would like a long hood truck with low miles.... that ain't happening on my budget. So my two fold question is this: all things being equal, what would you consider to be the better high mileage engine from the big three? What can be done, other than an overhaul, to increase the lifespan of said motor? Main freight lanes are tx, la, ok, ca, and some colorado and wyoming. Pipe is going to be my bread and butter at least for now.

    I am looking for opinions though I know its kinda like the ford vs chevy argument. Thank you all.
     
    Tire, Dec 14, 2011
    Tire, Dec 14, 2011
    #1
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  3. Dec 14, 2011 #2
    OmcCheese

    OmcCheese Light Load Member

    185
    81
    Aug 22, 2011
    Colorado springs, Co
    0
    this is opening a can of worms. Use the search option, you will be even more confused. 1/2 dozen of one, 6 of another..
     
    OmcCheese, Dec 14, 2011
    OmcCheese, Dec 14, 2011
    #2
  4. Dec 14, 2011 #3
    Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

    3,845
    5,130
    Apr 2, 2011
    bismarck, nd
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    iv seen alot of cummins with 1mil+ on them without ever having the heads off
     
    Ezrider_48501, Dec 14, 2011
    Ezrider_48501, Dec 14, 2011
    #3
  5. Dec 14, 2011 #4
    PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

    14,765
    22,567
    Jul 15, 2006
    El Chuco, Tejas
    0
    My truck has 976K on a Detroit S60 that's never been touched and it doesn't use obscene amounts of oil, some noticeable blowby and never has trouble starting. If a truck has been maintained well, a million miles before needing a rebuild is obtainable. My wife's uncle has a Freightliner Classic with an S60 and hit 1.5 million before it needed an in frame overhaul.
     
    PackRatTDI, Dec 14, 2011
    PackRatTDI, Dec 14, 2011
    #4
  7. Dec 14, 2011 #5
    blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

    5,817
    7,678
    Jul 12, 2009
    A.W.O.L
    0
    There are as many different answers to that as there are engines and drivers...They're all about equal as far as it goes.
    I prefer a Cummins and I have a bunch of friends that prefer CAT...I even know one guy that likes his Detroit!:biggrin_2559:
     
    blackw900, Dec 14, 2011
    blackw900, Dec 14, 2011
    #5
  8. Dec 14, 2011 #6
    RAGE 18

    RAGE 18 Road Train Member

    1,529
    941
    Jan 31, 2011
    GOLD£N☆STAT£
    0
    I drive a 2007 international 9000i with a cat 14 gets 900 miles on two hundred gallons. Runs great. Half a million miles.
     
    RAGE 18, Dec 14, 2011
    RAGE 18, Dec 14, 2011
    #6
  9. Dec 14, 2011 #7
    Tank33

    Tank33 Medium Load Member

    346
    108
    Jan 10, 2009
    British Columbia
    0
    This depends almost entirely on the year of the engine.

    From 2004 to 2008, the Cummins are complete junk. Many do not last over 700,000 miles. 2008 onward they improved, but there still not a good engine to plan on long term reliability.

    Caterpillar is still the best bet, right up until they stopped making them.
     
    Tank33, Dec 14, 2011
    Tank33, Dec 14, 2011
    #7
  10. Dec 14, 2011 #8
    Gambi80

    Gambi80 Medium Load Member

    367
    92
    Jan 31, 2010
    Fried Chicken Capital of the Midwest
    0
    N14...can't beat it.
     
    Gambi80, Dec 14, 2011
    Gambi80, Dec 14, 2011
    #8
  11. Dec 14, 2011 #9
    Duteman

    Duteman Bobtail Member

    42
    10
    Nov 23, 2011
    Central, Connecticut
    0
    You may want to dig around more for that long-nose Pete before you convince yourself one can't be had at a reasonable price. I don't know your budget, but right now those trucks... good ones... (379's or W900's) are going for a song. Firstly, I'd look at pre-EGR, so, '02 (sometimes '03 and '04, check) and earlier. Not only do they run a lot less money just because of the age but most agree that the EGR systems are a mess... I do believe you can get a very good one of those for 10-20k. The market is flooded with them right now, likely related to fuel costs... two to four MPG can make a hell of a difference on the bottom line. Then again, I've seen good early aero's going for around 10k too... granted, you'll likely have to put 10k into a 10k truck, but heck, man, that's a pretty low entry point...
     
    Duteman, Dec 14, 2011
    Duteman, Dec 14, 2011
    #9
    1958Pete Thanks this.
  12. Dec 14, 2011 #10
    Duteman

    Duteman Bobtail Member

    42
    10
    Nov 23, 2011
    Central, Connecticut
    0
    Oops, didn't answer your question... my choice would be a C15 CAT that Mr. Haney has worked his magic on. YMMV
     
    Duteman, Dec 14, 2011
    Duteman, Dec 14, 2011
    #10
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