Mercades Benz Engine

i don't have one (int, here) but i hear they suck!

 

Are they generally considered worse than Detroits?

 

I run a MBE in a Sterling car hauler. It's not the best that's for sure and yes parts and service is a pain. As far as the Detroit, I wouldn't say it's on it's way out just yet. Detroit is unvailing a whole new series of engines in the coming years. The series 60 is being replaced and Detroit has new engines in the works. My company is going to Peterbilt for their new units so we are going with CAT engines in our new units. We just put 3 new '08 Petes in service this week. They are 386s with 7 car quick load trailers. I wasn't interested in one. I'm holding out for the new haulers next year. My concern with the new trucks will be fuel. As most of you know, '07 and up engines ONLY take Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. Anything else will blow the head right off the new motors! A $8,000-$10,000 repair bill. Not something I want my company to have to deal with. I think you can get fired to that.

 

Okay, we need to step back a bit here and do a reality check. The use of non ULSD fuel will not blow the heads off of any engine, regardless of the brand name on the valve covers. What will happen is that the higher level of particulates and sulfur in the fuel will cause problems and potential clogging in the "Diesel Particulate Filter device that is replacing mufflers on the newer trucks. In the event that higher sulfur lever fuel were used constantly, and exclusively in the 2007 rated engione, over a long period of time, probably a year or more, the exhaust filter would clog up, and cause increased back pressure on the exhaust system and the engine. This would reault in performance problems, but would not result in the engine suddenly breaking the head bolts and the cylinder heads departing the engine. Most likely, the result would be seen in increased blowby, and possibly leaking head gaskets.

As for the Mercedes engines, they run acceptably, not the hp kings of the highway, abut they do seem to get decent fuel mileage. They do have a problem in their service availability being limitd to the dealership network, similar to the issues with Volvo's engines.

 

we were running Mercades in a few trucks and trust me big dissapoinment. it will ruin the fell to your truck from the engine brake to the lack of power. Sure might be good if you wernt putting 45-50k on each load.

 

The company I drive for has Freightliner Columbias with the Mercedes engines and all the guys that drive them say they lack power and the exhaust brake is about useless.I drove one for about 500 miles and was all but impressed.