What are some engines to avoid not matter what.

I love series 60, M11, N14 and ISX with CM570, but they are discontinued forever with new emission laws. And now we cant avoid XPI and CRD engines

 

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What he just said...............

 

The M11, when I was looking for a truck, I noticed trucks being sold with the M11 with 650k and more miles on it on average... I dont know much about trucks, I started about 2 months ago, but I put 2 and 2 together and it came up 4. Everywhere I went and looked up a truck with that engine, they were being sold with super high miles, so I just figure I pay a little more and buy one with super low miles and have a dependable truck on my hands.
I ended up buying a 97 volvo with a cummins M11 with 147k miles that costed me 18k, its my bobtail truck (main truck is a 07 ISX cummins 92k miles).

I bought my newer truck the same way, the cummins ISX from 07 trucks were being sold with 500-850k miles on them, so I payed more and looked one up with super low miles... you will find them on fleet maintained companies. I got mine off Coca cola. Though I had to go to South carolina to get it ( I live in PA)

 

You don't need to know much about it...just how to check/change the oil. Much like the Energizer Bunny, it keeps going and going and going and going and going....

 

CAT's are not one of my favs. My feelings were, if you're not paying for fuel, oil or repairs, they are great on power for the most part, that's it. Sure, there are people that can have good experiences, but my top choice would be a Series 60, very smooth engine and a lot more options for tuning and modifications.

 

Just change the bull gear about a million miles. Then run it till she starts burning oil. N14 change the bushing for the acc drive at 350 k , not exp. just if it spins you need a front cover.other than that both are great !

 

As stated a Series 60 and an N14, are the tops. both in the 430 HP range are indestructible, I use to recommend the 460 to get the best cam for the Jake's, then derate to 430. Cats are to expensive to fix, and they burn more fuel that the others.
There is an EPA tag on all engines, it gives the MM3 of fuel used to produce the advertised HP. Go around a truck dealership and look Cats are on the oil cooler, Detroit's are on the valve cover decal. Look at them then when someone tells you he is getting great mileage you have a reference as to him being truthful.

 

Series 60 for the win. Easy to work on, parts are everywhere. Reliable. I've owned 5, driven 3, and they are hard to beat unless you are going up a hill. These days you can easily get an ECM tune to help it up the hills. I've put 650,000 miles on my 2000 Western Star with a 12.7 430/470, 13 speed and 3.36 rears, and I bought it with 601,000 miles already on it. You just can't beat them.