Which truck/engine is least expensive to fix VS most expensive.

What will you be pulling? Dry van, tanker, etc?
What will you be hauling?

 

Hi Petar, I've always had the older Big Cam Cummins motors, and they always did the job for me, and easy and somewhat cheap to repair, not the most powerful, however, I've heard people complain about the new Cummins motors. Cat is the best, most power, but very expensive to repair. I drove a Freightliner with a Series 60 Detroit that ran great. Good power, had like 830K miles on it and never opened up. I've heard of million mile S60's. Since you are in the Mid-West, with no major mountains, I'd probably go with the Detroit.

 

Series 60 detroit!

 

Upfront costs for parts doesn't make or break the argument for which one costs less. The one that goes in the shop the least for mechanical issues is the one that costs less. I know a driver with an EGR 14L Detroit who always like to brag about how cheap his parts are. Thing is it always seems like there's issues with his motor. Don't have issues like that with mine. He always likes to ask me "what would that cost on a CAT".

 

The truth of the matter is they are all expensive !!!

When it comes right down to it you wont find 5000.00 difference in all of them when you go to buy one in the box .
The difference in price comes in where you get the work done .

This not the 70s and 80s there is no cheap full on inframes they will all run you between 20 and 25 grand for all major brands .

 

It depends on what you break!

 

Find a tractor with a pre-emissions Detroit Diesel 12.7L Series 60.

 

Rollin' Coal stole my answer. Most people will tell you that a 12.7 L Series 60 will be the cheapest to fix and they would probably be correct. Just about everyone can work on them. On the other hand, we have a 2001 6NZ C15 Cat with over a million miles and it has never been touched. I mean ZERO engine work....it has had an alternator...and maybe a turbo, but no engine work at all. Which one is cheaper to fix LOL?