2001 Cummins n14 red top 525 hp BEST MOTOR? Most Dependable?

I have driven all those engines with the most miles in cats I will still take the detroit hands down most reliable and most importantly the most fuel efficient.

 

You can't really go off of every other N-14 most of them have different wear and tear and different environments and are taken care of differently..

 

N14 was a good motor but me personally id take a detriot cheapest to maintain easier to work on best fuel mileage and last a long time n14 did have some problems with the heads if I recall

 

I've got 1.5m on mine without a rebuild and know of 2 other people with 1.7 without. I am going to try and take mine to 2m before rebuild. If you take care of your equipment, it will take care of you.

 

I love how people insist on offering their opinion purely on speculation.

I've had my 525 hp N14 since 2003 (2001 truck), I've put 550K miles on it and only had to replace the injectors and main seals. They are a work horse and are very reliable. Now with that said, your looking at a used engine, like ANY used engine, it all depends on how that engine was treated and how much it idled. I'd check the idle time on the motor and also you can run the engine serial # with cummins and see what kind of repairs have been made to it.

I've also owned a Det S60 and I have to say that I miss the economy of the Detroit, but cannot compare to the N14 as for as power.
Also keep in mind that the N14 is not a CARB compliant engine, you will NOT be able to operate in Calif... in fact any engine made before 2007 will keep you from operating in Calif.

 

I have a n 14 red top 620000 spun # 6 rod bearing

 

I have/had several N14+ Cummins. All of them were good motors. One I lost from neglect. All I bought in used trucks. 1998-2001. Biggest thing you need to research is maintenance records. I have never done oil samples or Dyno test. But they are excellent tools to use for a purchase. Maybe I was just lucky.

Have a friend that has a N14+ in his truck he's been running his for 8 years. Bought it at the Indianapolis auction. Until these last 6 months hasn't had many problems. His ECM crapped out and the replacement and the replacement of that ECM have gone bad. He replaced the Injector Harness also.

Used trucks you buy them knowing mechanical problems will happen. Carry your wrenches and good luck.

 

I rebuilt my n 14 last June with Interstate macbee after marker partd . Only 95920 miles on it it is sitting in the drive way with a busted piston. and it has been taken good care of not run hard. i bought the parts at inter diesel in California . they giving me the run a ound on making the parts good . So I'm pulling all there junk out starting over .

 

Cummins N14 is second cheapest to rebuild to detriots but n14 parts are cheap and you could run with 100k gvw on the truck easily the speed limit not including over 90 but you could run 65- 70 my grandpa has a n14 in his 1999 freightliner century good truck and holds up