Who makes the best engine for 2008 and beyond?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by kenwortht660, May 18, 2008.

  1. KYSkipper

    KYSkipper Light Load Member

    53
    9
    Mar 31, 2008
    Corbin, KY
    0
    EGR systems and idling are bad ideas.

    Of the 6.0 Fords that I've known to have problems, the majority idle a lot. The ones on the highway do fine because they heat up enough and build enough pressure to blow the soot on through. The ones that idle such as my buddy's welding rig, my truck which is basically a mobile office with computers etc set up inside, ambulances, the coal company boss' trucks that idle a lot all had problems.

    Running diesel exhaust back through the engine is not a good idea. Too much soot settles out into the intake, turbos, etc and eventually clogs up the works. I think on these new engines, repair costs are going to dictate shutting down and not idling.

    Skip
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. The Challenger

    The Challenger Kinghunter

    7,127
    3,367
    Dec 22, 2007
    East Central FL
    0
    550,

    I would agree with you on the 389 glider conversion. I just have to ask what people think about the mercedes engines? Also, does anyone know what the maxx force is based off of?

    Hunter
     
  4. KYSkipper

    KYSkipper Light Load Member

    53
    9
    Mar 31, 2008
    Corbin, KY
    0
    I have a buddy who bought a Sprinter Van that had a 5 cylinder Mercedes diesel in it. He is a HVAC contractor and bought it for a work truck.

    Along the way he wrecked it, and here's what we found out.

    1. In Kentucky, there is 1 place authorized to work on the Mercedes engine in that truck.

    2. Fed X has a sheite load of Sprinter vans, many of which have some sort of mechanical problem. Since Fed X has a Sheite load of Sprinters and you have 1 in your fleet, you move directly to the back of the mechanical line to have the engine worked on. (the truck turned over in the wreck and ran on it's side for a little bit, so engine had to be checked out before doing body work to see if it was a total) It took over 1.5 months for it to get a turn to be worked on.

    IMO, unless they get more authorized repair facilities than they currently have in this country, it would be a headache looking for someone to infect.

    Skip
     
  5. D16

    D16 Light Load Member

    188
    8
    Jul 11, 2007
    Vancouver
    0
    Maxxforce-well known in Europe MAN D20,just adapted to North American market.
     
  6. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    18,677
    43,103
    Sep 18, 2006
    the road less travelled
    0
    Some companies are using the MBE 4000 12.8 liter engine in OTR applications, JB Hunt stands out, and many smaller companies as well. Decreased cost to purchase and lighter weight are the two big reason for going with them, they weigh only a bit more than a ISM Cummins and less than a C13. the cost would be similar to the ISM but the only motor that compares that is available in the Daimler group is the C13.


    The MBE 4000 uses an injector with a line running to a remote tip that discharges directly into the combustion chamber. The line is prone to cracking and leaking. The motor is very close fitting, and if overheated, would likely drip everywhere. Most dealers aren't recommending them for OTR for that reason. They use a variable geometry turbo, and it has been known to fail as well, but turbo failures aren't the thing that would disqualify it, all motors have some turbo failures including Cummins. Shops not working on them can be an issue, but would be an issue with the other motors as well, ever tried to get an ISX running right at a non-Cummins repair facility? I see Kenworths and Petes and Internationals at Freightliner dealerships getting repair on the Detroit motor under that particular hood as well.

    Parts have been hard to come by for most new engines upon introduction, Mercedes parts have been hard to come by even to this day. I guess I wouldn't want to buy a truck, new or used, with a Mercedes engine.
     
  7. DieselJuice

    DieselJuice Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Apr 20, 2008
    Topeka, Kansas
    0
    Cat doesn't have an engine for 2010, doesn't mean they are getting out of the heavy duty OR market, just having a hard time.
     
  8. 550hpW900L

    550hpW900L Road Train Member

    1,874
    1,090
    Jan 29, 2008
    norcal
    0
    I also hear they will pull something out of their ### by 2010.
     
  9. DieselJuice

    DieselJuice Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Apr 20, 2008
    Topeka, Kansas
    0
    haha I think youre right on the money 550, I was thinking they were going to take some of cummins tech to begin with and go back to their own when they arn't on such a demanding schedule, some trucking magazine posted that Cat would likely bug out for 2010, then they got ahold of Cat which denied getting out of the OR industry, I think that would hurt them bad if they bugged out even though they have such a great off road industry.
     
  10. Sportster2000

    Sportster2000 Road Train Member

    1,480
    885
    Jan 5, 2008
    Indiana
    0
    No I haven't, I just call ahead and they fit me right in. I do bet that it would be hard to get it fixed right if the repair facility does not have the right software. It is all going to get worse. Tighter emissions means more egr. More EGR means higher engine temps. That means more fan on time (=less fuel economy) and bigger cooling packages (= more radiator less areodynamic trucks). Say good bye to everything you use to know about the way thing were with engine temps and fuel economy.
     
  11. KYSkipper

    KYSkipper Light Load Member

    53
    9
    Mar 31, 2008
    Corbin, KY
    0
    How much of this new emmissions stuff is actually solving a problem and how much is just extra expense, problems, and parts and pieces someone gets to sell?

    I've noticed with the pickup diesels, the ones with EGR's on them smoke just like any other, they do smell like peanut oil instead of sulfur, but I know the fender on my Dodge stays coated with soot. That didn't really happen with my older 7.3 Ford.

    Skip
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.