Need advice on 2011 Peterbuilt

I would not touch it. 430 is barely adequate. Pile on the emissions crap and you have trouble.

Now Ive had 400 cats before. If they find a way to break down, they are gonna do it. WIth that said, Ive seen cats break in a certain way like the water pump failing but as long you are driving and running the pump stayed sealed protecting your coolant which is the life of any engine next to that oil. This was on pre-emissions cats.

If I wanted to purchase a truck it's going to be bigger horse than what you have there and no volvos, no emissions DEF etc. I would return to the basics as much as possible.

Never assume the service etc is done by previous owner. It's going to be a reason they sold the #### thing somewhere.

I love the petes, I like the 379 best because it is the best fit for me personally. The other models simply does not do it for me. So that gives you an idea of what I can say or not say about Pete, Cats and what have you in general.

Buying a truck is awesome. But you better be prepared to run 10 months of the year before going home due to those payments etc to be maintained. If you do buy it, set aside like 12% or more as possible towards the day something breaks. Hopefully it's not the rebuild that is billed when it does break.

The reason I lean away from small horse is because these United States is a powerful strong land with long mountains, big wind that wont stop blowing and other demands on a engine's horse. The more horse you can deliver to the wheels the less you need to "Work" when expressed in fuel burned per hour. Ive seen my poor 350 cat burn 30 gallons an hour flat out for a couple of hours at a time fighting mountains and swore that I wont be running small horse engines again in my life it's just not worth it. It just burns em up. It's a shame.

 

As much as Noone will like this comment........ If I lived in cali, I would only run a volvo. Cummins and cat need to have the rpm raised while idling to keep oil pressure up and to generate enough heat to ensure the engine doesn't slobber, by doing so you burn more fuel and create more soot.... Volvo uses egr and back pressure to keep the engine up to temp while idling at 650 rpm plus volvo engines always maintain a steady oil pressure no matter the rpm.

I opened up my volvo engine a few months back and it blew my mind how little soot was in that head. I could wipe it away with my finger..... my isx has a 1/2" buildup inside the head.

This is why you see alot of volvo trucks for sale at 1 million plus km and motors never been touched. same engine hours as the isx for sale but less revolutions on the motor.

If you just live in cali but do most trips everywhere else then it doesn't matter.

 

I don't get why lower hp engines do better with the dpf attached. I thought the dpf likes hot exhaust, the hotter the better. That was cats problem. Throw a code and derate the power. With power cut back dpf really isn't getting anywhere near enough heat to maybe burn properly. And the cycle continues until the red light comes on then you're really done like dinner. I was somewhat lucky, a parked regeneration seemed to keep it going.

 

We like your post well enough, raising idle to 1200 or so letting it run smooth overnight while sleeping usually makes for a happy engine. I never had issues when Im allowed to idle the things properly. It's when I come across a engine or company that says no idling or very little rpm, the engines drown in their soot, dirt, etc. They just cover themselves. You can see it.

 

Volvo seems to have the best reliability. I have not lost enough self respect yet to drive one though. And I am in a 16 year old freightliner and I will take this before I drive a Volvo.

 

I has a 03 columbia with a 12.7... 02 engine. 430/470hp...... that darn thing is still working hard and has never been opened. They sure don't make em like that anymore!

 

Now, volvos in the olden days, say a 1989 intergrated sleeper with a Fuller 10 on a 390 detroit was my first team truck and my first over the road anything in service to JIT Baltimore GM Glass from Kentucky several times a week dedicated. 3 feet of powder snow without chain in west virginia was my opus with this particular truck while my trainer slept in the bunk. Every mountain pass posed a challenge to the thing. Ive been loyal to the older volvos.

But not volvo cabover, if you remember those things had very stiff suspension when you are turning off a property crossing a curb at a angle, it will rock your kidneys really hard. That is one reason I wont drive them ive actually turned down offers of employment because the company runs the Volvo cab over for that reason. And you wonder why my employment record is checkerboard as it is...

 

Yep I am running a 12.7. I am wondering if it will ever give me an excuse to buy a peterbilt. Knock on wood ...

 

Stay far far far far far away from the early def ISX's. Cummins had an issue with the ceramic coating in the fuel pump coming apart and tearing the liners out. You can replace the fuel pump, but you also have to replace all the lines also at about a $4,000 cost. Fleet owner I know has lost 3 motors because of the fuel pump issues and Cummins won't cover it.