Opinions on reliable engines

Yes, I meant 2002. And thanks!

 

There is nothing wrong with the DEF equipped motors. There is a culture of fear surrounding them and for no good reason. If they are maintained properly and you keep your foot out of it they are reliable and will give you better fuel mileage than the old motors. I have a 2012 truck with a Cummins DEF motor and average 8.3 MPG and I don't haul light. When I worked for Knight I had a very basic fleet spec Volvo D13, great truck, and it got 7.6 MPG while running out West a lot. I hD a few sensors go bad and total down time was 7-8 hours to have them fixed. I am an owner operator now and this DEF motor is doing very well for me.

 

Mine is a red top 525 hp and I'm not crazy about the mpg considering I don't idle or run fast.
About 6 on what I do .
But unlike my emissions isx's I've had , my 07 455 detriot and my d16 535 Volvo it averages low 6s instead of mid 5s and doesn't live in the shop.
When there check engine lite comes on i know it's not be a week at the dealer with an 8k bill for emissions crap.

 

Cone talk to us in five years and let's compare operating costs. Those few sensors alone is more than I've spent on my engine in unscheduled maintenance since the day i bought it new. And that was over 14 and a half years ago.

 

Ok.
5 y from now.
Will you remember?

 

I keep track of all my costs so it's just a matter of digging out the yearly totals and adding them up.

 

Just to be clear mechanical engine vs Epa 10 or younger and fuelcost is added in.

 

A pre egr 12.7 is not a mechanical engine. And yes fuel cost added on. I'm easily at 7.5 mpg life time, and that's idling any time it is hot or cold.

There is no debate that some of these newer engines, the dd15 for example, get better fuel efficiency. The only thing that is up for debate is if that fuel savings is greater than the additional life time cost of the newer engine and emissions. How do we figure out the starting point? Are we including the additional initial cost?

 

Last October I bought a '99 W900L with a Cummins N14 redhead @ 500 hp. It's been great so far. Good fuel mileage (for what we do), and very reliable. Plenty of power.

Fact is, though, that any of the mid 90's to early 2000's pre-EGR motors are good motors. Of course, as with anything, you can get a lemon, but for the most part, these years produced some of the best engines out there.