New International A26 12.4L Engine

@Misesian funny you mention Henry Albert, I met him at a Walmart on the North side of Raleigh... he gave me a magazine with his "story" on the front cover. At the time, his tags on the back of the trailer brandished 9.9mpg. Very cool!

 

So Misesian - how is the LT treating you? Do you have any further opinions on the truck itself? Squeaks or squeals? Any rattles in the cab? Any mechanical issues?

 

Still doing good. I still post about it once in a while in my other thread. Fuel mileage is still great and no maintenance other than scheduled stuff. I’m pleased with it.

 

I’m keeping a close eye on a lot of things right now with EPA phase 2 coming in 2021, 24, and 27. Volvo/Mack engines, Daimler, and Cummins are already gearing up for 2021. Navistar has kept their stuff under wraps while Volvo is the most aggressive in beating 2021 to the punch.
Navistar has invested millions into their facility in Alabama to produce the engines for 2021. They're going to be doing what Daimler has done, creating a global engine and power train integrated product, thanks to their partnership with VW that produces MAN and Scania. The A26 has been great and it’s only going to get better. I’ve read some things on the European sites about what MAN is doing and it seems that Scania will keep their V8 while the I6 engines will be MAN global products. They’re doing some things with the turbo, alternator, and are even using 0w20 oils in those. MAN also partners with ZF transmissions. ZF hasn’t been active in the class 8 market in the US for years, but that might be changing, they also have a dual clutch model, as does Volvo, in the Euro market. MAN is also investing heavily into more digitization of their trucks. Similar to what Daimler has done on the Actros with MirrorEye, the advanced safety systems, and the multimedia dash, that replaces traditional gauges with tablets and touch screens. All this stuff is heading our way very soon. By 2027 these trucks are going to be very different than what we’re buying now. I think Navistar is going to be a good product once all this comes together. Maxxforce really screwed them over and put them far behind the other manufacturers. But this VW money is allowing them to catch up real quick.

 

Navistar has a history of building #### engines. Its going to take a lot to reverse that reputation.

I know one thing for sure, touch screens and tablets would be a dealbreaker for me. If I'm spending $200k on a truck it better have analog gauges and toggle switches.

 

I’m really happy with the A26 and the LT. I’ve driven a ProStar with Maxxforce and the N13 and the A26 is a thousand times better.
I’ll put a link below, the guy does an in depth review of the Actros with all the latest stuff. A lot of that is coming our way. The multimedia dash is an option on the Cascadia right now. Mirror Eye is currently in the rule making process to be offered from the factory. I can’t imagine it not becoming finalized. At about 10:20 in the video he demonstrates a blindside back with the MirrorEye, that’s the best part in my opinion. At 1:25 he shows the dash and it’s functions.

 

Ya, many.....but the DT466 was an ### kicker!! And look at the power levels they can take in Super Farm pulling tractors. Those and the John Deere are basically the only two engine blocks pulling tractors use.

But I agree with you A.....I HATE technology.

 

The biggest problem that I have with technology is that seems to be used as a way for manufacturers to extract more money from the repairs process. For example, a mirror is foolproof technology: but if they replace it with a camera system, then you will be periodically replacing proprietary cameras, screens, and wiring. I'm sure there are better examples,but that's the one that I could think of.

I'd also add that this trend isn't limited to the trucking industry. We've gone from a society that repairs things to a disposable society. But I digress.

 

I just wish I had a dollar for every manufacturer advertisement that says "Our trucks/Motors can diagnose themselves" yet when you limp or get towed to the dealer no one knows how to fix them. They just throw parts at them, at your expense until they "luck out."

I sure miss the old days, jumping in the old R Model or my 2002 Cat powered 9900i and just driving and watching the odometer roll past zero two or three times with no major breakdowns.

 

Partnership has ended.
Latest MAN model no longer uses a ZF ,instead they are now using the Scania gearbox.