Caterpillar Engines

?
They still make Cat motors, they are just called Acert.
All engines are "wrenchers" unless you want to pay shop rates
Parts are more expensive compared to a Detroit, but it has always been that way.
A lot of shops will work on a Cat, any shop will normally work on a Detroit.

What exact details are you asking for?

 

TTR has a search box you can use and you will find more than enough 411 to keep you busy reading for weeks.

 

They still build new engines, but only for off highway equipment. Not sure why they aren't moving back into the transport market though since they have to use DEF on their off highway equipment now anyways.

 

CAT hasn't made an engine for "on-road" trucks since 2010. The Acert was their attempt to comply with the 1st round of the new emission regulations, and had reliability issues for many. Pre-Acert CAT's were good engines...but so were many other pre-emission engines from other manufacturers. They did try and fail making their own brand of vocational truck as well, but many of those were equipped with Maxxforce International motors.

As far as parts, I would say, due to the shear number of CAT motors still on the road from years ago, parts are still around and no more expensive than they were originally. After all, they stopped making the engines because they couldn't make a reliable engine that was compliant, but it doesn't mean they stopped making parts.

 

Yeah parts availability is fine. I have noticed a sharp increase in pricing thou in the last 3-4 years.

No more cat engines in trucks from 2011 on.

 

Because you cannot get the stinky flatuant wormed kitty compliant with Tier 4 emissions rules that are due to impact engines soon.

With that said, CATs are not for pulling, they are for running. Sure they can pull. But they are not Detriots. It's hard to explain. If a cat and detroit hit a mountain, the detroit will lug down to shift long after the cat did. However the kitty has the potential to simply walk away from lugging detriot.

All engines are wrenchers in trucking thank god. Except now you need a computer to talk to them. UGH.

Im watching the railroad industry take locomotive engines, derate them, stick em on a market for rent power pool instead of buying new engines (Not too many).

If this keeps up the emissions is going to kill the desiel.