Cummins N-14 Celect Plus or Cat C-15 Acert?

surelly simple and reliable n14

 

Guys i really appreciate all the feed back. They are both real good looking trucks, ill probably just have to get a mechanic to go with me and check them both out. The International has a price tag of $25,000 and the Kenworth has a price tag of $30,000. Just didn't know if the difference between the mileage and engine was worth $5,000 or not. Thanks again guys.

 

I travel mostly in hills. I know Cat's are known for great pulling power,but i was wondering if the N-14's are good pulling motors or not? I usually gross right at 80,000.

 

A friend of my sons has a factory 525 n14 celect plus with a RTLO16913 and 3.55 on low pro 22.5. To hear him tell it it won't pull to suit him, but it does a dang good job in my opinion he is not comparing apples to apples he thinks it should run in the hills with c16 cats that have ecm tuned and my old B model that I have way too much money in. I asked him earlier bout his fuel mileage he said 5.5 keep in mind the kid drives it like a race car hauling grain in state so he is at 80000 all the time.

 

Appreciate it Wore Out, I pull a grain wagon in state also,i don't drive it like a race car though. I'm more of a take my time kinda of guy, ill get there when i get there haha. I just make a load a day so there's no need for me to hot rod them anyways. The N-14 I'm looking at is a factory 460hp, which i think would be plenty for my situation. My other engine was a 3406E Cat 475 which i loved and pulled good,but haven't had any experienced with the Acert engine or a N-14. The Acert has a million miles on her, so i don't know how long they last before you start having to mess with them. The N-14 has 700,000 on it, which in my mind would be the better choice. I'm not bias when it comes to engines, I think a good engine is a good engine. I'v had a Detroit 11.1, a Cummins M-11, and a Cat 3406e. Never had any major problems with any of them. I guess it comes down to how a person treats and takes care of them, and mine get pampered pretty good when i have them haha. Sorry i got off point there a little bit. Thanks Again Wore Out.

 

You won't have any issues with pulling hills with the n-14. Back in 2000 I had a few guys that I ran with a lot one had a 97 460 Cummins and one had a 470 Detroit I had a 475 CAT. We pulled 6 axle trailers grossing 135,000 and up. The detroit was left for dead as soon as it saw a hill. The Cummins was close to my truck and consistently got 3/4 mpg better than me. To me thats a good tradeoff. IMO any engine at 1 million miles is on borrowed time. I've heard of the fretting issues but at 700,000 i think thats down the road a ways. The K-W would definitely be the better truck other than the mileage. I'd try for a little better price on the IH.

 

Appreciate it Special K, That is what i was hoping to here on the N-14. I agree with the IH, I am a Kenworth guy for sure,but I'm open to giving other trucks a drive. I'v heard about the fretting issue myself. What does it mean with the fretting issue?

 

Some of the higher hp n-14 with higher mileage that pull heavy seem to have an issue with the main bearing saddles in the crankcase going out of shape. It seems to be discovered when you do a bearing roll and promptly spin a main bearing. The cure is to align bore the block. Unfortunately that means the crank has to come out which means out of frame=$$$. That doesn't mean all have this issue but it's not unheard of.

 

I guess its just one of them "pick one and drive it" deals and hope for the best haha. I do like the fact the N-14 has less miles,but i would love to have another Kenworth.

 

these both owner op trucks? if so ask if they have prev oil samples they've taken, ask em where they get their work done and call their mechanic and ask him what he thinks mechaniclally of the truck. those kinda miles they would have had to have some stuff done id think.

if you need a truck right away then roll with it, but their are trucks out there with a little more miles that already have the overhaul done. I wouldn't b afraid at all to buy a 1.2 mil mile truck that had an overhaul done already with paperwork to back it up. just know if you get one these and no major work has been done...its around the corner. me personally i would NEVER buy a truck with these miles that hasnt been touched unless ive got plenty of cash laying around or i get a steal of a deal on it. the guys are prob selling them now cuz they know they gonna have to overhaul soon