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

N14 celect +

 

I just have to go with n14

 

We have had both. 1995 N14 Celect and a 2005 C15 Acert. The N14 gave injector problems early but that cleared itself up....I think it was the injectors more than an engine problem. It was so bad we kept a spare injector in the truck. Other than that it was a rock solid dependable engine with zero problems. Yes I have read alot of internet chatter about the fretting of the blocks on the N14 but I have never actually heard from anyone that has ever witnessed the problem. Even our local Cummins mechanic had never seen it and he is re-rolled many, many of them.

Which brings me to the 2005 C15 Acert....a.k.a the biggest pile of crap that we have ever owned. We have put so many VVA oil pressure sensors in that thing I have lost count. And the Variable Valve Actuators themselves too....lost count of how many we've replaced. And then there was the housing for the VVA that broke and the pieces took out the camshaft and punched a hole in the head. That was a $13,000 repair. After replacing all of those VVA's and sensors the problem was still there so we replaced the wiring harness that controls them. Touch wood that seems to have solved the problem at least for a couple months now anyway. If you must buy the Acert, make sure you budget for a new wiring harness. Also, IIRC there is a TSB to upgrade the VVA housing....get the VIN and call a KW and CAT dealer to see if it has been done or it is a time bomb.

If it were me, I would buy a 6NZ cat and you will be good to go forever. Got one of them too in a 2001 model KW and it hasn't had a single thing go bad.

EDIT: No doubt that a large part of out Acert problem is an incompetent KW dealer....but you might get one of them too. If I had went to a Cat house, it may have been solved before we replaced 20 sensors and actuators. ALso if we had a better dealer, they might have mentioned about the TSB....but they didn't.

 

If you are looking at a W900 with a million miles on the cat Acert for around 30k, I would look at an older 900 with a 6nz. You should be able to find some of them with around a million miles. The problem you are going to run into is, that if buying one of these higher mile trucks is going to tap you out financially, what are you going to do about an overhaul and other maintenance? At 1 million miles, as someone else stated, you really are on borrowed time. Then you are looking at over 20k for an inframe from cat. I would get online, and find the style of truck you want and get one that has been majored, and alot of other work done to it. It may be a few years older truck for the same money, but will be cheaper in the long run.

 

We have a couple acerts and they get the worst fuel mileage of the fleet.

 

I wouldn't have another ACERT as long as I live. And that's coming from somebody who will not buy a truck if the power plant isn't yellow. I've got one that's pulling decent mileage but it's a gutless truck for a 550/1850 truck. And in 2 years it's had almost 15k dumped into the motor with just over 750k on it. If you're going to buy a CAT make it a 6NZ or a later E model if you're going to stay electronic. I ain't a cummins fan but that N14 will probably run circles around an Acert. The design of that motor is a good platform as you have the stroke of a C16, and the smaller bore of the 14.6L motors, and it was lighter than a C16 if I remember right, it was just another EPA motor that in it's stock form is nothing more than a boat anchor in my personal opinion. Now Oscar has an acert he's happy with, my dad is happy with his Acert...till he gets in my truck, but me personally I hate that motor with a passion. I'd also like to add, and I'm unaware if others have this problem as well but it seems like every 2-3 months I'm putting a tensioner or ilder pulley on that motor. I'm not sure if it's an alignment issues at this point in time or weather the bearings are just crap but it shouldn't be wearing them out like that. When it gets back I'll pull the pulley off and take it up to a place called percision bearing and get them replace throw it back on and see if that helps any. That'll at least eliminate weather it's crappy bearings or a bigger problem.

 

The n-14, sure I'll take it. If the c-15 acert, put free flow muffler, place bully dog, FASS or AD, and place single turbo.