DEF requirement

I hated my Cat. Overpriced parts and fuel economy was not good. These days that would be a huge killer.
Not to mention the dealers were some of the most arrogant people I've met in the business. No cat motor for me...thanks.

 

Yeah unless the U.S. EPA changes NOX regs, the DEF is here to stay.

 

It's always fascinated me how so many drivers have had such different experiences with different motor manufacturers. My company swears by the CAT motor. They have tried Cummins' and Paccars and found the CAT to be the most reliable and cost-efficient motor for them.

All their Cummins motors blew the heads every 25K kms and the Paccars are an emissions nightmare (but since they can't buy new CAT motors, they've had to settle).

They just did a Platinum rebuild on an old block they had sitting in the back warehouse because they'd rather do that and keep a perfectly good older truck (that blew it's block) running than invest in a new truck.

 

I agree totally. It's like a love or hate type thing, rarely anything in between. Lol.

My favorite Cummins would be the old N14 red top. They were great all around for power, economy, reliability and cost of parts.

 

Cat still makes their motors, only for off road application. Think bulldozers.

 

I don't think I'll ever sell mine, I've heard too many people say that they wish they never sold their truck with the N14 in it.

 

No doubt. I wouldn't if i were you!
Great motor!

 

True to an extent. They have outsourced a ton of motors to Mitsubishi and Pekins among others. Many of the true CAT motors are gone..

 

Even their equipment is outsourced now. I'm pretty sure their little mini excavators are just yellow Yanmars. Their verticle mast forklifts are yellow Mitsubishis and most of their telescopic forklifts are yellow JLG's.

On a side note I believe Perkins is a Caterpillar owned subsidary brand. We jokingly call those little Perkins engines "Perkapillars" at our shop.

 

But even then, except for maybe out of country stuff, even all off road diesels, except the small stuff, are required to have DPF/SCR on them. Go check out new ag tractors and new equipment at CAT or any other OEM. So while Cat got out of the on-road engine game, they still have to deal with the same thing anyway.