Hey Truckers!!

schmitty wrote:I am a huge fan of the 3406/C15 Cats, the Cummins always seem like they are more hassle than they are worth. The old 60 Series Detroits DDEC II and III are great engines, but they are getting old and starting to need more maintenance than they should. All of the new emmisions engines are crap.

That sounds right. The emission engines are lotsa hastle. We have a law in Ontario now where trucks need the computer speed gov set to 105kph (65mph). The old mechanicals don't have the ability to do that so that might be a good option too!!

Our Freightliner had the little C12 @ 430hp and that thing was great. I was getting 7-8 mph US loaded and pulled almost as good as the bigger engines.

Bill

The C12 got a bad rep in my neighborhood for a while, but they are a great little engine. I good freind of mine bought one new in 99 and is still running it to this day. He really likes it, great mileage and good power.

schmitty wrote:The C12 got a bad rep in my neighborhood for a while, but they are a great little engine. I good freind of mine bought one new in 99 and is still running it to this day. He really likes it, great mileage and good power.

We had to put a head gasket in it but most Cats need them at some point!! The little Kitty never left us stranded.

Have you had much to do with Macks? I have been looking at a Vision with the 460HP E-7.

Bill

On the Macks, we (Ryder) had problems with the rocker arm jam nuts coming loose,,turbos self destruction, water pumps, ECM problems,almost all had to replace camshaft, the pumps, (as mack calls them) look like 6 injectors on right side of engine were notorious for leaking although not that bad to repair unless it broke one of the bolts off in the block, need to carry a spare fuel return line, (special size), oil cooler problems, puts oil into coolant, other than that just normal truck stuff. Unless, it is a later model then the emissions system is very problematic. Costly to work on partswise, and having to deal with arrogant Mack-Volvo dealers to get parts is a pita. The trucks drove good, rode good and were as quiet and even quieter than most other brands.

IMO the N14 Cummins is hard to beat for an OO, due to parts avalibility and cost. A big plus is the dealer network and almost anyone can work on them. M11/L10 not so much so although they are fair on fuel.

60 series Detroit, lots of inj. replacements, bellhousing oil leaks, front cover leaks, water pump leaks and are troublsome to replace, (re costly) inj wire harness, quite a few cam replacements, had lots of oil pan probs with the compsite pans but that went away, constant prob with emissions, EGR, delta P valves and like the Mack had lots of them put oil in water, (cooler) or fuel in water, (inj. pots)

Cats not too bad but thats b/c Ryder didnt buy all that many. The C13 (Ithink it was) was junk with two turbos, intake valve acuaters, jake brakes, exhaust leaks, cracked heads, fuel in coolant probs. oil usage Cat would o/h but still used lots of oil. Had some C12s throw rods out left side of block and a few cam replacements other than that they did pretty well, but as I said they didnt have many.

bcr466 wrote:On the Macks, we (Ryder) had problems with the rocker arm jam nuts coming loose,,turbos self destruction, water pumps, ECM problems,almost all had to replace camshaft, the pumps, (as mack calls them) look like 6 injectors on right side of engine were notorious for leaking although not that bad to repair unless it broke one of the bolts off in the block, need to carry a spare fuel return line, (special size), oil cooler problems, puts oil into coolant, other than that just normal truck stuff. Unless, it is a later model then the emissions system is very problematic. Costly to work on partswise, and having to deal with arrogant Mack-Volvo dealers to get parts is a pita. The trucks drove good, rode good and were as quiet and even quieter than most other brands.

IMO the N14 Cummins is hard to beat for an OO, due to parts avalibility and cost. A big plus is the dealer network and almost anyone can work on them. M11/L10 not so much so although they are fair on fuel.

60 series Detroit, lots of inj. replacements, bellhousing oil leaks, front cover leaks, water pump leaks and are troublsome to replace, (re costly) inj wire harness, quite a few cam replacements, had lots of oil pan probs with the compsite pans but that went away, constant prob with emissions, EGR, delta P valves and like the Mack had lots of them put oil in water, (cooler) or fuel in water, (inj. pots)

Cats not too bad but thats b/c Ryder didnt buy all that many. The C13 (Ithink it was) was junk with two turbos, intake valve acuaters, jake brakes, exhaust leaks, cracked heads, fuel in coolant probs. oil usage Cat would o/h but still used lots of oil. Had some C12s throw rods out left side of block and a few cam replacements other than that they did pretty well, but as I said they didnt have many.

Good info!! Thanks.

Bill

bcr466 wrote:On the Macks, we (Ryder) had problems with the rocker arm jam nuts coming loose,,turbos self destruction, water pumps, ECM problems,almost all had to replace camshaft, the pumps, (as mack calls them) look like 6 injectors on right side of engine were notorious for leaking although not that bad to repair unless it broke one of the bolts off in the block, need to carry a spare fuel return line, (special size), oil cooler problems, puts oil into coolant, other than that just normal truck stuff. Unless, it is a later model then the emissions system is very problematic. Costly to work on partswise, and having to deal with arrogant Mack-Volvo dealers to get parts is a pita. The trucks drove good, rode good and were as quiet and even quieter than most other brands.

Do you know about how many miles when these issues happened? The Mack I have been looking at has about 800,000 miles on it. I am wondering if most of these issues would have been taken care of by now???

Thanks!!
Bill

Most had ocurred from 80000 to 400000 on engine other than electrical. Emissions junk from day one till they were out serviced and even after that. Ryder has a warranty period on their used trucks with an extended warranty avalible. So, there were some that we repaired long after they were sold.

bcr466 wrote:Most had ocurred from 80000 to 400000 on engine other than electrical. Emissions junk from day one till they were out serviced and even after that. Ryder has a warranty period on their used trucks with an extended warranty avalible. So, there were some that we repaired long after they were sold.

That's good, thanks!! I will not even consider an emissions engine, where I worked before had lots of problems with the E engines.

Bill