ponuexpress
Seasoned Expediter
Hello everyone I need help I"m in the market for a new class 8 truck ,there is plenty of trucks on the market but how do I know which motor shoud I go for mbe4000 or detroit diesel 12.7liter comments welcome thanks.
mb4000 or dd 60series
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spudhead911
Seasoned Expediter
The series 60 is being replaced with the DD15, soon to be followed by the DD13, The DD 15 is suppose to be a great engine. I have a MBE 4000 in my Western Star and love it.
Which engine to chose will depend on the application. Will it be in a tractor or straight truck? Will it be used for long haul or regional? What hourse power do you want? Do you want automatic tranny or manual? how are you going to spec the gearing for the rears and tranny?
You need to think about the above questions, then talk to a dealer for their input.
Which engine to chose will depend on the application. Will it be in a tractor or straight truck? Will it be used for long haul or regional? What hourse power do you want? Do you want automatic tranny or manual? how are you going to spec the gearing for the rears and tranny?
You need to think about the above questions, then talk to a dealer for their input.
ponuexpress
Seasoned Expediter
well the truck I"m looking at is a 05 columbia with autoshift
mbe4000 @350 hp straight truck and it will be used for otr and local as well my second choice century class with same trans but det diesel 60 series @430 hp
mbe4000 @350 hp straight truck and it will be used for otr and local as well my second choice century class with same trans but det diesel 60 series @430 hp
spudhead911
Seasoned Expediter
How many miles are on each truck, and what model year is the century? If the miles are about equal and the trucks are same model year I would go with the series 60.
I would personally go with the Detroit before the MBE...
The 60 series engine has been around a long time... The MBE has not...
Repair and Maintence issues are my reason...
Most seasoned mechanics have been working on 60 series engines since they came out... probably the same with The MBE, but you cant rest assured that there experience with the 60 series will be greater then a MBE....
Most parts are also readily avaliable for the 60 series...
And the DD15??? If you are an Owner Op, I would stay away for a few years... Granted, Most recalls and breakdowns if any will be covered under warranty... Do you still need the down time???
A New engine, new design, let them work the bugs out first...
An Oil Change on the new DD15 will more then likely cost you well over $300... DD15's are new, so your filters will be OEM... Fleeguard, Baldwin, Etc will need to test there filters etc before releasing them to market... The filter setup on the DD15 resembles that of a MBE, (drop in canister type filters), however if I can recall, there are 3 fuel filters on this engine???
Imagine the cost just to have the filters replaced if you get some bad fuel or something???
The 60 series engine has been around a long time... The MBE has not...
Repair and Maintence issues are my reason...
Most seasoned mechanics have been working on 60 series engines since they came out... probably the same with The MBE, but you cant rest assured that there experience with the 60 series will be greater then a MBE....
Most parts are also readily avaliable for the 60 series...
And the DD15??? If you are an Owner Op, I would stay away for a few years... Granted, Most recalls and breakdowns if any will be covered under warranty... Do you still need the down time???
A New engine, new design, let them work the bugs out first...
An Oil Change on the new DD15 will more then likely cost you well over $300... DD15's are new, so your filters will be OEM... Fleeguard, Baldwin, Etc will need to test there filters etc before releasing them to market... The filter setup on the DD15 resembles that of a MBE, (drop in canister type filters), however if I can recall, there are 3 fuel filters on this engine???
Imagine the cost just to have the filters replaced if you get some bad fuel or something???
Having been a dyno technician doing durability, fuel and emissions calibrations, my vote goes to the DD60.The US still makes a great diesel engine for commercial uses,so pick your favorite ( Cummins,Detroit,Cat ).The big three diesel engine manufacturers produce brutally robust and rugged engines that are cheaper and easier to repair when that time comes.
spudhead911
Seasoned Expediter
The Detroit series 60 has been replaced with the DD15 series engine. The new DD15 combines technology from both the MBE and the Detroit series 60 engines to make a better all around engine, so says the powers to be. Cat has stopped making on highway engines. So you are now limited to Cummins, Detroit DD15, and engines from International and Volvo/Mac. International will be making engines for Cat to Cat's spec's for off highway use. Pacar is now making medium duty engines for KW and PETE's, (class 7). I think PACAR will be coming out with their oun class 8 engines in the future. I quess for now the two big choices for on highway heavy duty engines will be Detroit and Cummins. I think they are continuing the MBE 4000 series also, which is pretty good engine.
From information I consider totally reliable, in a straight truck application, the new DD13 engine with proper overall truck specs should regularly do 12+ mpg with 14mpg at times not being impossible. That requires the operator to do their part by being smooth and holding speeds to about 60mph cruise. If I were building a new truck from scratch I'd probably go that route.
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spudhead911
Seasoned Expediter
I have heard good things about the new DD13. I know the Detroit series 50 was a heck of a good class 7 engine that could put any other class 7 engine to shame. I don't know if the DD13 is a class 7 or 8, but I wouldn't think twice about building a truck using the DD13 as the power plant.
My MBE 4000 series engine set at 370hp gets me well over 10mpg runnning at 60mph, running at 65mph gets me between 9.5-9.7 mpg, that includes running the reefer on our Western Star T-VAL CR unit, and running the APU when we are laying over. We have the 10 speed Ultra-Shift tranny. We have almost 200,000 miles on the odometer and have had no problems with the engine.
Mercedes has been building diesel engines for a long time. They brought over the MBE as an alternative to having to meet the 2002 EPA emissions standards, the MBE didn't have to meet emission standards until 2004. It was a smart move. They have improved the engine since then, and I am very happy with the choice I made to use the MBE series 4000 when we had the truck built.
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mjolnir131
Veteran Expediter
The DD15 is acctually a cross between the 60 and the MBE and if yu get them side by side you can tell it.
i have the 07 MBE and even with the sulpher rebaker i'm at ten in the souther states or any place that lets me drive at 66 mph
becouse i don't have to stop and recycle
in midwest states with running back and forth between ohio and il i do have to recycle so fuel usage goes up.
seriusly if you hit the MPG disply on ohio or il you can watch it start to drop about 90 miles into the state
i have the 07 MBE and even with the sulpher rebaker i'm at ten in the souther states or any place that lets me drive at 66 mph
becouse i don't have to stop and recycle
in midwest states with running back and forth between ohio and il i do have to recycle so fuel usage goes up.
seriusly if you hit the MPG disply on ohio or il you can watch it start to drop about 90 miles into the state