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uncleal13
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 75
Location: Humboldt, SK
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject: Mercedes Engine |
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I'm looking at a new Century Class w/ 450 Mercedes. I've snooped around and haven't heard anything bad about this engine. How about you guys?
18 spd d/o, 3.58 ratio. 11R22.5 rubber |
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jdg
Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 48
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:08 am Post subject: |
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I had heard from a cat dealer that the engine brake is whimpy, and that they are hard to get serviced,...compared to the big 3.
Of course he could have been fullocrapolla, and trying to make the sale with me,...but I went with a DD60, not his cat. |
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Uturn2001
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 4623
Location: East Central IL between the corn and the beans
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:16 am Post subject: |
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As far as it being hard to get serviced I do not see where that would be much of a problem anymore. Freightliner is owned by Mercedes which in turn is part of Daimler Chrysler. Freightliner also owns Detroit Diesel now and seem to be in the process of phasing out DD engines in favor of the Mercedes design.
So I would think that most any Freightliner dealer and DD shop should be able to service the engine without much trouble. |
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special k
Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 247
Location: Ontario Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:04 am Post subject: |
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| If your doing tandem work it'l be fine, if you're doing multi axle work you'll find it lacking for power. Any time you get a new motor theres a chance you'll be waiting for parts to be flown in. Ask a Volvo owner about parts availability in backwoods areas. I know a few guys that put them in their trucks because they had a better warranty and were a lot cheaper and all of them were dissapointed witrh the power and fuel mileage when pulling heavy. |
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allan5oh
Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 2147
Location: jackassville (winnipeg, mb)
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Actually the mercedes has the most powerful jake out there. You just have to rev it high, REAL high. 2500 rpms it makes ~600 hp of retard. |
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uncleal13
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 75
Location: Humboldt, SK
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| I was told 580 hp engine braking. I just checked the spec sheet, says you get that at 2,300 rpm. I would NEVER take an engine that high. I think the highest I ever went was 1,900 going down hill, and no more than 1,800 under foot. Usually 1,300 to 1,500 rpm. |
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Windwalker
Joined: 22 Oct 2005
Posts: 2822
Location: Holiday, FL
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:44 am Post subject: |
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allan5oh wrote: Actually the mercedes has the most powerful jake out there. You just have to rev it high, REAL high. 2500 rpms it makes ~600 hp of retard.
When you get it turning that fast, I'll sound like one of the COX MODEL AIRPLANE ENGINES. |
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RockyMtnProDriver
Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Posts: 1558
Location: Cranbrook BC
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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Mercedes motors have a tremendous amount of hold back with the jake.
Everyone I know who has driven one says they are very sensitive to the throttle peddle. Twitchy is how it is described.
And you will never hurt a tractor motor by running it at its maximum RPM. They are designed to go up there and live a very long life.
If the engine fails, it fails for a different reason than high rpm.
We run our N-14's at 1900 to 2000 RPM for 16 miles at a time with the jake on full.
Also, I would think nothing of running up a hill at 2100 in the winter to stay out of the torque to keep the wheels from spinning.
Modern equipment needs to be driven in a modern way.
No point driving a new motor the way we did back in "the day".
As I tell all of my students "Use all the tools in the toolbox the way the tools where designed to be used". |
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yoopr
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 12866
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| drove Mercedes trucks in Iraq and they took a Huge Beating and kept on Ticking-I don't ever remember a convoy grinding to a halt because of an Engine problem and this was with us hauling appx. 100,000# loads in Extreme heat and jumping curbs and Dust so thick it was like driving in a snowstorm Whiteout. Just blew out the Air Canisters. A/C filter was tiny but all we did was take it out and tap it a few times with our hand. |
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uncleal13
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 75
Location: Humboldt, SK
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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Thank-you all for your input. Sounds good to me.
I currently have a 2001 FLD Classic w/ ISX. My main attraction to the MBE4000 was that it's almost 900 lbs lighter. I scaled the truck I'm looking at and it's about 2,400 lbs lighter overall.
Hey RockyMtnProDriver... that 16 miles of jaking, you must be referring to the Salmo-Creston road. Been over it a few times, fortunately only in the summer. A real treat. |
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RockyMtnProDriver
Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Posts: 1558
Location: Cranbrook BC
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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uncleal13 wrote:
Hey RockyMtnProDriver... that 16 miles of jaking, you must be referring to the Salmo-Creston road. Been over it a few times, fortunately only in the summer. A real treat.
Ya, thats the one.
Here are some pictures of it in the winter. All of our students cut their teeth on it, summier and winter.
http://www.rockymtnprodrivers.com/Picture%20Pages/pict.1.html
I probably have been over that bitch a couple of thousand times, half summer, half winter. And it was with A-trains in the middle of the night. |
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yoopr
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 12866
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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| It's very "Summier" here too :P |
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tumbo1
Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 103
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| Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| i talked to a few drivers who had them and they love them plus the power to weight is great as far as service u can get them serviced at any freightliner dealer and just about everywere that services detroit. |
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icedad
Joined: 10 Nov 2002
Posts: 427
Location: s/w Ga
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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The 2 guys I know who have them love them. They say they get really good fuel mileage them also.
I still haven't been converted. Still like the Kitty's.
I think every motor has it's pro's and con's.. It's just personal preference and what you wanna believe. |
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Ian Williams
Joined: 22 Aug 2005
Posts: 702
Location: Northern NV
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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Just checked out your web page..
16mi of 8% then another 8 of 6% :shock:
It makes Donner look like the Kiddie Hill.
How often do you see & smell drivers smoking the breaks?
RockyMtnProDriver wrote: uncleal13 wrote:
Hey RockyMtnProDriver... that 16 miles of jaking, you must be referring to the Salmo-Creston road. Been over it a few times, fortunately only in the summer. A real treat.
Ya, thats the one.
Here are some pictures of it in the winter. All of our students cut their teeth on it, summier and winter.
http://www.rockymtnprodrivers.com/Picture%20Pages/pict.1.html
I probably have been over that bitch a couple of thousand times, half summer, half winter. And it was with A-trains in the middle of the night. |
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