Some exp from being in the midrange engine service dept in Cummins. There
are good and bad points to each.(Comparing "stock to stock") If you are a
hauler and weight and fuel mileage matters then hands down the Cummins
engine is the one you want. If you just dont care about total vehicle weight
or gas mileage and want to "go" the navistar entry is very good for that. As
far as reliability is concerned, both engines are very solid pieces of
machinery during their expected lives. Its sad but true, both these engines
are designed to be throw away engines. That means they wanted the engines to
fail "prematurely" so that the engine doesnt outlast the truck. The mark
that was supposed to be 250k before rebuild/new engine (these are not the
cheapest engines to rebuild). Ford got it right, Cummins missed their mark.
>From my exp from field tests of hauling yacths to the west coast and 5th
wheels to Florida, the Navistar gives up around 250-350k while the cummins
is 400-500k. One other thing to consider is that both of these engines are
taylored way back. All you have to do is replace a chip and flash a CPU and
magically you have over 100 lbs torque more (they are set in such a way so
that they can be legal in a non-heavy duty or non-commercial vehicle).If you
"max" the engines in this method you will find the Cummins and Navistar will
rate near even. As far as Ford/Cummins. Ford and Cummins owned each others
stock. Ford decided to go with a cheaper production engine and thats that.
Ohh and hope you dont get the Mercedes diesel, they were the "other" engines
that we didnt care to worry about, just like the old chevy p.o.s.. Just a
little more info.. I know its a little scattered but now you know a little
more of the story.
>Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 22:33:40 -0400
>From: "Jon" <jonsdak@midmaine.com>
>Subject: Re: DML: 2003 Ram Diesel (Ford beats Dodge)
>
>Hmm, the Cummins HO has 555 ft-lb of torque, and that is what matters in a
>diesel. Ford/Navistar had to beat it with 5 ft-lb? Seems childish.
>And what was that earlier (not from you) about auto makers using other
>makers' parts? Ford off>ers an Allison with this engine!
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