I was thinking today about some of these semis that pull 80k+ and was wondering about the motors in them. I know there are a bunch of truck drivers in here that can help me out with the motor size and output etc. The trucks I've seen have all been I6s, but I've only seen trucks that were old back when I worked on the farm. I've heard that some of them run V12s now. I saw a Peterbilt log truck here in town not too long ago that said "500 hp" on the hood, that's what got me to wondering about this in the first place. Anyway, I know there's someone here who can fill me in. Thanks.

 

Last one I had was a 14 liter straight 6, with 550 hp and 1360 lb ft torque... made by Detroit Diesel, it is a very nice motor.

 

Most of them are 6 cyl. diesel injected engines.

Horsepower & torque ranges with each truck & engine. I have driven some with as little as 350HP to the 550HP. Big noticeable jump in HP there, let me tell you.

These engines are not like ford or chevy. There are basically 3 different engines that you can have. A Cummins, Detroit, & Cat. You can put those engines in any big truck. If it is a mack truck, then they also put their own engine on the option list.

I know a couple years ago Catapillar built a 650HP engine. I don't think they make it any longer because of the epa crap.

OH, we can modify these engines also to produce more, just cost a hell of lot more & is rarely done. I had my Cummins N14 rebuilt a couple years ago & it cost me around 10 grand for a basic out of frame overhaul.

 

Thanks for the info guys, 14 liters is about 860 cubic inches isn't it? That's pretty good sized.

 

For about $400 you can have most injection pumps turned up, my dad worked for a company that had a lot of 350 cummins, he turned them all up to about 400....

 

The cool thing about OTR tractor engines is that generall everything fits from one motor to the next. Interchangeable starters and such. Those engines are HUGE, the Cat 555 was a really strong motor for pulling 80k+, but I think the strongest has to be the 60 series Detroit. Those things don't run as long as the Cats, but dang if they don't make some serious power, and then, if you up the injections, watch out! The last 60 series Detroit that I was in pulled 82k up a two mile stretch of almost 10% grade, and never downshifted out of 13th, and it held it's speed like it was supposed to. Not a lot of engines can do that with that kind of load. Oh, and btw, 14 liters is 854 ci.

 

i think theres huge inline 6s the firetrucks ive seen are too. not sure on the size must be big to get all that torque.

 

some of the oilfield "pole trucks" I have seen around here actually have 3408 and 3508 cat engines. I don't have the HP figures on me, but if they are close to the Detroit 8V92's, then they are producing 700+ hp and 1500 ft/lbs of torque...all of that is hitting at about 1200 rpms, too.

I love those pole trucks...6x6 and the tires are about 5' tall....(grunt grunt grunt!!!)

DB

 

What are you going to haul with the semi will determine the engine size and what transmission you should have. Speed is not necessarily the only consideration, but power to pull the hills and grades is important.
I currently run a 475 Cat with a 13 speed in a '03 Pete, pulling a "skateboard". I can outpull most Detroits and Cummings of equal or bigger size with comperble (?) same type of loads.

 

Everyone has there different preferences but..............


The company I drive for now has a complete Internation Eagle fleet.
We haul up to 90 thousand pounds of gravel on every load day in and out.

My N14 Cummins will out pull any of the 60 Series that we have. Other then the the engine all other components are the same. Including the settings in the computer.

 

A lot of the engine choice depends on how much you're towing, how fast and how far you're going to tow it. I like the Cat 455, 475 and 555s best, and I'm really not a fan of Detroit at all, but it performed well. Hauling the stage and equipment for musicians on tour, Brooks and Dunn loaded the trailer to about 80,000, but the REAL heavy load was for John Michael Montgomery, that truck was up in the closer to 90k range. At the start of that tour, there were 6 trucks with the N14 Cummins, and by the end of the first month, all 6 had been replaced by trucks with other engines. We ended up replacing all of those, too, and the ones that took the heavy abuse and ended up staying with us were Cat 555s and one Detroit 60 series. The 60 series was dying quicker than any of them, but while it was running, it was a tremendous motor. That was with the Eaton 13 speed. I have seen some good running OTR Cummins engines pulling some HEAVY loads. All of those engines are huge, though, I'd love to get a big Cat in my F-150.

 

how did you get by grossing 90.000#? don't you have to cross the scales?

 

Those big diesels can crank out some serious power. I have a buddy in San Diego that runs a big rig shop. I loved going to his shop and walkin around and poppin the hoods on the various trucks. Even got to drive one, what fun that was. You can get a Cat, Detroit, or a Cummins in most trucks. Volvo makes thier own diesels too, but I believe you can order one with a different engine. I think the biggest, and most powerful engine for an OTR truck is a Cummins ISX. That beast is quite large at 15 liters.

 

after reading this thread its plain to see that most people that have posted on this thread have no idea what they are talking about. cummins,cat,and detroit all make very good motors. i have drove trucks with all three motors for the last 25 years and all three motors are about the same to drive, all three last about same, all three pull about the same. noway a cat, cummins,or a detroit can pull 82k up a 10% grade with out shifting.

 

You can liscense your truck to any amount of weight. It costs more, but well worth it. All our trucks are used in statewide road construction & are licensed for 100K.
As for DOT scales, I haven't seen one in quite along time. Very few here in MN & haven't had the chance to work around them.