You're right, the EPA did set those standards in 2000, but CAT met the 2007 levels in 2004. Cat actually incurred fines from the EPA because they said they would meet them by Oct 2004, but didn't produce the first production ACERT engine until DEC 2004. To recoup the R&D costs and the money paid in fines for 2 months ( $500 per engine fine, 300 engines a day), no further R&D money was spent. Instead, R&D money was spend on Tier 4 emissions engines for CAT in-house machinery. (non-truck engines).
ACERT was the only solution that did not require EGR or an aftertreatment to meet emissions. Cummins used a EGR and aftertreatment, and so did Detroit diesel. Just like our 6 leakers and 6.4, and now ( hopefully not) the 6.7L's, the egr and aftertreatment (see DPF) made the cummins and detroits less reliable. So from the end of 2004 thru half of 2008, Cat enjoyed huge sales of these engines. That brings us to the start of the current economic crisis. Truck manufactures began to skinny up, reduce offerings and vertically integrate with their suppliers. ( which means, basically, they picked one supplier, and stuck with them exclusively, this made for less configuration options, and less inventory overhead, thus saving money, or so it is thought.) When this started happening, our PINS declined, ( see PINS = Percent of Industry Net Sales.) With ACERT, CAT had planned to meet 2010 emissions easily, as most of the modifications were with the PCM, and adding DPF and a catalytic converter to the OEM package. ( note: still no EGR). It was decided in early 2009 that CAT was to exit the truck engine business.

So I was a bit fast to blame the EPA, but if we could have sold the same engine without having to invest more money, I think CAT would have stayed in the game longer.

As far as working for them in second half of 2006, I did, but not building engines. In fact, I haven't built a I6 ( 3406B, C, E, C14, C14, C16) since 1996. I kinda worked my way into a Network Admin job that I have been doing for 2 years now. I was on the line in 1994 when the first HEUI (Think 7.3L PSD) 3406E's came out. I got to test those engines, 21 a shift, and it was a blast. I still love walking out into the shop past the engine test cells and hearing them start up, Idle for a minute, and then lug them down to the torque peak ( all computer controlled test) wide open throttle. Its a blast to feel the concrete vibrate around you as 15 of these engines are doing these tests in different stages all day long. I test one of these engine that had these specs: 315hp@ 2600rpm, 1200ft/lbs @ 900 rpm ( Fire pump engine, cool as hell. Glowing turbo and manifolds that you could see with the lights on.)

I have 15 proud years on the job at Big Yellow..... 16 in july....

No nerves struck, just setting the record straight.

 

Gosh I could only imagine how awesome a CAT would be in a Super Duty that would be the best truck ever I would deffintily do the swap. I love CAT stuff ever since I was alot younger. I rock the CAT plate on the front and a CAT hat just about everywhere I go too.

 

They should put a John Deere engine in the SD. Has even more cult following than CAT and the green would go nicely tucked inside a black truck. Would look schnazzzy! lol

 

I guess that makes sense. It's good to hear something other than what's printed in press releases. For the most part I agree with you about truck manufacturers and suppliers, but all the major truck manufacturers allow trucks to be specced with 3rd party engines.

Cummins isn't owned by any truck manufacturer, much like Cat, but their engines have always been an option in Volvo, Kenworth, Peterbilt, and International trucks. Ever since the early 2000s, Freightliner class 8 trucks only were available with their own Detroits or Caterpillar engines. Now that Cat left the game you can get an ISX in a new Freightliner.

I think what you're seeing is the truck manufacturers are pushing their own engines much more than they used to. Every single one of them now makes heavy duty engines. International(MaxxForce series), Volvo (D-series), Paccar(PX-series) and Freightliner(Detroit Diesel) all make engines now, and they stand more to gain by selling their own engines in their trucks rather than an independent engine such as Cummins or Cat.

I think this is going to get worse in coming years, and it wouldn't surprise me if Cummins left the on-highway market in the future because of it.

My comments with the ACERT engines have to do with their complexity. Two turbos, an air-to-water aftercooler, a variable lift valvetrain, as well as a cruise control system that does NOT want to maintain a constant speed sometimes make me wish I had a red engine under the hood. That and the fact that this engine likes to drink a gallon of oil every 7,000 miles...

But for what it's worth, I've been served very well by Caterpillar ACERT C15s over the last two years. Thermostats and a front crank seal have been the only two problems I've had with the engines so far. The last one I turned in had over 560,000 miles on it, and it always ran well. This one's only at 365,000 and it seems to run well so far!

 

Don't they use Yanmar, at least in there lighter duty tractors?

 

I think your right. Depending on the JD engine you want to use, it may be a little un-american to put a Yanmar engine in a Ford.....


Not that using a Isuzu engine in a chevy is any better though... just say'in..

 

HAHA!!! No, not really... I just liked the sound of them. They "purr" just like a "cat"... how can you beat that? Actually, I've been told the new Cummins are ALOT tougher than the CATs... I know that could be debatable, but here's where I'm coming from: I know a fellow from Premay in Canada. Premay hauls those HUGE objects that use modular trailers that are custom-built to each application. The haul stuff like the cokers for the oil companies and such... REALLY big stuff! Anyways, he says that they run their trucks at something like 89% duty cycle and things can start glowing at that much. He says they've tried Cummins and CATs and they had problems with the CAT's block warping and twisting and they have yet to kill a Cummins. I'm not so sure... my dad told me he couldn't figure it out because CATs are the standards in the BIG mines! It's confusing... but all in all, I still like the way a CAT sounds. It also sucks about the EPA too... I had heard that as well. I just wish they'd leave us ALL alone...

 

If my memory serves me right, someone shoe horned a 1160 or a 3208 into a Bronco years ago. I believe it was in the Cat Dealer magazine that I saw it. Big Big problems to get it in there. Fishin76 might be able to find it in the archives.
Jim

 

Believe so. I know the JD lawn tractors have Mexican Briggs and Strattons in them. BIG selling point for the Husqvarna!