I read in 8-Lug mag. that Toyota is in talks with CAT for a diesel engine

 

I'm gonna have to agree with DEMON on this one. I have worked on both and ran both. The cat engines by far are more expensive to fix, not to mention that in a 12 hour day the trucks ive run with cats use on an averge of 20 to 25 gal more fuel, on the up side the Cat will pull better at lower RPMs. The Cummins on the other handwould pull the hills way better hands down if it was in the upper half of the powerband. this is based on N-14s vs 3406s.

 

..........

 

I ran 3408's in my offshore boat when I worked in Fla Keys years ago. Then the brains at Cat decided to turbo the engines - whatta disaster that was. You're right about them producing more torque, but also cost like the devil when it comes to parts and repairs are right out the window. After two blown turbos, repaired twice and replaced once, I got rid of the boat and bought a new one with a single B series Cummins. Haven't gone back to Cat since.

 

I hope you mean 3208..... cause I overhauled a 3408 out of a a D9 dozer years ago.


...I know 3208T's are crapola. I'm actually surprised you didn't crack the heads..........a bunch of times

 

3208 first, the 3408 was the replacement, then the 3406. Progressively better, but no prize. A friend with a 3516 who has had good service with his big boat, is now looking to replace the engine. Unfortunately Cummins doesn't make an equivalent. He'll need to go to Lugger for it. If you thought Cats were expensive, then look at Lugger for parts and service!

 

My brother owned a heavy equipment construction company for years. He said generally the CAT engines had looser tolerances internally, were more dirty, leaked a lot and had to be rebuilt more often than the Cummins equipment. He quit buying anything with a CAT in it after a few years.

 

I needed a new well newer truck with a quad cab for room ( 110lbs Doby & kid) reason I bought my Dodge was for the 12V plus I love the body style.

 

Cummins ABSOLUTELY make an equivalent to the 3500 series Cats......They're called QSK45 & QSK60. I used to work with QSK45's alot.

QSK45 = 3512

QSK60 = 3516


These are very big engines..........you say in your buddies "big" boat.......How big is it?

 

A 28m mothership troller. She's got a single V16 Cat with 2,555 hrs on the engine since the second rebuild. A 3208NA get home engine. 27,500 liters of fuel in four steel tanks; watermaker to ice machine 10,000kg cap; 26,000 kg fresh fish cap;three gensets @ 30kw 371 Detroits and keel coolers.

 

I recently talked to a Mechanical Engineer who works for Peterbuilt and he stated that they only use Cummins in their new trucks. He told me that the new electronic contrloed Cat engines were having alot of problems.

 

nice. .................

 

MEOWWWWWWW: I don't hate cumins, but since new, it has NEVER operated properly , ( it rev's and screams )with 40 visits to get a factory problem fixed I have run out of patients and money with people who haven't a clue how to diagnos an engine.

 

My Harley doesnt leak.

 

Why have you still got truck then, if you're not happy with it. Get rid of it if it is that bad, or take it to a dealer in a larger city with more experienced techs. Or to a good independent shop experienced in Diesels, have you tried a Cummins repair shop. You can always buy a service manual, and get at er yourself. It probably really is a fairly simple problem, just need some GOOD diagnostic work first. Cats are not the cure all some people think.