"Europeen" truck engines last longer?

[JohnEd]

I recently read a comment on a board that said that the truck engines in E go many hundreds of thousands of miles further than they do here.  No reason was given but if its true I would think it could be attributed to a better refinement and filtering AND the law that requires a Biodiesel content over there.  Anybody know if this is even a little bit true?

John

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Looks like a good question for Jeremy!

[Tom Y]

A local firm was running Mercedesfor a few years and said no more. They are going back to Cummins. For what its worth.  Tom Y

[Jeremy]

Looks like a good question for Jeremy!

Not really I'm afraid as I don't claim any technical expertise at all on the subject of engines. I did once work for Perkins but only in the accounts department!

There is no doubt that the American and European environments are very different, but whether that means European engines typically have a longer or shorter life I couldn't say. I would guess that US engines are more 'power' orientated (heavier vehicles and probably longer individual journeys), whilst European engines are more 'efficiency' orientated (tougher laws on noise & pollution and much higher fuel prices) - but what effect that has on longevity I don't know.

Just on a mildly related subject, I heard an interesting radio program about the truck transport industry last week. It was mostly about the various very clever technological things the better hauliers were doing to save fuel and become more efficient, and also about whether more freight in the UK could be switched to rail transport. One thing they talked about was how truck trailers would soon be getting much longer to carry more freight, and would incorporate 'intelligent' steering rear axles to get them around corners - just like the old fire trucks which had a second driver at the back to steer the trailer

Jeremy

[HighTechRedneck]

I recently read a comment on a board that said that the truck engines in E go many hundreds of thousands of miles further than they do here. 

Any chance the party posting the information was comparing the numbers directly without converting kilometers to miles?

I'm sure it's not that simple.  Just had to throw it out there.

[belfert]

Some American heavy duty diesels are already lasting over 1 million miles.  How many miles do you expect an engine to go?

My buddy had a Series 60 in a 2000 International semi tractor.  He retired and sold the truck with 1.2 million miles on the engine.  He said to his knowledge the engine had never been in framed.  Now, I know that 1.2 million miles without major work is fairly uncommon.

[DaveG]

I concur that S-60 are million plus mile engines. Quite possibly the other 855ci (Cummins) and 893ci (Cat) are doing almost as good, but many of todays fleets are using smaller engines (L-10/M-11 and C-12/13) and these smaller displacement engines, while making the horsepower of yesterdays large engines, don't seem to last quite as long.

This is of course my personal viewpoint, and I don't own a bus!

[JohnEd]

That comment came on a BioDiesel forum.  That poster felt that the added lubricity of the Bio that is required over there was mostly to blame.  As for Mercedes D....they were comparing apples to apples and he thought that a million miles was common in Europe and that isn't GB with its high humidity.   I am sure the average D repair shop over there would have an opinion and would know what they are experiencing over on the continent.would have an opinion on how many miles between overhauls is typical.   This isn't my lie, now.  I am looking for the kernel of truth.  Is the E spec for fuel the same as it is in the USA?  Even if I found it on the internet I wouldn't be able to understand it sooooo.

Now if it turns out to have a shred of truth  I would be in line getting B100 added to my tank top off.  Jeramy..what American Ds are common over there?  What do the shops think their life expectancy might be?  They do sell and service American engines over there...right?  Don't want to assume too much.

Thanks,

John