Big diesels, who's into them?

Shaners · June 6, 2002

I work for a big diesel manufacturer. We build the GE engines that go in Locomotives. Our engines have 9" pistons and 120 lb rods and range from 2500 to 6000 HP.

I know there are some train buffs here, and certainly some tractor guys too...

Let's get a good discussion going!!! (no bashing please! )

Jpshostr · June 6, 2002

I gotta say I love the two 8.3L CDC engines we run here. Very smooth power delivery, will lug down and grunt through anything you throw at them, have a great sound (the 7220 really growls), and to this point have been bulletproof for us (7500+ hours between the two). Just wish I could figure out a way to shoehorn one into a pickup. Its been done with a F-350! Straight six diesels are where its at, just wish the only choice for one in a pickup didn't have a Dodge wrapped around it (although I'm planning on going that direction just to get that Cummins).

Now these things are turning about 185hp for us (stock numbers are 150). I know you guys are saying shucks, my truck has WAY more than that. True, but I'll hook up to you any day.

TheScaryGuy · June 6, 2002

diesel stinks.....litterally.....

General Lee 01 · June 6, 2002

diesel stinks.....litterally.....

I'll have to disagree with you there.

Diesel fumes smell better than the food served at McDonald's.

Now, I admit I'm no Diesel expert, so you'll have to bear with me on my following statement. This is from what I observe and is my understanding.

When it comes to big Diesels, I am a Truck (as in 18 wheeler)man. I think the best Big Rig diesel out there is the CAT 3406(Or whatever the motor was that was used in the movie, Black Dog). I like that deep roar that V-12 diesel truck engines make. They sound like they're actually working. They don't make that wussie sound that those damn I-6s make. ;)

sincityZ71 · June 6, 2002

I love diesels. Don't know much about them as of now, but I hope to learn more about them. Gotta love the growl of a 18-wheeler, construction equipment, or even a tank . I also have always been into trains, though I never go on them, but their fun to watch (I still have a working Lionel train set that I got when I was about 2, they are fun to play with, though I have nowhere to set them up anymore). One of these days I hope to get a diesel truck down the road when I need one (which I will one day).

Jpshostr · June 6, 2002

diesel stinks.....litterally.....

I'll have to disagree with you there.

Diesel fumes smell better than the food served at McDonald's.

Now, I admit I'm no Diesel expert, so you'll have to bear with me on my following statement. This is from what I observe and is my understanding.

When it comes to big Diesels, I am a Truck (as in 18 wheeler)man. I think the best Big Rig diesel out there is the CAT 3406(Or whatever the motor was that was used in the movie, Black Dog). I like that deep roar that V-12 diesel truck engines make. They sound like they're actually working. They don't make that wussie sound that those damn I-6s make. ;)

General, hate to disappoint you here, but almost every semi going down the road is running a "wussie" straight six. Never seen a V-12 in an OTR truck, a few V-8s are out there in HD applications, but sure not many at all, almost every V-8 diesel is in a light duty truck.

Every Cat engine used in trucks is a straight six, even the 3406. These sixs from Cat made for trucks will go up to 600hp, not too shabby in my book. Below is a picture of the 3406, as you can see, no V about this thing.

99Silver6.0 · June 6, 2002

Hey JP,

Cummins makes a #### of an engine dont they! Cummins and CaseIH have teamed together and say the Cummins engines are made by Consolidated Diesel right? I work on a lot of Freightliner trucks at work that have the Cummins L8.3 in them. Never had any trouble with them, just the occassional injector in the older trucks. My personal favorite has to be the N14+. Most of the Freightliner tractors we work on have the N14+ or Detroit Series 60. You dont like N14+'s, they dont hit 600 horse but come somewhat close and thats the N14-525E+.

Everybody has to love a Pete with no mufflers on it laying on his Jake flyin down the highway right??

The new 5.9HO goin in the new Rams is a beast! Like you said, just wish it didnt have a Dodge truck wrapped around it. Be nice if that Allison auto was behind it!

hogger999 · June 6, 2002

I work for a big diesel manufacturer. We build the GE engines that go in Locomotives. Our engines have 9" pistons and 120 lb rods and range from 2500 to 6000 HP.

I know there are some train buffs here, and certainly some tractor guys too...

Let's get a good discussion going!!! (no bashing please! )

Good idea Shaners. Like you said, I guess we did kinda take over the other thread.

As I said there, I'm a locomotive engineer and have worked for the BNSF for almost 5 yrs. Before that I drove a truck OTR for about 4.5 yrs and still do ever once and a while.

Trains are cool to run. To think you are controlling 19,000 tons with around 12,000 horsepower never really wears off. Actually the really cool part is stopping. Not just stopping but stopping wear you had intended

If I could make the same amount of money driving a truck and be home as often I'd rather be doing that. It's a lot more fun and you don't have to worry about getting stuck in the cab of a locomotive for 12 hrs with some jacka$$ or be on call 24/7.

Your right 99silver5.3 the n14 is awesome the last place where I drove full time had them in Kenworth T600's, and T800's. Am I correct in thinking Peterbilt hasn't used a V8 since 1990?

Jake99Z71 · June 7, 2002

Shaners,

I use to work for Fairbanks Morse. The company I work for now supplies the air and fuel management systems for most of the "big diesels". I just happen to work in the aircraft portion instead. They were pretty impressive in size and weight too. We use to fire one up in the summer to help out the local community's power grid.

I'm partial to C-12 in Big Rigs.

General Lee 01 · June 7, 2002

Ok, so I stand corrected.

Well, is there any diesel out there (In an 18 wheeler) that is a V-12. I thought somebody made a V-12 in Semi-trucks. ???

Shaners · June 7, 2002

The diesels we make run generators that are mounted to the front of them. That's the way locomotives run... They have A/C motors on the drive wheels and they pull power from a grid that is supplied from the gen. on the diesel.

If we have 4 engines running in our test cells at wide open throttle (or close to it), we can supply enough power to run our factory (not just the lights, but machines and everything else). Our factory is about 400K - 500K square feet, and on daylight shift there may be as many as 300 employees working.

If we are running this way in the off-shifts, we actually sell excess electricity back to the power company!!! These are some awesome machines!!!

Jake99Z71 · June 7, 2002

General Lee 01,

I don't believe I've ever heard of one in a Semi. But I do remember seeing a Inline 12 in a Semi. I know I have a picture somewhere of it. I don't remember the crazy horsepower and torque numbers on it either. It was on display at the Mid-America Truck Show in 1999 or 2000.

siume99 · June 7, 2002

Sorry General, JP is right about the Cat 3406. It is an inline 6. Look for a 3408 or 3412.....they are V8 and V12 respectively. They are usually in Cat's construction equipment and gen sets.

TheScaryGuy · June 7, 2002

I'm sorry, diesel fumes wreeek like crap.

Gas fumes are a different story. For the most part I hate the noise diesel's make. Specially pickup trucks diesels when they have exhaust. V8's sound much cooler!

And 3 week old poo smells better than McDonalds.....so thats nothing to brag about.....

Greg · June 7, 2002

A guy at work told an Army (Canadian) story today about how they used to change the oil in diesel generators while they were running - pouring clean oil in while draining until it runs clear.