Best, Longest lasting Diesel engine on the Planet - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mike D · #31 10-30-2007, 07:54 AM

Let me chime in here on this one. Best small to mid-size diesel engine in my opinion is the Izusu. I'm a professional fleet mechanic with a fleet of 25 delivery vehicles. Their road conditions range from in-town stop and go traffic to solid highway miles to mountain terrain. Number two is the Cummins 6.9T ISB engine. Number three is the Cummins 3.9BT. Mercedes 616 and 617 engines lag behind only because of the timining chain and auxillary vacuum pump issues.

I've run everything from, Perkins, Detroits, Cats, Dagenheims, Dorsetts (you old fishermen will recognize those last two), ALL Ford gas engines, GM's of all types, IH DT466's, Whites, Hercules and anything else you can stuff under the hood.

The ONLY diesel I'd ever have in an automobile is the Mercedes but then again I don't subject my cars to the daily abuse my trained monkeys, err I mean, my dedicated drivers do.

Stevo · #32 10-30-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainmonk

but nothing has ever beaten a 671 detriot for longevity they are still around in fishing boats from WW11 back then they were called grey marine 160 hp with manual trannys that were heavier then the engine

There is and was allot of really good marine, diesels, numerous streight six and V Cats, then the later high speed Cats that turned out to be nice engines, Plus "Gardeners", some say "the best ever diesel" and a bunch more. I have too admit being in the deck dept, my main interest was the wheelhouse but I always made it a point to learn the fuel transfer and bulge systems and general layout. I think I could make one generality, "diesels are allot more reliable in a boat than they are in a car

, probably due to more time at a steady rpm,

BluEyes · #33 10-30-2007, 07:14 PM

Gonna throw a vote in for a MB 615 motor. Daddy to your 616 and 617's

Heck, mine always starts...

pleiades · #34 10-30-2007, 08:28 PM

There was an old Fairbanks-Morse OP-16 on a currently serving Los Angeles-class submarine that was apparently taken from a previously decommissioned boat. Of course, the diesel was for emergency power only, as the ship's reactor usually provides plenty of power.

Hatterasguy · #35 10-30-2007, 11:03 PM

The Detroit 71 series lasted forever, but I don't like them. They smoke like crazy and are loud. I like the modern electronic, quiter diesels.

Most boats around here are lucky to put 100 hours a year on their engines, age will kill them before wear does.

Angel · #36 10-31-2007, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pleiades

There was an old Fairbanks-Morse OP-16 on a currently serving Los Angeles-class submarine that was apparently taken from a previously decommissioned boat. Of course, the diesel was for emergency power only, as the ship's reactor usually provides plenty of power.

From what I saw on my Los Angeles class Submarine, the Fairbanks Diesels were hearty but either really tough to start (compressed air), or the A-gangers running them were dumb. And as much as I'm a nuke, I'm not gonna fault A-Gamgers on this one. ALSO, in rough seas, when you need the DG (diesel Generator) to maintain a constant speed, so you can parallel AC loads and shift power away from the battery - the speed regulation SUCKED - Frequency was all over the place- making it difficult to go from "battery powered submarine" to "diesel powered submarine".
You had match voltages, get frequencies close, watch the synchroscope and pray that the DG was speeding up when you closed the breaker, lest you tear somehing off of its mounts...

(when you parallel AC generating sources, and you don't do it right, you normally trip a >1000A circuit breaker and/or jerk the generator end of something so hard that it tries to rotate up out of the floor for a split second, and breaks the rubber mounts that all submarine equipment is bolted to)

Fairbanks-Morse - good engines, but need some refinement in the controls dept. At least their 1960's models did =)

I am honestly surprised that I don't see more Opposed piston designs out there - is F-M the only one ?

-John

pleiades · #37 10-31-2007, 08:00 AM

I'll try to keep that in mind- I just got picked up for subs (last week!) as a NUPOC, although I'm still in my junior year of college so it will be a while before I actually get to a ship.

Stevo · #38 10-31-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

models did =)

I am honestly surprised that I don't see more Opposed piston designs out there - is F-M the only one ?

-John

I dont know of any other OPs is common use in commercial boats and not that many FMs around anymore either. The Navy bought allot of them, their headquarters are still in Norfolk Va I believe.

rwthomas1 · #39 10-31-2007, 09:31 PM

Too bad this is only vehicle diesels. If you want to check out a really neat old diesel do a search on "Lister" These low rpm, low output stationary diesels have been known to last for 30 years or more in almost constant use. Very heavy, very simple and pretty neat. RT

Skid Row Joe · #40 10-31-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777funk

Best, Longest lasting Diesel engine on the Planet

Nobody knows........since Rudolph Diesel's prototype may still be out there........running.......

Stevo · #41 11-01-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

Too bad this is only vehicle diesels. If you want to check out a really neat old diesel do a search on "Lister" These low rpm, low output stationary diesels have been known to last for 30 years or more in almost constant use. Very heavy, very simple and pretty neat. RT

There are still a few "direct reversible" Atlas's, Washingtons and Enterprises around Puget Sound and SF bay. I worked on quite a few when I started as deckhand. Those old "stamp mills" would run forever and you could actually have a conversation standing next too one when it was at full RPM, 350

pleiades · #42 11-01-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Nobody knows........since Rudolph Diesel's prototype may still be out there........running.......

His first prototype exploded, catastrophically.

seo · #43 11-01-2007, 05:51 PM

In the world of commercial engines Cummins isn't one of the names that I connect with longevity. The C model is OK, the KTA's were OK, the VTA was a nervous creature.
The John Deere 6068 is a good engine, but like any ag/construction engine you have to pay attentiion to the air cleaner.
My all-time choice in the high-speed engine category for rugged reliable powerful, easy to work on, get parts for, do everything but pay for one would be...
Drum roll, please.
Cat 3406
Or
Volvo TAMD 70g

greasybenz · #44 11-01-2007, 06:53 PM

The good old 5.9L Cummins.

Stevo · #45 11-01-2007, 08:49 PM

When I think about what marine engines were good or bad, there are not many on the "bad" side. A Seattle Co I worked for had a tug with a Bessemer Cooper, direct reversible, everyone freaked when they had to go to Alaska on that boat
The rest of that class of boat had twin screw with V16, 149 Jimmies. (fine engines, for simi desposable

) Allot of the boats had the medium speed Cats up to the 399D, of 1600 HP, Had a 398 lose a turbo once, but point is, I maybe can count on one hand the times I have been broken down due too the actual engine having a problem. I didn't generally work for crappy companys tho, Its scary enough on good boats