IN cars, best quality in my experience is the 616 617 na. If well cared for you just about cannot wear them out.

In light trucks the cummins has to be the best, I think.

In other catagories I have no experience.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

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.

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

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

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

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"