PACCAR Why all the hate for PACCAR engines?

the_original_beantown

The other Shane
Are they really that bad? Or is it a matter of no where to get them repaired? Which I don't understand as there seems to be a Pete store in every dang town across the USA.
 
I had a 2015 model, it was constantly giving me issues from day one.

As for getting repairs, you are confined to a dealer, which is the last place I want to go for engine work.
 
Are they really that bad? Or is it a matter of no where to get them repaired? Which I don't understand as there seems to be a Pete store in every dang town across the USA.
@pushbroom can certainly tell us all more about it but as I understand it, Paccar purchased Daf, primarily for their engine manufacturing experience when all the brands began offering proprietary engines. Many of the first Paccar engines had problems (as did all manufacturers trying figure out how to deal with emission requirements). People tend to remember the bad, especially in something new, and the stigma can take awhile to get past.

Daf has attempted to reduce engine RPM and raise low end torque to improve efficiency, and perhaps keep cylinder temperatures up in order to help the emission components work effectively. In my opinion they have gone too far in trying to encourage operating under load down to 800 RPM, but there are very smart folks working on this, so perhaps they will make it work. That is for the European market though where speed limits are typically around 50 mph, the demand on engines is somewhat different, and fuel prices are considerably higher. To what extent Paccar is adopting the same mindset I don't know, but I expect that they will be right up there with the rest of the manufactures regarding engine technology in the future.
 
Have you ever seen the line for repairs at a Petercar dealer?
That's why I'm asking. I drive by truck alley in Charlotte darn near daily (RTE 85). The Pete dealership is slam full of trucks. And the PACCAR Petes seem cheap compared to a Detroit powered Pete. I was just wondering if it's a reliability issue or service issue, or both.
 
It's obviously not the problem of any one manufacturer... big trucks are complex, and the beating that 80,000 lbs or more puts on a vehicle on our poorly maintained highways is going to take a toll. Also, the availability of services plays into it - only one dealer repair shop in a region is going to stack them up.

I ran for a large fleet some years ago, and the reliability statistics they compiled put Freightliner as the most reliable of FL/Pete/Kenworth. Your mileage may vary depending on your opinion.

However, PACCAR does have a contractual agreement that forces an owner to use dealer shops until the engine is out of warranty. Cummins, for example, will not touch one of those engines while under warranty.
 
It's obviously not the problem of any one manufacturer... big trucks are complex, and the beating that 80,000 lbs or more puts on a vehicle on our poorly maintained highways is going to take a toll. Also, the availability of services plays into it - only one dealer repair shop in a region is going to stack them up.

This really sums it up for me. I don’t mind scheduling some non essential repair at the dealer when I can plan on taking a few days off.

When it’s engine related, it’s usually critical and I want an engine shop working on it. Your odds are just better to get a good tech on the job and get it fixed without putting it in the shop 3-4 times.

This is what makes me shy away from a Paccar or Volvo powered truck in favor of Detroit or possibly Cummins.
 
However, PACCAR does have a contractual agreement that forces an owner to use dealer shops until the engine is out of warranty. Cummins, for example, will not touch one of those engines while under warranty.

Huh?
Cummins wont touch a Paccar for the same reason they wont work on a Detroit. Its a completely different motor. Aint no contract agreement, warranty or no warranty.

@Oxbow
Its more the truck manufacturers and the customers pushing for downspeeding for better fuel economy. The engine manufacturers just try to make it happen. We spec Mx13s with 391 rears and 18s for super bs. I don't think our dealer has actually sold one of these crazy geared trucks for downspeeding yet.

There is not many independent shops that have knowledge about Paccars and sadly some dealers are lacking in that respect as well. Paccars are also not as mechanic friendly as other motors.
Paccar engines are cheaper then Cummins, so lots of fleets tend to buy them. This leads to tons of used trucks with Paccars that are specced super cheap therefor low resale.

If you had a mechanic that was familiar with the engines and had the diagnostic software, or if you got along great with your local Pete dealer that had good techs it would be a fine engine to have.
 
Huh?
Cummins wont touch a Paccar for the same reason they wont work on a Detroit. Its a completely different motor. Aint no contract agreement, warranty or no warranty.

@Oxbow
Its more the truck manufacturers and the customers pushing for downspeeding for better fuel economy. The engine manufacturers just try to make it happen. We spec Mx13s with 391 rears and 18s for super bs. I don't think our dealer has actually sold one of these crazy geared trucks for downspeeding yet.

There is not many independent shops that have knowledge about Paccars and sadly some dealers are lacking in that respect as well. Paccars are also not as mechanic friendly as other motors.
Paccar engines are cheaper then Cummins, so lots of fleets tend to buy them. This leads to tons of used trucks with Paccars that are specced super cheap therefor low resale.

If you had a mechanic that was familiar with the engines and had the diagnostic software, or if you got along great with your local Pete dealer that had good techs it would be a fine engine to have.
Well, that was my understanding from the people buying that crap at a large carrier that I was at. There was a clause on the sales contract to the purchasing organization that they mentioned.

It was in the vein of why aren't you buying more of those PACCAR engines - something wrong with them?

All the new Petercars and Kenworths were being ordered with Cummins engines. I imagine it had to do with their desire to not be limited to dealer shops for engine work.
 
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Well, that was my understanding from the people buying that crap at a large carrier that I was at. There was a clause on the sales contract to the purchasing organization that they mentioned.

That could have been a deal with the Dealer group they bought from.

Any Paccar engine can get warranty at any Paccar authorized place which is Peterbilt and Kenworth.

Cummins can get warranty at any Cummins authorized place, International, Western Star, Cummins, Kenworth and Peterbilt. (I might be missing one or two)

Cummins will never work on a Paccar ever because its not their engine.
 
Cummins will never work on a Paccar ever because its not their engine.
I asked the Cummins outfit in Springfield MO about it, and their response was they'd be happy to work on a PACCAR after it was out from under warranty.

This was back when I was looking at buying a new truck through the carrier. Made my inquiries, and got enough answers about the arrangements for maintenance that I decided it wasn't something I wanted to pursue.

It may well have been something between the carrier and PACCAR/Peterbilt. Back in 2010 or so, they and Peterbilt got into it over the carrier's modifications to ECM settings.
 
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I asked the Cummins outfit in Springfield MO about it, and their response was they'd be happy to work on a PACCAR after it was out from under warranty.

Lol. Using what diagnostic program? With all the parts they dont stock? With all the techs that arent trained on it?

They cant do warranty cause they aint warranty certified. There isnt any contract.
 
Lol. Using what diagnostic program? With all the parts they dont stock? With all the techs that arent trained on it?

They cant do warranty cause they aint warranty certified. There isnt any contract.
I'm just relating the conversation I had with them at the time - this was some years ago now. I didn't ask the what program they'd use, or anything about parts. I just asked about the possibility of work being performed, and that was their answer. Not if it was under warranty. It was early enough after release of the motor that they may not have considered what the implications of that might be.

Got it?
 
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I'm just relating the conversation I had with them at the time - this was some years ago now. I didn't ask the what program they'd use, or anything about parts. I just asked about the possibility of work being performed, and that was their answer. Not if it was under warranty. It was early enough after release of the motor that they may not have considered what the implications of that might be.

Got it?

It may have been a conversation that was misunderstood on both sides.

Aint no cummins shop doin shit with a Paccar.
 

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