just was wondering

 

If you go by what the maintenance manuals say, probably one of the newer pre-DPF electronic engines.

Almost non-existent valve adjustments, extended drain intervals, long life air & fuel filters, etc.

If you go back a lil further to the "old school" mechanical engines, probably an IDI Navistar, based solely on the manual.

 

ok thanx my friend said the 6.5 were the best

 

nope. 6.5 had electronic controls. the 6.2 were close, but fuel filters are tricky to replace.

 

Diesel motor and low maintenance don't really go together. I'd say NOT a HEUI for sure.

 

92 and 93 6.5's where mechanically controlled and where relatively low maintenance it wasn't till they went to the ds4 pump and pmd's that they got there reliability questioned.

These questions are kind of bad because they really cant be answered. Some guys like Cummins, some Ford idi's and Powerstrokes, and some 6.2's,6.5's or Duramaxes. It really comes down to drive what you have had good luck with.

 

2MuchJunk hit the nail on the head

 

What does the engine have to be capable of? It's pretty hard to beat a Toyota 22R or small block Chevy in their natural applications.

And are you comparing total maintenance costs per 100,000 miles or number of scheduled maintenance hours per 100,000 miles? It'd be foolish to buy a hydraulic lifter engine only projected to last 300,000 miles because you're afraid of spending an hour adjusting valves every 30,000 miles on an engine that'll last 500,000 miles. Common rails run perfect until they all of a sudden decide that the need a whole new injection system... Mechanical pump engines will last twice as long but have more little problems along the way.

 

Just like women....sometimes those high maintenance idiosyncrasies are worth it in the long run....

 

3 cylinder Deutz diesels.






-Kris