Ivylog wrote:
OP, the newer and more expensive the DP, the more complex they have become. Instead of manual control we now have electric control. Instead of a simple on/off switch we now have multiplex or even Ipad control.
Much the same has happened to diesel engines that had an simple manual injection pump to todays electronic control and all kinds of added items. This is an abbreviated summary of EPA requirements for diesel engines and CA had more restive requirements even sooner. Not every manufacture met the requirements as posted below.
Actually 1998 saw diesel engine come under EPA rules and was met by going to electronic control of the bigger engines. 04 was the first major increase in emission requirements and was met by going to a high pressure rail fuel system which atomized the fuel better and putting exhaust gas back into the intake (EGR). On a turbo charged engine this is hard on the turbo so EGR coolers were added.
06 was next with low sulfur fuel (ULSF) and was met by adding a particle filter in the exhaust. Cat had so many problems with these engines (Acert) that they decided to stop making OTR engines when the next step (2010) kicked in. During this time Cummins bad mouthed Cat about getting fined by EPA for not meeting the 06 requirements while in reality Cummins bigger engines did not either BUT unlike Cat, Cummins was able to use credits from their 5.9 engines that had a different requirement... Cat did not make any small diesel engines so no credits.
2010 saw Navastar/MaxForce try unsuccessfully to meet the third step in decreased emissions by not using DEF. Everyone else went with DEF. 2016 is the next step mandated by EPA.
Extra paragraphs and extra lines added for those that cannot read (or will not read) otherwise.:)
I would say Ivy pretty much covers it all.
IMHO After 2005 the industry was trying to do everything possible to to chase the highest end of the market - we saw engines increase in size the Coaches went to the limit on Height and the amount of glitz started to blind you as you entered the Coaches. That said -- you can find Quality in all the years, you just need to decide what is important to you and then find it in the market. There where great Coaches in the 70's - 80's - 90's 00's and there are great Coaches now, just look them over, different but still good.
BOL,
