Cummins or Caterpillar ?
They are both great diesels but does one have an advantage over the other?
Or do you prefer one over the other?
Or do you prefer one over the other?
Forum Discussion
RFCN2 wrote:
CAT and Cummins both make great diesel motors. But there is variation in models. Some CAT and Cummins motors are great and some not so much.
When you find out which motor you are going to have, check out if there are any known issues.
It is true CAT is currently not making over the road motors. However, the CAT company is twice as large as Cummins and makes many thousands of diesel motors every year. There are likely more CAT repair shops than Cummins.
If it were me I would not care one way or the other between CAT or Cummins. But I would care between CAT C12 and C13.
Let me preface my statement that I'm not a mechanic or know a whole lot about engines. For a company as big as CAT and they couldn't figure out how to meet the new regulations makes me think that they are not hiring the leading edge engineers.
Cummins was able to meet regulations and some of the Navistar engines too although some didn't. Volvo has apparently mastered it too (our new coach will have a Volvo engine).
Just completed two trips across the country and I was astounded at how many Volvo trucks that are on the road (Fed Ex apparently has made a big investment/leasing in Volvo trucks). Looking at other brand trucks, it hard to determine the engine inside which I'm sure a lot are older CAT's.
Safe travels,
MM.- CAT has that great diesel rumble.
Good enough for me! - What years and which engines are you looking at?
- CAT and Cummins both make great diesel motors. But there is variation in models. Some CAT and Cummins motors are great and some not so much.
When you find out which motor you are going to have, check out if there are any known issues.
It is true CAT is currently not making over the road motors. However, the CAT company is twice as large as Cummins and makes many thousands of diesel motors every year. There are likely more CAT repair shops than Cummins.
If it were me I would not care one way or the other between CAT or Cummins. But I would care between CAT C12 and C13. - Having a choice, I'd take the cummins, simply because the fuel system is not prone to the air in system that the cat is. Cat is a great engine, when serviced properly it has few if any problems.
- Makes no difference, both are great. I'm partial to the Cat but only because it's what I have.
- Cat is no longer building diesels for over the road vehicles. So anything relatively new will have a cummins or navistar. I'm not aware of any others for full size units. Oh, I guess there might be a few duramaxes in top-hat type rigs.
I have only heard thru forums that the cummins is easier to service, but I have no experience with either. My Dad had a cat in a early alpha seeya but we never worked on it and he passed over ten years ago. - Both will well-outlast a motorhome unless badly abused.
But, you will probably get a lot of "Ford vs Chevy" discussion-- basically not relevant.
