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| I'm looking for a semi to haul grain and I found a couple of Mack options. One with the ACEL 380 and another with the ACEL 427. I think I'll have enough hp either way but I am wondering about the reliability of these motors. What is the good and bad of these and how many miles is usual for them to need an overhaul. I'm looking at '06 and '07 models. Would you choose one over the other or are they something I should be steering away from entirely?
Edited by STEEP HILLS 2/9/2013 11:55
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Ontario Canada | STEEP HILLS - 2/9/2013 11:32
I'm looking for a semi to haul grain and I found a couple of Mack options. One with the ACEL 380 and another with the ACEL 427. I think I'll have enough hp either way but I am wondering about the reliability of these motors. What is the good and bad of these and how many miles is usual for them to need an overhaul. I'm looking at '06 and '07 models. Would you choose one over the other or are they something I should be steering away from entirely?
I will ask a Mack friend and get back to you. |
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NW Central Ohio | ...Macks are good trucks...but make sure it has recently had the brakes replaced. To replace the components on a Mack..you basically have to use all Mack proprietary parts. I had a friend tell me it cost $2400 to replace the brakes on a Mack...and about half that to replace them on a truck with an Eaton set of rear axles. I myself only spent around $650 to replace drums, shoes, and shoe spring kits on a trailer last summer. That didn't include labor. |
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So. IL | Macks do not run all mack parts, the axles can be another brand. The gold dog on hood usually tells whether or not its a "all mack" truck or not. |
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Southwest Central, Ohio | Acet engines are exhaust gas recuritlation , like any check the coolent for exhaust pressue or burnt smell( have a 04 with a acet 427 don't ask how I know) |
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waupun,wi | here is what i will tell you.i would pick a mack truck over any other,great trucks not as fancy as others but can be fixed up to look just as good if thats your thing.are these trucks at a dealer? if so ask them to pressure test cac,check for any codes that could become an issue,pull harness connectors off at eecu to make sure coolant is not wicking into pins.check what series turbo(i believe d version is latest) and last pressure test coolong system,have seen many that coolant ph was not maintained and will cause liners to leak eventually.really not that big of a deal for a dealer if they will work with you and want to sell the truck.in no way am i trying to scare you away i have manys years of xperience with these trucks and hate to see someone get a lemon.if previous owner was good you can xpect million miles but like everything used it just depends.just my take i would not be afraid of either one just would want it checked out. |
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| Not all Macks are 100% Mack components. Many have other rear ends or other non Mack components. We have a 613Vision with the gold "dawg" (100% Mack) on the hood. We recently put new brake pads on & were able to buy them at the local truck repair shop. They weren't any more expensive than ones for our Freightliner.
Ours has the 427 engine. I haven't driven it yet but son says it doesn't seem to have the low end torque that our F-liner (N14 / 370 hp) has. Mack has a 13spd & 3:85 rears compared to the F-liners 10 spd / 3:72 rears (IIRC). I believe the 380/427 Mack engine is a smaller block engine than the N14 Cummins which may be a part of the difference. This is our first Mack but guys that own them say once yo go Mack you don't go back. |
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Ontario Canada | You know I am a Mack man, but I would stay away from those ASET's. The highway model is the better one (has external EGR, the vocational had an in cylinder emmissions strategy and were very trouble prone and lacked power.) Big issue with these motors is EGR coolers, which when they fail cause all the other problems. And turbo's. Kinda the same issue as a 6.0 Powerstroke. There are ways to do an easy EGR delete on them though, then they will run great. The delete methods are discussed on www.bigmacktrucks.com
I've never tried the 380 setting, but the 427 has a good torque curve. From what I remember, it actually has a little more low end torque than the 460.
Big thing is get a service record. Or get the vin and call a dealer to make sure it has all the updates, then it should be ok. |
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| Thanks for all of your responses. I have test driven a day cab Mack Vision and a Freightliner Columbia. Hands down the Mack was the quieter, smoother riding and operating truck. The Columbia I test drove had 500,000 miles and the doors were horribly rattly and let in a lot of wind noise. Much more engine noise than the Mack too. I was disapointed in Freightliner. I am used to an FLD 112 and was hoping that the Columbia would be a step up. Although the Columbia did ride much better than my 112, it was the same old "Freightshaker" in the noise and rattle department. |
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Ontario Canada | Good luck, please keep us posted. Dont forget pics. |
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Mack AC 380 and AC 427
