Expert advice on aspects to avoid when purchasing a new truck engine
Few periods in history have offered quite so many challenges for heavy-vehicle fleets and operators of industrial machinery in keeping their assets operational.
These times have demanded the utmost flexibility in operations, maintenance and upkeep – not least with diesel engine needs; the backbone that keeps many businesses moving!
Over its 25-plus years of experience and after helping tens of thousands of Australian’s and Australian businesses keep their operations moving, second generation family-owned business, Alldiesels Australia is well placed to be an authority to both the good and the bad of buying a new, used or rebuilt diesel engines, and shares insight into challenges.
We were fortunate enough to talk with Alldiesels General Manager Byron Ansiewicz who has shared their insight into some common pitfalls they see fleet-owners and managers making when keeping on top of their diesel engine requirements.
Top 11 mistakes (not to make) when buying your next diesel engine:
1. Thinking the day you have a problem, you will be able to buy the exact replacement engine you need
“Particularly in the current environment with supply chain issues and slower and more expensive freight, there is less stock on the market and longer lead times,” Ansiewicz says.
“Not to mention dealers of diesel engines (even the big branded dealers) are finding it more challenging to get access to limited global supply so often you will be waiting three-plus months for an engine once an order is placed.”
If you anticipate you are going to have requirements for a replacement engine, the sooner you have that discussion and source the engine, the better placed you are going to be.
A Cummins engine sharing space with a Marcedes-Benz unit
Having an engine sitting in surplus is often a lot cheaper and less stressful, than being down on a piece of equipment or machinery for an extended period of time – right when you need it!
Sure, holding an engine on inventory carries expense, though for a lot of our customers having a critical piece of machinery out of action for a couple of months (at least) is a lot more expensive!
2. Only contacting the new dealers and not understanding the industry
Another mistake would be only contacting the branded dealers and distributors, and not considering that there is a market of independent engine sellers.
We are the largest independent seller that specialises in heavy US & European diesel engines, though there are also large dealers that specialise in Japanese makes or lighter engines that are worth exploring if those are your requirements.
Similar to a branded car dealership, branded dealers such as Caterpillar or Cummins, are often limited in the stock they can supply (generally new engines), and will have a less extensive range, not to mention typically limited to one brand, than an independent dealer.
Engine brands we deal for example in include: Caterpillar, Cummins, DAF, Detroit, Iveco, John Deere, Mack, MAN, Mercedes, Perkins, Scania, Volvo and more!
This also means we have expertise across a broader range of engines and can provide unbiased advice as we are not limited to just one brand or solution.
We often will hold more supply of new stock than many of the branded distributors in the country, and we can source new, used and rebuilt from all over the world, which means we often have access to engines that a branded dealer will not have.
The range on offer is wide
3. Not understanding the difference between buying from a wrecker vs engine builder
A wrecker or dismantler will often buy a wrecked vehicle or piece of machinery knowing that they need to dismantle and sell each component of that wreck, including the engine to make a profit.
A wrecker is more often than not, not an engine builder. They will have some mechanical understanding though typically will not have to expertise, or specialised equipment, to be able to properly inspect an engine, run diagnostics, and test an engine under load in proper simulated conditions.
You’re often buying blind. Expert advice and buying an engine that has been thoroughly inspected and tested under load will save you both time and money. A wrecker also may not have the capability to resolve warranty issues if they arise.
Ansiewicz airs caution when buying a used engine to ensure it has been properly load tested.
“Simply running an engine at idle, or even through it’s rev range with no load is as good as useless,” he says.
“To test an engine properly you need to be able to get everything up to temperature and operating under load, as that is when most issues become apparent and can be diagnosed.”
Size is no limitation
Essentially, the key difference behind buying from a wrecker as opposed to an engine builder/dealer such as Alldiesels Australia is you are buying an engine from experts, that has been thoroughly inspected and tested, meaning and you have peace-of-mind the engine will do what it needs to do after you go through all the effort of installation and fitting.
“At Alldiesels we have a team of specialised engine builders and sales and support team who build engines all day, every day.
“We don’t dismantle or service trucks or fix panels, we just diagnose, inspect and build engines day in, day out.”
4. Not realising that the same engine, often has multiple specifications
The same engine make and model, will often have a number of different specifications. For example a Cummins M11 will come in the base spec, as well as Celect or Celect Plus variants.
These different specifications can be due to updates over the time the engine was manufactured, have different horsepower ratings, or have differences that make them suitable for different applications (automotive or industrial).
Matching the serial number from your existing engine is the best way to ensure you are buying the correct engine.
5. Not considering the difference between new, used and rebuilt
There are pro’s and con’s to buying a new, used or rebuilt engine such as warranty, history and budget.
The decision on whether to buy new, used or rebuilt really comes down to the buyer’s circumstances and requirements for the engine though it is worth considering which of these options is relevant to you.
6. Not all rebuilds are created equal
When comparing rebuilt engines, it is critical to ensure you are comparing apples with apples.
The term “rebuilt” does not have a single generic meaning in the industry. Often we will see engines marketed as “rebuilds” that have had a very limited build and few new/replacement parts.
Time and time again we see broad advertisements for a “rebuilt engine” that might only have had partial re-work such as; some but not all of pistons and liners replaced, cylinder heads not having new valves and springs fitted, or fuel systems not being overhauled. Often we see components such as turbochargers, injectors and air compressors not being rebuilt or replaced with new in these ‘rebuilds’.
Ansiewicz says there is nothing necessarily right or wrong with purchasing a partial or full rebuild, though expands that it is fair to say that no two rebuilds are the same and often buyers are not aware of the differences.
“Most importantly the buyer needs to understand the extent of the rebuild, and the quality of the parts used in the rebuild. Have genuine parts been used? Or what is the quality and reputation of the parts if non-OEM have been used? There is a long list of questions that a buyer needs to be asking to know the extent of a rebuild.”
7. Buying with no warranty (or warranty not worth the paper it is written on)
Typically this will apply when buying from a wrecker or if buying a one-off piece from a small seller of an engine surplus to their requirements.
What is the fall-back if something does go wrong?
Buying from a business with decades experience and a track record of supporting customers, provides for a lot of peace of mind that warranty will be honoured and expertise is available when unforeseen challenges arise.
8. Not understanding that often the same engine is manufactured by multiple manufacturers
Often engine manufactures will share the research & development (R&D) cost and production costs for engines through collaboration projects – for example the Mack MP8 and the Volvo D13 are the same engine with only a different rocker cover and inlet manifold, and interchangeable in the vast majority of applications.
There are dozens of examples of this across nearly all manufacturers.
Diffrent brands can come from the same maker
If you are looking for a replacement engine, you can often find an identical specification engine that has been built in the same factory with a different brand marking on that engine.
Tips and knowledge like this can save you time and money on sourcing the right replacement engine.
9. Not understanding the tax benefits available
It is always worth speaking with your accountant when buying an engine to understand the tax benefits available from purchasing a new, used or rebuilt engine. If you are financing the engine for your business, the interest is often a deductible expense too.
10. Trying to import an engine yourself
The internet has opened the door for people to try to self-import engines. We couldn’t tell you how often we hear of this ending in tears.
We import literally hundreds of engines every year; and know first-hand it isn’t for the faint of heart.
With our buying power and ongoing relations with suppliers, we are able to source engines globally and domestically, significantly cheaper than an individual trying to buy an engine as a “one-off”.
Importing an engine is a serious and complex undertaking
Pre-Covid, our expert buying team spent decades flying all over the world, sifting through yards, meeting and building relations with reputable suppliers to enable us to continue to reliably source the best engines in these times.
As a do-it-yourself buyer trying to figure it all out, there are the added logistics (time and cost) of trying to ship an engine into Australia, pass through quarantine, and then what is your recourse when the engine turns up in Australia after waiting for months and it is either the wrong specification, has been damaged in transit, or doesn’t run properly?
Is it all worth the time, effort and uncertainty when you can buy from a supplier such as Alldiesels Australia, with stock landed in Australia and tested, with warranty and a team of experts on the ground?
11. The cost of sitting on a decision and down-time
One of the most costly mistakes we often see people making is simply sitting on a decision.
Sure, if your engine has failed on you, no-one looks forward to the expenditure on the replacement, but it’s a part of business.
If you have a piece of machinery sitting there, there is often a time lag between finding the right engine, getting that engine delivered and then installed, and getting the machinery or piece of equipment going again.
That down-time can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars for every day that they sit on their hands and don’t get things moving along. So making decisions and keeping things ticking along is often the less expensive way to go about it in the long run.
Need a replacement diesel engine? Get in contact!
Our team of experts are standing by and ready to help:
Send us an email at info@alldiesels.com or for the fastest assistance, give us a call on1300 822 844