Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing Corporation Says Remanufactured vs. Rebuilding Is Really No Contest

While today's hard-working dieselengines from Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) commonly log up to one millionmiles or more, eventually every fleet manager and owner/operator will have toconsider a service option to maintain engine performance. Deciding whether to install an OEM-supplied remanufactured engine or usean independent rebuilder to perform a rebuild can be a tough choice. Butthere are compelling reasons to consider an OEM remanufactured product,according to Jim Morrow, president of Detroit Diesel RemanufacturingCorporation. The Basic Difference "First of all, let's clarify the difference between a remanufacturedengine and one that is rebuilt. Our reliabilt(R) Series 60(R), MBE 900 andMBE 4000 engines are totally remanufactured, returning them to the latestblueprint specifications and tested to original equipment standards," explainsMorrow. "The typical rebuilt engine is only repaired to the level of failure.That means any components beyond this level are left intact. And testingprocedures often vary among individual rebuilders." A Question of Quality Quality is perhaps the most significant difference between theremanufactured and rebuilt engine according to Morrow. "All components of ourreliabilt engines are remanufactured to meet original specifications, or theyare replaced with only genuine DDC components." But in the "fix what broke" scenario of the rebuilt engine, many otherremanufacturing operations replace only failed components and a short list ofwear items. This carries the risk of unpredictable service life. Taking It to the Next Level Performance upgrades are yet another advantage to remanufactured engines."When you replace your current engine with a reliabilt engine, you're gettingtoday's Detroit Diesel technology -- because we incorporate the latestengineering advancements," Morrow noted. Once assembled, every reliabilt remanufactured engine is tested on DDCfactory-specified dynamometers, using new engine performance parameters. Thisstringent validation process is not available to any other remanufacturer orrebuilder. You Get What You Pay For In the short run, a rebuilt engine may seem like the less expensive routeto take. But in general, a rebuild will require more downtime than aremanufactured swing engine. This means more time out of operation. And because rebuilt engines are typically repaired only to the level offailure, there may be downtime later because non-repaired components may notbe as durable. reliabilt engines are designed and tested to originalequipment specifications, so they're ready for the long haul. There's another incentive to purchase remanufactured engines andcomponents -- better warranties. For instance, reliabilt Series 60 enginesare covered by a standard 2-year/200,000 mile coast-to-coast warranty. Inaddition, 3-year/500,000 mile extended service coverage plans are available.Many independent rebuilders are unable to provide nationwide warrantycoverage. "With our reliabilt products, customers enjoy the original equipmentquality and peace-of-mind they've come to expect from Detroit DieselCorporation," concluded Morrow. Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing Corporation, a subsidiary of Detroit DieselCorporation, remanufactures and markets a complete line of diesel engines andrelated products in North America, including the reliabilt brand. For morethan 40 years, reliabilt has been one of the most respected names in theaftermarket business with ready-to-install products for on-highway and off-highway power-systems. Detroit Diesel Corporation is the leading manufacturer of on-highwayheavy-duty diesel engines for the commercial truck market. The company offersa complete line of engines from 170 to 515 horsepower for the on-highway andvocational markets. Through its corporate headquarters in Detroit, Michigan,Detroit Diesel is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and service ofthese products, in addition to supporting alternative and hybrid enginestrategies for the commercial truck marketplace. Detroit Diesel is asubsidiary of DaimlerChrysler and part of the Freightliner group of companies.