Oil Analyis covers to areas.

First is "Wear Metals". Which are; Aluminum, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Tin, Silicon, Potassium, Sodium, Moly. These are confirmed in Parts Per Million.

Second is "Physical Properties"; Which covers, Water, Oxidation, Viscosity, Glycol, Fuel, TBN, Nitration, and Soot.

The Volvo Dealer that I dropped my sample at even identified the Brand of Oil, where the Peterbilt detail did not.

As for the Dyno test.. I would recommend the Full Test. The one I had done cost $389.00. It made me feel that much better on my choice of trucks...after looking at so much junk over the last 8 months.

In SoCal..Inland Kenworth and Arrow Truck Sales will both do the $200.00 test if they feel you are serious about a truck. They will both do Oil Analysis as well. BTW...it doesn't really cost them that much..especially Inland KW...they have a Dyno Rack in their Shop.

 

K....These were the rejected offers too low so far.....the Pete offer he might still go for, going over to get some more possibilities today, but just curious if you guys were in my shoes which offer you like best.

1. From Power trucks- Pete 2002 (looks nice) as far as being a pretty truck, cat engine, high miles 700K, asking 44k price, I threw out 36k offer (the oil on the ground concerned me tho)

2. From enterprise rentals, has about 6 or 7 freightshakers,2002 Columbia class, detroit engines, all 580k-630k miles, the one with the lowest miles has rust on the frane but lots to choose from all about the same) old swifty trucks. He lists at 40k, I threw out a 32k offer, he said he would go 36 k to match the Pete :shock: :roll:

3. From good ol select (select my butt....poor selection is what they need to rename themselves) neither the La or fontana would offer me their famed used warrentry (some BS about the trucks I wanted being too old, then why the hell try to palm them on me and not come down on the price) when she heard I was looking at the old swifty trucks, she found a 2002 swifty too, detroit engine, columbia class, 550k miles, wants 44k, I threw out an offer of 35k, and they didnt even nibble on it.

Yeah if I could get a deal set-up, I would then dyno it, and I think I am pretty sold on the oil test too. This is about 400 outa my pocket, so trying to set up the price range first, hmmm maybe test it first then the price? But then I am out the 400 if I dont like the deal really.
Saving the 20 k like g-man said really peaked my interest, but doubt I can unless I found a truck auction, and where I am most look like they are auctions for dealers only (doubt I could save 20k just bargin shopping, but who know?) Pretty sure I would need the truck auction angle and dissapointing to me I dont know of any.

 

The truck auctions that are Dealers Only will be cheaper than the public ones. They aren't close to So. CA though.

 

Pepe..I went 400 miles out, to get the deal that I got last week. You should look in the truckpaper.com website as was suggested by other's. Take a look at what is available up in the Sacramento area. Look what is available in Salt Lake City. Look at dealers in the Mid-west. MHC Kenworth, will fly you out, if you are seriously interested in a truck (by serious, I mean ready to put a hold on a truck). MHC also does Dyno's on many of the trucks they sell...they use the Dyno as a selling point. You can get a ton of information on a truck, just by calling the dealer's 800 number. Once you know what the truck has by way of equipment..motor..tranny...rears...you can go to this website; http://www.trucks.com/shoplogin.asp and check out what a truck is worth there. They give you plenty of $$$ information. I checked out 35 different trucks, before buying the one I did.

 

every guy I ever met who bought a truck
"got them down......great deal....."
then when they sell it they say
"I got my price......"
:lol:
Ebay motors has plenty of trucks to weed through
same difference as an auction
650+ on a motor .....hand grenade with the pin pulled

Freightliner is an excellent first truck
there are a zillion Freightliner dealers for parts

you should forget this hold value bs and buyers market crap
worry about that when you buy your next truck

you need a truck with a fresh or recent inframe
(with factory warranty)(as opposed to dealers pro rated warranty)
10 aluminum rims
big motor
(there are still private mechanics that don't work on the ISX engines)
(mine is one of them)
10 excellent tires ..no caps(new caps from a dealer just don't seem to last)
practical wheelbase
and lightest weight possible
lot of meat on the brakes
if you have to pay more for this
so what
you are better off in the long run

also
Werner trucks(from Werner) are very good trucks

 

1.thks Sonny...good general advice to go by.

2.thks Stan..yeah your right about going out of state for a better deal, even one of the dealers here mentioned if you go over the state line into Nevada you bypass the Ca commie sales tax (dang I hate living in a socialistic tax you till you bleed state :-P ) You know I was worried about trying to bring a big truck into this socialistic state (from another state), but looks like there arent any requirements (amazedand shocked the politicians havent gotten around to this 1 yet) but if anyone knows different let mr know plz

3,. Thks G-man for the auction idea) Took lots of ground work to fiqure out who did big truck auctions, but ran into another buyer on a lot, who had been to a Ritchie Bros auction...dang just missed the one here in so cal few weeks ago (good 1 in Dallas I missed too), 1 in Alberquerque tommorow tho(thats pushing it too hard for me) one in believe it or not Mexico(may have a Mexican truck after all that She-bear is trying to stop me from havin Lmao) but seriously, for the love of....they had about 4 KW's 2002 listed...I bet if I went over there I could get one for the 20K off that G-man mentioned, they sell her for at least 40k....bet I could get one there for 20k...worth a try, just clueless how to get it through customs even tho I am a US citizen for 20k less its worth a try I quess.......If not I saw they have an auction in Sacramento coming up in 2 and a half weeks, might just wait until then.

 

I tried finding a truck around me until I realized i had to go on Truckpaper.com and search for what I was looking for then narrow it down. Once I found what I wanted I got a plane ticket and went to pick it up. I had it checked out before I got there and everything was fine. That was it, paid for it and drove home from Oklahoma to New Hampshire.

 

Yeah Steve, dont mind traveling to get it, just want the best deal I can possibly get since prepared to pay cash, dont really care what model or make, just that I got the lowest possible price and think I will have to go auction to do it, just wish I had more then one source since I know only these Ritchie Bros guys who have big trucks to auction, been to their site and trying to go to the one that lists the most trucks cuz they list them all ahead of time (sometimes with pics) like to go to the one in Mexico with the 4 KW's, but I am clueless how to get the plates changed over to US plates....hmmm quess I will call DOT to find out, but if I cant I will have to pass. he had 4 Kw's 2002 listed at that auction, when I price them here in so Cal they run 40 k, going to take a cashiers check for 21K and bid the 21k to try to get one if I go......think these auctions are my best bet to get the 20k off as g-man thought about getting.[

Wooooa update....think I got a good 1 to go to...other then these R.B guys; Coastal Auctions in N.C., far for me, but I will call them and try to see if its worth going, he has listed a 2004 and 2005 Pete and a 2002 Freightliner and 4 2001 Petes....he has lots of older but these are the ones that caught my eye....hmmm wonder if I could get 1 of the newer Petes for in the 30k range......doubt it but worth a shot huh? know I could probably get one of the 2001 Petes in the low 30k to high 20k range, cuz I see them priced here for 35k-40k on the dealer lots.

Starting to get somewhere....these Adesa auctioners look good too....k thing I have some auctions to go to lined up.

 

We went to auction a year ago and 2 year old Petes were going for $75,000 to $80,000 but if wanted to spend about $35,000 you could get a 2002 Freightliner Classic XL with about 350,000mi.

Just remember a Pete is going to get worse fuel millage than a Freightliner.

 

Pepe, Adesa has some large truck auctions. They have one south of Atlanta on I-85, exit 51. Ironically, there is a Ritchie Bros. facility at the same exit. There is also a big equipment auction near Orlando. There is another auction in Ft. Worth. If you decide to go into Mexico to buy, you may want to check with your state about bringing trucks back into the U.S. At one time, there was a problem with trucks and trailers going across the border into Mexico and disappearing. You want to make sure that any truck you buy hasn't been reported as stolen.