Caterpillar C15 vs Detroit DD13
Two used heavy truck diesel engine options, compared on the numbers that decide it: used price, the failure that costs the most, and recall exposure. Every figure links back to its sourced record.
| Caterpillar C15 | Detroit DD13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Used price (observed) | Priced by repair part (see page) | Priced by repair part (see page) |
| Category | heavy truck diesel engine | heavy truck diesel engine |
| Top documented risk | Fuel injectors (high) | One-box aftertreatment (ACM / DPF-SCR) (high) |
| Recall status | Recall on record — check serial | Recall on record — check serial |
| Our verdict | inspect | inspect |
| Full record | C15 details → | DD13 details → |
The bottom line
Caterpillar C15: The C15 regularly exceeds 800,000 miles before overhaul when maintained — but Caterpillar stopped building on-highway engines in 2009, so every C15 in a used truck is pre-2010 and NOT California-registerable without a DPF retrofit/engine replacement. The big-ticket repairs: injectors $4k–$6k, turbo $3k–$5k, and an overheat that cracks a head can run $15k–$25k. Two C15-specific NHTSA fire recalls are on record.
Detroit DD13: A 2010+ engine that "complies with EPA, CARB emissions, GHG, and OBD requirements" — the clean California-legal contrast to a pre-2010 Cat C15 or Series 60. Watch the shared Detroit one-box aftertreatment (ACM $1,800–$2,400, one-box $4,000–$6,000 on the DD15 sibling) and confirmed DD13-named Bosch fuel-pump / fuel-line recalls.
Both records show every price, failure mode and recall check with the source. Open the full record for the inspection checklist before you buy: Caterpillar C15 · Detroit DD13.