2004+ post emission trucks success stories from owners? single operator or sm+ fleet.

Idle time kills DPF filters the most. Thats about it as far as what you can prevent IMHO.

Martin

 

I own a 2013 Peterbilt 389 - 500HP ISX Cummins, a 2013 Volvo 630 550HP, 2015 Western Star 4900 550HP Detroit, and although no longer - a 2014 Peterbilt 388 with a 525 HP Cummins. I havent had a chance to really kick my Star around, less than 10,000km's on it - so I cant really comment there.
Both of my Peterbilts have had serious issues involving downtime. Especially the 388. I would probably say in the first 7 or 8 months was in the shop 10 days minimum a month. As it turns out, wrong egr for the engine, and main wiring harness got replaced.
Thats after 4 DEF pump replacements.
The 2013 389 had fewer problems with DEF issues, but probably because it has fewer sensors on it over the 2014 engines. Once we had some electrical issues fixed this truck has been a solid workhorse.
One of the problems we've had is employees who run these trucks without increasing the RPM's to 1100rpm while waiting, or sleeping. When its hot out, I cant say I don't blame the employee who wants to sleep in a cool truck but cant leave it running because this unit doesnt automatically perform a regen automatically. Thats one of the reasons i've started to love the Volvo. This truck can be left on, and it will perform a regen automatically without any input from the driver. So you can be more at rest if your employee wants to sleep that the engine will look after itself.
This trucks hauls heavy and is spec'd accordingly. 550HP with 46 rears. It gives me about 2mpg better than either of my Peterbilts, and wonder if I did just luck out with this unit, or if this is the norm with Volvo.
You asked if there is something you could do to keep these trucks on the road by doing certain procedures.
If you have employees who like to idle - or need to, Volvo seems to have things figured out.
In addition, I too looked at the purchase of a glider, or doing a delete kit. But I KNOW that if I want to keep trucking in certain provinces, that both of these may be an issue down the road. When they introduce new EPA standards for engines, I wont ever be the guinea pig again. I'll let somebody else
who has deeper pockets figure it out for the first year. THEN i'll place an order.

Drive safe.

 

Most, if not all can be programmed to perform an auto regen. I know Detroit can, as I saw the auto elevate setting in the ecm, which means it will idle up to regen.

Martin

 

Pete/KW had a problem with one of the software upgrades that took the regen out except for a manual regen. They do have a fix.

Idle causes problems,mainly early DPF replacement and DPF sensor problems.

Plenty of preventitive maint to cut down problems. DEF filter/screen cleaing. Checking wiring connectors for corrosion,ect.

2015" (detroit) Not enough miles to tell yet.

2014's (detroit) about 150K on them and zero dealer visits. (one PDI screw-up but taken care of)There has been a couple of software upgrades but that can be scheduled anytime.

2013" (detroit) averaged about 130K per dealer visit.

2012's (detroit) averaged about 127K per dealer visit.

2011'S (detroit) averaged about 125K per dealer visit.

2010's (detroit) averaged about 114K per dealer visit.

2009's averaged more shop than road time the first 6 months. Over time they got the bugs worked out somewhat. Still averaged about 39K per dealer visit.

 

At least Freightliner took care of me. They paid for quite a few rentals. Still I spent a year dreading to answer the phone.

 

Ain't nothin like an old detroit 60 12.7

 

Not really a success story, but I can't complain, maybe I'm lucky with this truck;
Volvo 780 ,2008; I purchased it new in June 2007, running team for Celadon, ; original Volvo D13 and Eaton 13 manual, ; still running 8-9mpg , with 1,320,000 miles ; excelent motor on fuel plenty of power torque,; has problems with injector cups, some wiring, I cleaned dpf twice only and replaced it once @900k miles, ; 2 egrs at 800k and 1,200,000 miles and a dozen of emission sensors;
photo my dash today;
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