Is 10 MPG Possible with a Fully Loaded (80K gross) 5 Axle Truck?

I read this entire thread with great anticipation. My biggest question is how long will this treatment last? Eventually everything wears out, so what is the useful life of this treatment? Then I did the math and I was not quite as impressed. I'm glad you are happy with this and I would be happy with a 1.28 MPG increase too. My second question is, is it worth the cost? If it will last more than three or four years, and you will run the equipment that long, then I say yes.

But let's look at some realistic calculations for return on investment. Please correct me if I have messed up these calculations.

We have your MPG of 8.27 before the treatment and 9.55 after the treatment. This is an increase of 1.28 MPG or 15.48%. The U.S. national average fuel price is 3.95 per gallon. This an operating cost of 0.478 CPM before and 0.414 after treatment. That is a savings of 0.064 CPM.

We have an approximate cost of $10,200 based on my calculations. This is $4,300 for differentials, $950 for bearings, $2,500 to treat the differentials and I estimated $350 to change the wheel bearings. Then we need to figure about three days down time or half of a week's 2307 miles. So that is $2,100 (1.82 CPM * 1154 miles) plus $8,100 or $10,200.

Now my miles calculation was based on an assumption of 10,000 miles per month or 120,000 per year. With a cost of $10,200 and a savings of 0.064 CPM it will take 159,375 miles to pay for the modifications. That is right at 16 months.

After the 16 months needed to pay for it, you would realize a savings of $640 per month or $7,680 per year. While this would add up, I would have to be sure of 32 months use before I would even consider it worthwhile.

There is a fuel device in this thread:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/122596-ecotaz-eco-fuelsystems-fuel-enhancers-does-10.html

It has a cost around $500 and is posting fuel saving from 5%/0.031 CPM to 8.6%/0.056 CPM. If you figure a mid-range savings of 0.043 CPM, it will pay for it's self in 11628 miles or less than 5 weeks. It will then save $430 per month or $5,160 per year.

Don't misunderstand; I commend you on your pursuits. In addition, I am very impressed that you have reached 10 MPG. When I saw the title of this thread, I said "sure" under my breath as I laughed. Still you have done it.

Do you run loaded except for minimal deadhead miles or do you run empty one direction? How much have you spent to increase mileage? How much down time have you had making modifications?

From my point of view there are many things to consider. Is it worth it to invest $10,000 - $20,000 into a truck that is worth $30,000? If it takes more than a year to recover costs, what happens if the engine throws a rod through the block sooner? What happens if it is totaled before a year passes? What if you spent that money to buy a second truck, could you make more than the $7,680 per year in profit?

 

What is that ecotaz system? How does it work?

 

If you don't need new differentials then the cost would be $4300 cheaper. Remember that it's a two stage process. Even if the coating wears off, you still have micropolished surfaces that would still return a savings.

 

He explains it in that thread. He has given about a half a dozen drivers, on this forum, one free with the understanding that they report the results on this forum. He is quite confident in the product. Preliminary results look very promising with respect to cost. There is a good mix of trucks, engines, lanes and gross weights.

 

That is an excellent point!

 

A very good post.

Every treatment or device needs to be properly evaluated, not only on its performance, but on its ROI, to ensure that it makes sense (and cents).

 

look here www.etieco.com/order-special.htm now the have a specialprice for members in this forum

 

I get 13+ in my 2009 century on a regular basis...... DOWNHILL

You are lucky to get 6.5, and if you try REALLY hard, you can get 7.5 at most, out of a stock truck.

Modifications and add-ons are neccessary to get the mass produced trucks to perform.

MOST trucks with a DPF will NEVER get more than 7.0 due to the severe restriction in exhaust.

EPA standards and regulations have all but killed any possibility of seeing 10+MPG trucks.