Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Power, fuel mileage, and diesel quality

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by newby, Jan 1, 2009.

  1. Jan 1, 2009 #1
    newby

    newby Bobtail Member

    3
    0
    Nov 17, 2008
    0
    Have a question about fuel quality as it relates to fuel mileage and power. I'm running a KW T600 with a 60 Series Detroit. It's turning at 430HP and has a 3.90 rearend. I haul grain and have a round trip averaging 80-100 miles. I'm finding it almost impossible to get over 5mpg which led me to doing some investigating. I have two questions. First of all, this time of year I am running winter blended fuel. How much of a decrease in fuel mileage and power will there be as a result of blended fuel. Secondly, I spoke with a local mechanic about my mileage. He asked me, "Where are you getting your fuel from"? I told him I have been purchasing it from my local coop. He immediately tried to steer me away from them and said the combination of fuel tests he has taken of their fuel along with what he has heard from other truck operaters leads him to believe that they have a lower quality fuel. He claims that he can fill up at BP only a mile down the road and significantly increase power and mileage as a result of "higher" quality fuel. My question is this, "Is there variability in fuel quality between merchandisers, refiners, etc"? And if so who supplies the highest quality fuel?
     
    newby, Jan 1, 2009
    newby, Jan 1, 2009
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jan 1, 2009 #2
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    18,693
    43,222
    Sep 18, 2006
    the road less travelled
    0
    You want to use fresher fuel, and stick with No.2 unless it's going to be well below 0, use additive to keep from gelling.

    The 60 series is not real fussy about fuel, not like an ISX.

    If the coop is pumping lots of fuel, I wouldn't worry so much about it, but if they only sell to locals, they are probably not selling that much, and may not offer anything other than winter blend or No.2 depending on the time of the year.


    Winter blend is a mix of No.1 and No.2, and has less energy.

    Two questions, how fast are you driving and how heavy are you running? Detroits will get the best economy around 1400 rpm. Are you running loaded both ways or just 1 way?

    Is your vehicle aligned, if the trailer is off tracking driving down the road, it will affect your mileage. Also run your tarp closed and tight. Driving back with the tarp rolled open pulls harder than with it closed.
     
    25(2)+2, Jan 1, 2009
    25(2)+2, Jan 1, 2009
    #2
  4. Jan 2, 2009 #3
    dangerous dave

    dangerous dave Light Load Member

    127
    51
    Jul 20, 2008
    Houston, TX
    0
    Just bought a little 12 liter S60. Have same problem. According to my mechanic and all other sources I could find; smaller motor has to work harder to do same job, any small deffect causes more problem than with bigger cubic inch motor. So, have charge air cooler and rubbers to and from checked for leaks, run rack (out of adjustment injector screws can really screw you up), you are around grain dust a lot so service air cleaner regularly ( I blow mine out every other week, change every other month), what's the dif in cost between your two fuel sources???/ try a couple tanks #2 with good anti-gel additive. As you can tell I like the "shot gun" aproach. Shoot everyone in sight and you are sure to get the guilty one. If none of this helps look at right foot. If you accelerate rapidly, and constantly let up and step down on that right peddle going down the road, showing everyone how much smoke you can make, well,,,, fools and their fuel money are soon parted. Hehehehe

    Dave
     
    dangerous dave, Jan 2, 2009
    dangerous dave, Jan 2, 2009
    #3
  5. Jan 2, 2009 #4
    dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

    9,922
    3,713
    May 6, 2007
    Mississippi
    0
    What states are you running through?

    If you're running in the western states. It's gonna be almost impossible to get peak fuel economy out of your ride. Mine went from 6.9 to 5.3 overnight. Due to extreme wind conditions.

    Aside from the winter blended fuel. You're dealing with some tremendous wind conditions, for now. And running heavy.
     
    dancnoone, Jan 2, 2009
    dancnoone, Jan 2, 2009
    #4
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.