Gen 5 DD15 vs DD16

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by gator22, Jul 18, 2021.

  1. gator22

    gator22 Bobtail Member

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    Getting a new truck and considering the new DD15 @505 horse or DD16@500. How would you compare reliability, longevity, and fuel economy between the two engines?
     
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  3. MicksRule

    MicksRule Medium Load Member

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    Just my opinion, but any Detroit you decide on will be more reliable than anything else on the road.

    Out of curiosity, why are you considering the DD16? Heavy haul? If not planning on heavy, maybe even consider a DD13. My '19 Western Star DD13 is rated at 470 and it does better at, or near, gross weights than my old DD15 505 did in the mountains and steeper grades and I get a couple tenths better fuel economy with it. Over 200k without any issues so far.
     
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  4. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    They now have a 525 hp DD13 gen 5 engine, plus a down speed version.
    Interesting side note.
    If you take the power curves from the DTNA Connect website and print them out. Then compare my DD16 600/1850 with a DD13 505/1850.
    They both have the exact same power curve up to about 15-1600 rpm then the DD16 continues up to the higher rating.
    So theoretically they both perform identical under 1500 rpm.
    Smaller displacement engines get better fuel economy. The DD16 does have a way stronger jake brake.
     
  5. MicksRule

    MicksRule Medium Load Member

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    My spec sheet actually lists my truck as a 470/1650, but my engine tag actually lists it at a 525 with the correct serial number. I haven't had anyone check the ECM yet. The 525 wasn't supposed to be available for heavy duty commercial trucks at the time I bought my truck off the lot and only available for emergency response vehicles from what I was told. Maybe an on road test truck? Maybe the reason it outperforms my 3rd gen DD15 505. Who knows.

    A friend of mine runs a DD13 505/1850 in his truck.
     
  6. gator22

    gator22 Bobtail Member

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    From what I have read the DD15 and DD16 have a B50 life of 1,200,000 vs 1,000,000 for the DD13. That is why I was leaning towards the big bore engines. I run 80-90 gross so the dd13 makes plenty of power. Would I see significant fuel savings with the dd13?
     
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  7. FerrissWheel

    FerrissWheel Road Train Member

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    I'm currently driving a Cascadia with a 470 DD13 , sees a little over 100k gross at times. For what it is, it does reasonable. She will out pull the average highway truck (when I'm running legal anyway.)
     
  8. MicksRule

    MicksRule Medium Load Member

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    I pull a flat bed. Heavier and taller, the DD15 in my full roof Cascadia might have been about the same fuel economy as my mid roof Western Star 5700XE. Shorter and heavy or light loads, the DD13 does better. Overall, about .3-.4 better with open deck. If you did the math a couple years ago, probably close with the extra 200k. Todays fuel prices, I'd probably give up the 200k for economy.

    I don't baby this thing. I run 5-10 mph faster than I ever have and I still get better fuel economy. If I slowed down to my Cascadia speeds, Fuel economy difference would probably be closer to .6ish mph, but the fuel is gone and I can't say 100%.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2021
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  9. MicksRule

    MicksRule Medium Load Member

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    Yep!

    I had a near gross load shortly after buying mine. I was undecided about a couple different routes, but decided on doing west bound I-8 in California in to San Diego because I wanted to see how it compared to my DD15 Cascadia. Overall, I think it did better than the DD15 up the long, steep grades. I was really impressed.
     
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  10. YardMule89

    YardMule89 Road Train Member

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    But you can put the fuel savings in your pocket now instead of betting the market will offset the cost difference in a few years down the road.
     
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  11. YardMule89

    YardMule89 Road Train Member

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    Pretty broad brush you're painting with. If I was in BUSINESS, MPG would matter to me over the course of say 5 yrs and 500,000 miles. OP said he was hauling around 80k-90k, loads a more fuel efficient DD13 can handle with ease with proper powertrain specs. He could realistically see a .5mpg improvement over the DD16, which is tallied straight to the bottom line every fill-up. Or he could gamble and guess the truck market in 4/5 years down the road will offset the added expense of specing a DD16 AND burning more fuel over the same period of time.
     
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