A note to the anti-auto crowd

It keeps happening. Now it won't. Anyway, its still a pain hooking to a trailer though. I always slam the kingpin.

Ethan

 

Update: the auto in my freightshaker is an Eaton fuller. The truck is a 2006. I suppose the current more up to date autos are better?

Ethan

 

It's like everything else I guess, there's always improvements when there's competition!

 

Trans Am preaches MPG's tirelessly to their drivers AND have an entire auto fleet.


I'm averaging 7.6 mpg on this trip in my auto.

 

Anybody know how to get the handbrake off on an auto mack?

 

Might sound like a silly question but my friend just started work in Australia driving one, he's sitting in it now unable to get it to move

 

Can the new auto trans take a 550/1850 motor? I sure scania can but how about the rest.

 

I'm sure they can. I believe Mack has their auto setup with the mp8 at 550, and it has torque management which in the higher gears it either lowers or raises the torque. Also supposed to be able to drop down to 1150rpm while at 60mph for fuel economy.

I know I read this somewhere, if anyone has the right info please correct me.

Ethan

 

LMFAO!!!! I went on to Mack's website looking for the info that states the MP8 is only available up to 505 HP no matter what transmission it's bolted to, and I found a link to "Mack's SCR vs. non-SCR cost calculator" on the Mack Powertrain page. So, out of curiosity, I clicked on it. The fields were already filled in...so I figure they are probably pretty close to what Mack expects a person to get, and rather than altering those numbers (I have no clue what any of the fields SHOULD be other than using the numbers from MY non-SCR, non-DPF, non-EGR 11 year old truck....but would have nothing to compare that too) I decided to just click on "calculate".

http://macktrucks.com/assets/mack/calculator/index.htm

Diesel cost/Gal 3.7
DEF Cost/Gal 2.92
Total Miles/Year 125000
Projected Diesel Fuel Economy (mpg w/SCR) 6.5
SCR Fuel Econ. Benefit 1%
DEF Rate (% diesel used) 3.5%

The SCR truck costs you $1190.77 MORE per year to run than a non-SCR truck.

So this new technology added a considerable amount on to the purchase cost of the truck. It increased the tare weight of the truck, reducing available payload capacity of the truck...which if you are paid by the ton (like I am) decreases your earning potential with the truck. Then, to top it all off, it costs you more to operate the truck each and every mile that you drive it.

...and the government wonders why the age of the "average" truck on the road is increasing?


.....anyway, back to what I was doing before I was so easily distracted.

 

Thanks for putting that out. My fault, thought their mp8 went up to 550.

I wonder why they would only allow up to 505? Doesn't seem high enough for what some people might use them for such as heavy haul. Oh well.

Ethan