Need advice from someone EXPERIENCED with new freightliner glider kits

I don't care for Freighliner shops. Look up Detroit Deisel shops. I keep thinking I had mine repaired around Bosselmans years ago. I think it may be Interstate Power. If the truck won't go over 65 it sounds like it has the governor set. If there is a problem with the motor you don't want Freightliner working on it. It should still be covered under warranty by any authorized Detroit Deisel garage and they will give you straight answers.

 

In the midwest it's Interstate Power.

http://www.istate.com/


http://www.demanddetroit.com/locati...,47o,4em,4eo,97m,97o,9em,9eo&ts=1366674613068

 

You need to call Phil Woody at Harrison and get him to make this right. Now, you did not state much on how the truck was spec'd. I know a guy that recently got a Coronado glider that was built by Harrison, and it came with 3.42 rear ends. Not really the ideal rears for a 12.7 Detroit, especially if that is what you got, and going by what you stated your operation is. And of course, it doesn't help that for the last couple of months, Iowa has been trying to become the wind capital of America.

Now, for the what I did to make my truck get into the mid 7's mpg average. Out of the gate, I put on a ported/coated exhaust manifold, got rid of the waste gate turbo on my 12.7 and put on a Borg Warner 171702 with a blanket, and I put Walker Megaflow mufflers on the stacks up the back. I also have a higher flowing Fleet Air Filter on the intake. Lastly, I had Dusti "Diesel Doctor" in Quad Cities clear the Low NOx settings out of the ECM and make a few other tweaks.

There is no real reason for your glider to get less than 6 mpg out of the box on a bad day. Unless it was spec'd all wrong for what you are doing, you have a major mechanical problem, or you are just driving the snot out of it. Keep in mind, no matter what, that engine is breaking in now, so some of the lower mpg is from that, but not much. My glider got high 6's , low 7's right out of the gate pulling heavy. Yours must have some mechanical issues. Phil at Harrison always seemed like a stand up guy, you really should contact him and see what he can do. The other option has already been mentioned..... Interstate Power in Altoona. Matt Finch is the supervisor over there and him and I go way back. He will do you right. Kevin "Kiwi" is a tech over there and really knows his stuff. If the problem is mechanical, then they should be able to help you out. At least you are under warranty.

 

Post #3 sounds like typical Freightliner crap. You have a problem and that shop doesn't want to be involved. I'm not at all mechanical but why would a 500 hp 12.7 DD only show 400 hp? From what I read about glider kits is that you get a rebuilt motor with a 3 year warranty covered by Freightliner. I would have to agree from my experience with Detroit Deisel that you should get at least 5.5 mpg with plenty of power. Maybe it is the wrong ECM or the ECM was programmed wrong.

 

So you get advise, suggestions on how to handle it, and you shoot it down ... What exactly do you want????

Bite the bullet take the truck back

 

The truck warranty covered by Freightliner, the engine by Detroit, and the axles and tranmission by whoever made them. No different that any new production truck. But thanks for keying me into how Freightliner or Des Moines operates. I have only used Harrison, Omaha Truck Center, and Interstate Power in Altoona for any warranty issues. All had no problem honoring warranties, fixing things, and making things right.

If you would, I would like to know the entire drive train spec's on your glider to get a better perspective of what might be wrong that is causing poor fuel mileage. The very next thing I would do is give Dusti (diesel doctor) in Quad Cities a call at 563-940-3400 and have your ECM tweaked. Will not do real major stuff and will not mess up warranty, but will remove many of the EPA Low NOx settings that really ruin fuel mileage and some other tweaks. $300 and lifetime free adjustments. Occasionally, when they have a few folks get together to have ECM work done, Dusti or Trent will travel to Des Moines and other locations and come to you. You will like what they do for that engine.

 

I maybe outta my depth here but if the truck was ordered as a rolling glider I'm not so sure that it IS under warranty with Detroit, it all depends on who rebuilt it and where it was spec'ed from.

If I had to guess I would say it was an Alliance rebuild which would be covered under Freightliner, but not so sure about Detroit, time to break out all of the paperwork that came with it, and read the small print!

Hell, I can't even get Detroit to reimburse me for work done on a new Cascadia (2010) that came with the motor from the factory, not a glider.

BTW, (and I am sure to catch hell from all of the DD guys here) but what was in the Pete, Cat or Cummins? Just curious.

Stan

 

Someone in Des Moines I would also recommend to have a look at your engine..... Shane at Pro Diesel. 515-244-4259. A real no nonsense guy that will not screw you over. And he knows Detroits. I have used him several times in the past and walked away a happy camper. While he also has techs working for him, he takes a personal interest in each truck and owner that shows up. He will let you know what is wrong with that engine.

http://prodiesel-inc.com