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Fuel Economy Promises and the % that it will save if you if....

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by mhallam, Jun 13, 2012.

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  1. Jun 13, 2012 #1
    mhallam

    mhallam Light Load Member

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    May 15, 2012
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
    0
    As an avid reader of a few trucking magazines, I have to laugh at some of the claims.

    Has anyone noticed the promises of 2% here if you use our tires, 1% there if you use our oil, 5% here if you use our product.

    Its a great sales pitch, considering you take your fuel bill and take 2-5% off and think, jeez this thing pays for itself.. and a month or two later, your fuel bill hasn't changed whatsoever.

    What if anything that you can buy at a parts counter that actually works? I've been told the DPF deletes are around that 10% but thats also a 7-10K investment.

    Personally my days vary so much, that even on my regular run, where I would burn say 500L/day, and its breezy and I put in 520, or another day I put in 490, or one day I put in 630L, and then realized that my driver never nursed the tank full like I do. Here I thought, WTH is wrong now with this thing?

    I personally calculate my mileage from filling both tanks right to the top, nursing in until it spits back. Then use this handy App I found so theres no errors. That to me is the right way to figure it out.

    Just my 2c worth
     
    mhallam, Jun 13, 2012
    mhallam, Jun 13, 2012
    #1
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  3. Jun 14, 2012 #2
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    Yeah, buy all the add-ons available aftermarket and go broke. The computer commercials amaze me, "buy such-an-such anti-virus and computer clean up and carbonate to save your files and this and that and on and on. Just $5 a month or $59 a year !
     
    Allow Me., Jun 14, 2012
    Allow Me., Jun 14, 2012
    #2
  4. Jun 14, 2012 #3
    HA-MTR

    HA-MTR Bobtail Member

    32
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    Jun 12, 2012
    US, GA
    0
    Is anyone running a full set of Goodyear's new G399 LHS, G305 LHD or G572LHD, and G316 LHT FuelMax tires, and if so, how are they working for you?
     
    HA-MTR, Jun 14, 2012
    HA-MTR, Jun 14, 2012
    #3
  5. Jun 14, 2012 #4
    LBZ

    LBZ Road Train Member

    1,771
    1,266
    Oct 22, 2008
    Road to Nowhere
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    See lots of 399's on the front of trucks & I have them. Looked for the 572 drives, but need to find a non wingfoot store. Wingfoot is quoting around $600 each.
     
    LBZ, Jun 14, 2012
    LBZ, Jun 14, 2012
    #4
  7. Jun 14, 2012 #5
    Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    May 16, 2009
    Couch
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    I found that driving without my trailer gives me a 50% increase in fuel economy. Not quite as good as the 100% increase I get by staying home.
     
    Jfaulk99, Jun 14, 2012
    Jfaulk99, Jun 14, 2012
    #5
    Balakov100, Crazy D, US MARINE and 3 others Thank this.
  8. Jun 14, 2012 #6
    mhallam

    mhallam Light Load Member

    61
    36
    May 15, 2012
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
    0
    I tried a set of Goodyear 395s a few years back, the local tire shop owner promised just as good of mileage PLUS they were 100$ cheaper, how could I go wrong? Well what a disaster.. about 90K on them, developed a wheel shake, just slightly at 80Km/h, checked them over, nothing looked wrong, chalked it up to mud in the rims, cleaned them out, didn't help. So we flipped tires side to side. Seemed to cure it for a few days, then it started up again, this time at 102km/h, steering wheel shaking, took it in, took off the wheel weights for balancing, put powder in, cured it again for a few days, then started again, this time the tires were cupping.

    Took them off, flipped on rims, trying anything to get more than 100K out of them, finally it got so bad you'd lose your coffee cup. I took them off, put Michelin XZA3 back on again, with powder balance, and never looked back. The tire shop owner said it was my alignment (of course) so out of curioisty I spent the 150$ to have it checked at the shop I always use, and it was perfect.

    Swore then and there that would be the last set of Goodyear Steering Tires that would ever darken my door again. I normally only get 180-200K from my Michelins, and those Goodyears I got 105 or so. So my savings were eaten up from re-balancing, flipping on the rims, flipping side to side etc. It was a good lesson. LOL
     
    mhallam, Jun 14, 2012
    mhallam, Jun 14, 2012
    #6
  9. Jun 14, 2012 #7
    papanuge

    papanuge Light Load Member

    144
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    Sep 18, 2010
    Anderson, AL 35610
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    If all the adds were true you could put it all on your truck and then stop every 400 miles or so and drain some fuel out before it ran over on the ground.
     
    papanuge, Jun 14, 2012
    papanuge, Jun 14, 2012
    #7
  10. Jul 11, 2012 #8
    HA-MTR

    HA-MTR Bobtail Member

    32
    2
    Jun 12, 2012
    US, GA
    0
    According to the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) publication item #T1021 (2011), pg 135, "Cupping/Scallop/Wavy Wear...[is] usually a result of...assembly out of balance, non-concentric tire/rim/wheel mounting or other assembly non-uniformity. Can also be due to lack of shock absorber control as well as loose kingpins or improper bearing adjustment. Underinlfation can also cause this condition." Also on pg 139 of the same pub. #, "Spot Wear...[is most likely caused by a] lack of shock absorber control. Improper bearing adjustment, assembly non-uniformity such as improper bead seating and out-of-balance. Can also be initiated by tread cuts. Aggravated by high speed, light loads and improper inflation."

    Although truck tires are different than passenger tires, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) in league with Bridgestone/Firestone published "Passenger & Light Truck Tire Condition Manual" in 2005. Page 28 indicates the same "non-uniformity in the rotating assembly," as well as the possibility of a bent rim.

    Did you find one of the rims was bent, or a kingpin unfit for service?

    I'm curious as to why those particular tires gave out on you...
     
    HA-MTR, Jul 11, 2012
    HA-MTR, Jul 11, 2012
    #8
  11. Jul 11, 2012 #9
    SteveH85396

    SteveH85396 Road Train Member

    1,646
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    Apr 1, 2011
    Waddell, AZ
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    I too wonder about some of the "fuel saving" devices available. Take the fabric wheel covers Schneider is using. The manufacturer claim a 1% fuel saving and a 6 month payback for the average user. This is all well and good but how would an O/O with a single truck ever detect a 1% difference?

    Beyond the things you have little control over (wind/weather) how you drive probably makes the biggest difference. Learn all you can about driving for maximum MPG and it really makes a difference. I watched at least 5 videos put out by Detroit Deisel about the DD15 before I got my Cascadia. When I follow their guidelines I get my best mileage. When I get in a hurry and try to rush my mileage goes in the toilet.

    Another big factor is the route you take. When I'm heavy (75-79,000 lbs) it's worth considering a longer/flatter interstate route versus the shorter 2-lane mountainous route. Sometimes you have no choice and just have to suck it up and pay the price.
     
    SteveH85396, Jul 11, 2012
    SteveH85396, Jul 11, 2012
    #9
  12. Jul 11, 2012 #10
    Mr. PlumCrazy

    Mr. PlumCrazy Road Train Member

    1,341
    606
    Jul 30, 2009
    Lexington NC
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    Tires will help so will oil some of the big companies extend their oil change to take advanage of increased fuel mileage and up until a couple years ago one company never changed their oil
     
    Mr. PlumCrazy, Jul 11, 2012
    Mr. PlumCrazy, Jul 11, 2012
    #10
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