Buying a new truck this week, should i buy new or used?

Volvo/Mack has more experience from Europe this new DPF/SCR motors; I have 1,145,000 miles on 2008 /780/D13, original motor, still running great 8-9 mpg;another team here has over 1,300,000 same original motor Volvo D13/2008. I had problems with emission, but looking around at my buddies with Cummins/Detroits 2008 and newer, i'm doing way better. Volvo upgraded most of the issues, this motor is maybe the best you can get today in fuel economy.

 

I would not want to run with the power divider in though on a nice day running on dry pavement at highway speeds. I have always just taken note of how my terrain is ahead and usually kick it in before I even need it in which is usually when I turn onto a dirt road.

I usually kick my power divider in then if the lockers have to go in I really start looking at the terrain ahead of me and start looking at the chains. Being stuck twenty to thirty K into a place where you very rarely see anyone um yeah chains are nothing to throw on.

Then again that is only when it gets really bad. Being on the bush roads in BC that I was on chains especially in the winter were always a necessity. Very scary roads some of them especially around 110, 120, 130 mile area up around horse fly area and moose up there that a person really would not want to hit.

 

I was told by a very experienced mechanic to just leave the power divider in all the time. He assured me that overall, more damage is done switching back and forth.

 

In bc and Alberta I was taught from day one to leave it engaged all winter. When I moved to sask working for a less experienced guy the idea freaked him out. He pointed out that the manual states not over 25mph. So we don't use it until under those speeds in slippery ####.

I always wondered if the manual has stated that for decades on these KWs. We do seem to get excellent life out of our drives, not sure if that is one of the reasons.

 

Here is a good article to check out on a power divider and how it works: http://www.desitrucking.com/understand-your-power-divider

 

The main reason as to why you are being told to just leave the system in is in due to it being air-actuated in most all applications I have ever seen. In the winter months with all of the problems with condensation freezing up and restricting air flow well it is the better of the two evils as a half and half engaged system really makes a good mess of things for any mechanic that has to fix it.

 

OK. That's easy, you're wrong.

 

You're referring to the differential locks that (generally) should not be used over 25-35 mph (the ones on my truck automatically disengage over 35). The power divider (inter-axle differential) can be used at any speed.

 

It can but many trucks (I think most kenworth) have a tag on the visor saying don't engage or drive with either over 35kph. The one on the western stars we have say specifically any speed as long as the wheels aren't spinning on the divider switch.