Before I bought my first truck I felt I did a lot of research. I wanted a Cummins or harder to find Detroit but came across a truck that had such great care and outstanding shape but had a Cat C15 2006 Acert with 3.36 and 13 speed. I understood it would be harder on fuel but would make up for it in longevity. Thought it was a pansy so Cat increased to 550 hp. since had 1850 tranny. Improvement in power but not much. Bought a Bullydog that really made her go but my intent is for fuel economy not blowing doors off. BD did nothing for mpg. Even added air dam on cab and nothing.
I get 5.5 or less on IFTA's and have mostly thought people were full of BS on getting over 6 mpg pulling 65,000 to 80,000 flatbed and vans like we do. Well after a guy ran into us head on and my truck was in the body shop I was given a Volvo to use with a 2006 D12 370 hp in it, 10 speed, 3.70 and I averaged for the week 6.4 mpg that's a whole 1 mpg difference and some serious change on 120,000 miles per year!!! I felt sorry for the Volvo as big gaps in gearing and could never own a truck that was forced to lug like that. Really no gear for 48 - 54 mph. Over revved or severely lugged. Nice riding truck but engine braking is not existent and the dash is cheap and cheesy. However it would put a lot more money in my pocket.
I am just sick. My truck is drooled over by many and shops can't believe how good a shape it is in. It gets continued meticulous care by me. I have replaced water pump. Also the input shaft thought the clutch and transmission was a piñata and beat them this spring so now I have a new clutch and rebuilt reman transmission. Truck uses 2 quarts of oil at 11,000 miles and I change it every 12,000 miles. Not a leak on it anywhere. My truck has 480,000 miles on it now. New virgin rubber everywhere. I feel I would be giving the next guy a gold egg and perhaps buying something someone else could not wait to get rid of.
1. Should I just keep it and try to get my money out ?
2. Convert it to a single turbo with kits now being advertised and offered for big mpg gains ?
3. Trade it for something else ??
I am thinking I should pull the twin turbos off but have not heard of anyone who has or has done it for an extended period of time for results etc.
Hate to trade my truck with C15 but got a big Mpg education this week with a Volvo
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by IH Branded, Sep 22, 2013.
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If the truck is payed off I'd keep it... No truck payment is priceless , especially when the truck is in great mechanical shape.
You failed to say if your truck is a hood ? Not fair to blame the engine , for the aero advantage of the Volvo ......
ps The single turbo conversions for the c-15 are like 10k. And need to be done by someone who knows what their doing. And I'm not sure but I think that fuel milage is way down the list of reasons to convert.........Last edited: Sep 22, 2013
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How fast/hard r u running? If motor is right u Can do better--I have an 05 accert--550 heavy haul 18/3:36--379 285wb--no aero 53' stainless spread always at 80k&more
Never break 65---religiously keep manifold psi below20--lug down to 1k on pulls avg 6.65--ain't great--&miss hard runnin sometimes but doable and im not only one doin it---drivers right foot has more to do w/fuel mileage than anything
Just my .02 good luck -
You want to trade in a 550 cat for a Cummins ? Why ? Tune it, i'm avg about 6.8-7.4 every month in mine
And as a bonus in Jan. i'll have a stay away from Commiefornia truck.... Win-Win -
IH branded,i don't quite follow.
7y old truck with 480 000 yet you talk about doing 120 000 a year.
Previous owner did few miles?
As to MPG,your experience supports the theory that a 12/13liter is cheaper on fuel with 80 000lbs gross.
What you call lugging the Volvo?how many rpm's?
Because i have read many posters on TTR who don't know how to run a specific engine.
If your 06 looks that good..........now might be a good time to sell it?
I would advice you look at the numbers and see what will be most cost effective for you. -
If ur ever through iowa and want to talk to a mech that does the double to single conversion in acerts let me know ill get u his number. He gets acerts runnin at 7 mpg and has ref's, not sure what he charges
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My DDEC IV 12.7 Series 60 regularly averages, year round, mid to high 7's. Sure, I am not running like I am trying to get poll position at Daytona, but I am not doing some sort of sub 60 Prime Trucking kind of thing either. A free flowing pre-egr engine, regardless of brand, when done right and driven right will deliver some respectable fuel mileage. I haven't gotten less than 7 mpg average since '96. That is with a Cummins N-14, 3406E Cat, Detroit 12.7 60, Detroit 14 60, and Cummins ISX. The ISX was the worse with that EGR nonsense until I disabled it.
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International 9400i
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Never break 65 mph. Try to never let it lug below 1250. At 65 it is at about 1300 rpm perhaps that is too low ?
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