Fuel Milage Poll

Year--- 2008
Make. --Volvo
Model---780
Engine---Volvo D13 original motor 1,300,000 miles
Trans-----Eaton Fuller 13 speed manual
Tire Size 11R22.5
Type of loads. Dry van with fairings average 30,000lbs
Normal Cruising Speed 63-64
MPG (or GPM, LOL). 8-8.5
over + 9 mpg with loads below 15-20,000 lbs

 

Year: 2004
Make: KW
Model: T600
Engine: CAT C-15 MBN 500 HP 1850 lb/ft
Trans: Eaton Fuller 10 sp manuel
Gear Ratio: 3.70
Tire Size: 275/85R/24.5r
Type of loads: Frac Sand (dry bulk)
Normal Cruising Speed: 65-70 mph
MPG: 5.1-5.7 MPG (Uses PTO blower often) 40-150 mile one way haul

Planning MODs: 6nz file, bully dog manifold, Fleet Air Filter (once I start pulling dry van), Pittsburgh Power Free Flow muffler, 6 in exhaust, Bully Dog HDGT.

 

if im running highway all day 6.5 can be as low as 3 doing a onsite haul.

 

Replaced may 15th with 2000 KW T600 525 redtop cummins , 10speed with 3.70s on 11r22.5. Average 6.2 so far with no changes-yet !

 

Year--- 2007
Make. --KW
Model---T600
Engine---Cummins ISX 500HP
Trans-----Meritor 12sp Auto
Tire Size 275/70/22.5
Type of loads. Dry van
Normal Cruising Speed 65-70
MPG 7.2
90% of loads less than 15000 lbs.Usually 0% idle APU only runs when needed to cool truck down.

 

My friends dad drives a 2015 prostar with isx450, 10 sp ultrashift and gets 8.5 mpg.

 

Update on fuel mileage numbers....

 

Year - 2005
Make - Freightliner
Model - Columbia
Engine - 03 Pre emissions C15 ACERT 435hp (1st year for ACERT, no EGR, No DPF or DEF) Mechanically trouble free so far.
Trans - Eaton 10 spd (I hate the 10 spd)
Gear Ratio - 3.55 (Combination of this gear and 10sp are probably my biggest hurtles to getting better mpg)
Tire Size - 22.5 LP. Michelin XZA3 steers, Hankook D7 drives
Type of loads - 53' step deck. Various loads, Anything from 4k lbs with the coefficient of dragging a parachute, to 46.8k lbs (80k gross) and usually still dragging a parachute.
Normal Cruising Speed - Cut back to 63 - 65 mph from 70 mph.
MPG (or GPM, LOL) - Went from 4.0 - 5.5 mpg to maintaining min 5.4 mpg with ridiculous loads to seeing several 6.1 - 6.2 mpg runs between fill ups which I had never seen before.

I had some mechanical work done recently that in combination with some pro-active changes in my driving habits have helped me pick up 1.2 mpg over all.

I idle constantly. Truck pretty much runs 24/7 if temps are above 78f. I cant sleep when its hot and humid. I would guestimate that I could reduce fuel consumption by .5 - 1mpg by simply purchasing an APU and not idling. I have made up my mind to purchase an APU,.. just trying to recoup the $10k I just shelled out for repairs. Then the APU will be done during my next down time.

Hurst

 

Would a purchase of a APU on that old of a truck be a worthwhile purchase? The truck is already almost 10 years old. How much longer do you plan on keeping the truck? It normally takes, what, 2-4 years to recoup the price on a APU?

 

I dont plan to install a new one,.. but at the rate I buy fuel, even a new one I could recoup the cost in under 12 months time.

I currently spend between $2300 - $3000 a week on fuel. I idle 24/7 when its hot out. A rough estimate is that I burn approx $80 - $100 a day just from idling, I idle at 750 - 800 rpm in order to keep oil pressure up and keep A/C blowing ice cold. Reducing that to $15 - $20 a day will save me approx $60 a day. I'm out on the road about 340 days a year. 60x340= $20,400. I think that justifies the expense of an APU, even if I only drive the truck another year. I will more than likely put a driver in this truck when I buy my next truck. I mean he will be set in this truck, microwave, coffee maker, hot plate, hotel sized mini-fridge with freezer.

The truck itself is worthless as a trade in and even selling out right, I doubt anyone would give me more than $15k - $20k, and the high side is merely due to it being a pre emissions truck. I only paid $20k for it. I have roughly another $10k in it already. It had 984k mi when I got in it. I'm at 1,110,890 miles as I write this. Mechanically its rock stable. No mechanical failures. Everything has been electrical with the exception of a few PM repairs and air leaks. So I feel its a no brainer to keep running this truck till the motor decides to kick the bucket or it becomes too costly to repair.

Hurst