DD15? Anyone?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by walterjacobo15, Sep 19, 2014.

  1. walterjacobo15

    walterjacobo15 Light Load Member

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    Happy Friday everyone!

    Can anybody share with me your experience with DD15?
    I'm looking into a 2015 Cascadia Evo with DD15, 13spds od, and 3.31 rears. I would like to know your thoughts on it as far as power and fuel efficiency goes, also common issues you have experienced. I've had Cummins and Caterpillar but never a Detroit so any input from you is highly appreciated.


    Thanks!
     
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  3. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    we've had 2 power steering problems. one head gasket in our 2014. my 2013 just got new water pump, thermostat, injector cups and o rings. that cost 2 full tanks plus disposal fee. 3 full tanks cost to the company.

    some day soon I'll be getting my steering fixed and probably a new dpf. truck regens too much.

    we have 6 2013. and 6 2014. all 12 trucks have dd 15. the newest 4 are auto's
     
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  4. jpeters72155

    jpeters72155 Light Load Member

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    How do the drivers like the autos? I am not a driver myself but work for a co thats about to buy or lease several semis
     
  5. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I got to repower a load because the brand new one (had made one trip) wouldn't start after he parked it to go in to get something before taking off. Even a new truck has problems sometimes, but these seem to have less than others

    I've run a 2013 since it was almost new, as first assigned driver, , it now has 195k and I have never needed to add oil, with 50k service intervals; the dealer or lease company does those and pulls a sample at each oil change.


    No odor from exhaust or after treatment that I have noticed, and no smoke. I only buy fuel at large volume places, and our guys that buy otherwise have had trouble. I try to use bio blends, because those produce less particulates.

    One more thing, if the one I run needs to regen after extended idling while parked, just driving it for 10 minutes or so gets it done, and a parked regen takes about that long, too, so I don't know if the particulate filter is all that big anymore. I've never noticed any smoke even when doing a parked regen.

    The 2008 60 series took 40 some minutes, and I've heard of others taking longer.
     
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  6. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    last time i had a regen light, i drove 30 miles and it never went off.

    i was told that it SHOULD go out. so i regened when i got to my destination.

    usually it's only 10 minutes, but i've had one time it took 45.
     
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  7. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    i have no idea who we have for drivers. might see one in the yard here and there but that's it. i see an auto parked on occasion. but have yet to really run into and chat with any drivers. seems like they have the higher turnover rate though. then the sticks do.
     
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  8. freightlinerman

    freightlinerman Road Train Member

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    On the new 2015 ISX and DD15's, they regen automatically while parked. ON the ISX, if its regnerating while driving and you get off the freeway, you will know. The turbo sounds different and your RPM's are a little higher, usually 800 RPM is the total RPM. It doesn't seem like much, but even in winter doing a regen at 800 RPM, it will send your coolant temp 220+ and trigger the fan.

    The DD15 for 2015 will regen automatically while parked and idling. You will just sit there, then all of a sudden the RPM's rise to 1,100 or so. I can tell when the truck is doing a regen, there is an odor of something hot or being burned from the exhaust. There is no smoke, its not strong or foul, you can just smell it.

    The DD15 compared to the ISX, looks much simpler. The turbo for on is a non VGT with no waste gate. Look on the ISX, lots of clutter on the turbo side of the engine. The DD15 seems more friendly to work on.

    I got better fuel mileage with the ISX. HOW EVER, the ISX had more power, the DD15 is set up so it will not exceed 1,600 RPM. It is a night mare to drive. You can disable this setting, but the big fleets use it to save fuel, in reality it only works in certain circumstances. I talked to a guy who had his bumped to 550 HP on a 2014 DD15 in a Cadcadia who claimed 9-10 MPG. On a fleet truck governed at 65 MPH, by the time you hit the hill, it takes for ever for the boost to enable. By the time it happens, you're doing 55-58 MPH.

    The ISX has a much better ECM, even for being a turd. Yes, the ISX and DD15's I drove were both turds. The ISX was more enjoyable to drive.

    My answer to you, I would go with the DD15. It's not the engine, its the way its programmed. Make sure it doesn't have every eco setting enabled.

    Oh, the ISX has a much stronger engine brake than the DD15. The DD15 is pretty weak. Some say it has to do with the VGT turbo vs the standard turbo on the DD15.

    If this DD15 wasn't turned down so much, it could surpass the ISX. But, when you lose your momentum and have to down shift for every ant hill and speed bump, you burn fuel trying to get back up to speed. I'm really disappointed in Detroit Diesel in how they program their ECM's. They aren't winning and drivers over.
     
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  9. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    i'll agree with you on the ecm program. but my jakes are the best i've driven so far on the dd15. the previous engines were all isx's.
     
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  10. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    EVO is a slightly different setup, no turbo compounding, with less loss due to coolant flow being matched to a reduced power output. If anything, the 1 I drive probably over cools.


    Also a compound geometry turbo(called aspherical, I believe) instead of a normal, non wastegated turbo like on the DD15TC.

    As for Jaking, unless there is a malfunction, it is more than adequate, on a 6% grade weighing 78 k in 8th gear of a 10 speed with little or no service braking.

    The engine is rated at 1900and is governed somewhere over 2000.

    It does pull down on grades more than I like but we have the lowest setting available @1550 torque and 455 hp. The next higher pulls noticeably better.

    Still easily the easiest truck to drive in most conditions of anything that I've driven. Pulls really well,unless you are running in hills trying to keep up with someone lighter.
     
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  11. jpeters72155

    jpeters72155 Light Load Member

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    Yeah, I figured an auto would just make the drive unbearable at some point. I drive a manual car and I'd get bored of an auto. I can't speak for drivers completely though since I dont have any direct experience.
     
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