question for 550, DDS and the acert experts

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by shogun, Jan 24, 2009.

  1. shogun

    shogun Road Train Member

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    I run cattle part time with a friend who has a 2007 Peterbilt 379. The truck has the acert c15 550 with a NXS serial number, 18 speed and 3.36s on 24.5 tall rubber. He has the turbo 3000D(I know, I know) the fuel temp sensor and the boost sensor. Short of converting this truck back to a single turbo, what can he do to up the power and mileage? It has less than 400k on the motor, and barely gets 5 mpg, usually around 4.8 and it has no guts. I read in another post about flashing a 625 hp program, and the thread about extrude honing the injectors. Since ya'll are the experts I yield to your advice. What kind of cost for the extrude honing if it is recommended.


    Thanks

    Shogun


    P.S. The two sensors did help out some with power, not sure about fuel mileage.
     
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  3. DDS

    DDS Medium Load Member

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    Has he had the truck to the dealer for this problem? He could get the truck flashed to the heavy haul file, It may help. Is his boost up around 50 psi?, if not get may have wastegate or turbo damage. Has the top end been set? Is the fuel pressure ok, if he has a fuel pressure gauge, he has to make sure the snubber has not come out of the fuel pressure fitting and entered to fuel line to the head. That was a common problem on the Petes. it will restrict fuel flow to the head but your fuel pressure will be in spec at the filter housing. If the truck is out of warranty, running a 625hp will give him the power but if the engine has a problem, mileage may not come up.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2009
  4. 2stick

    2stick Bobtail Member

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    Nov 22, 2008
    wauzeka,wisconsin
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    Shogun it sucks not having any power and no fuel milage, remember cow trucks just never get good fuel milage compared to freight haulers.


    I've only modifed E models & bridges and made asume power ,fuel milege came up to the low 5's pulling cow wagons.

    I know of a couple acerts i run with that are highly modifed w/really good power their fuel milage is also in the low 5's.
     
  5. fte05

    fte05 Bobtail Member

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    I have Pittsburgh Power's new book, and they list acert injectors from 20% more fuel to 100%.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 24, 2009
  6. PaulE

    PaulE Medium Load Member

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    SHOGUN, same problems with my 550 acert . heres what i did
    primary fuel filter restriction. spec was 10 mic/160 gph. first Cat update 10 mic/ 320 gph( cat #256-8753 crosses to fleetguard fs 1000 ) second update fleeguard fs 1212 20 mic / 320 gph . this is for spin on filter base. filter heads for these # flow 120 gph. not sure what Cats thinking was here. if you have Davco 382 f/w seperator run 50 mic 180 gph cartridge fleetguard # fs 19729. i run a Davco w/50 mic no change in service life of sec filter. i change sec every 20 k mi . higher micron, less restriction, turbo spins up faster, better response.
    exhaust. spec on restriction is 40 in water. most par dynos ive seen show 37 plus.
    acerts move alot of air .open up exhaust. straight thru muffs are cheapest ( 3-350.00/pair.
    fuel psi and gph flow. stock is 84-88 psi and 95 gph. mine is 118 psi and 125 gph. (im told stay under 120 psi can push O rings out of injt) imo , easiest way,but not cheapest way is to buy a product called Engine maxx. parts are direct fit for your app and are bolt in. 550.00 i think. you can shim/ stretch spring to increase psi but i think thats not accurate enough
    Overhead. has to do with setting injt height lower than Cat spec. Cat uses a tool to set height to be consistent. im told set height lower advances timing slightly thus better perf/mpg. i couldnt believe the diff. i know at least 20 guys who had this done by same independent tech in Wi , all report good results. very good freind is Cat rep. he said it would work but Cat would not do it because it would affect emissions. Fabco Cat in Wi would not do it for me and my friends the rep. im sure someone on this board knows where you could go.
    i know these things sound pretty simple but they work . i picked up .7 mpg and it runs like a different truck. imo, do the easy stuff first before expensive hard parts, at least youll know its running right before you throw money at it. if i was unclear on any of this im sorry. ask and ill re post good luck
     
    coalhauler625 Thanks this.
  7. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

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    The engine maxx is a good product. I installed the FASS fuel system (similar to engine maxx) and it made a difference with steady performance all day long. The fuel filters will make a big difference. The Acerts need the fuel flow, mostly because of all the heat they put out. The longer the hot fuel sits in the runners the more problems you'll have with the injectors. Fuel pressure is an area that you can look to improve performance. Shimming the fuel pump does work, but you need to have a good pressure gauge and know how to use it in order to find the right combination.

    The mufflers is a definte must. The stock ones that were on my '06 were so restrictive that the engine is totally different now with the high flows I put on. Just make sure you have 2 guys to lift the stock mufflers off (1 guy can do it, but they are pretty heavy).

    I have thought about the Diesel Injections (Pittsburgh Power) higher flow injectors. I still have some warranty left so they were out of the question. But if the rest of the motor isn't ready for the extra fuel its really not worth it in my mind. Another words if you have a restrictive exhaust and put in the injectors your really not getting anywhere. I would start with the basics. Getting air and fuel into and out of the engine easily then move onto bigger injectors, different ecm, or other mods.

    Hope this helps. If you need more info just give a shout.
     
  8. shogun

    shogun Road Train Member

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    Thanks for all the replies. There is a great deal of information to be shared by the members here, and I am constantly learning. Right now, he has 8 inch monster straights so the muffler situation has been addressed, but the fuel filter issue is new information that I will definitely pass along. I also am not sure when the last time he had an overhead run. He has look at the enginemaxx before so I will put that bug in his ear again. Thanks so much

    Shogun
     
  9. 550hpW900L

    550hpW900L Road Train Member

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    norcal
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    Put a 70 pin harness in it and run a 7CZ 600hp program. :biggrin_25525:
     
  10. 05379

    05379 Light Load Member

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    montague ma
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    i am running the baldwin bf 1212 its the same as the fs 1212 should i try and find a better flowing filter? thanks.
     
  11. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

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    Fostoria, Ohio
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    I have noticed that the Baldwins don't flow as much as the company says they do. Try running the CAT brand or even Fleetguards and see if you have a difference. I hate to steer you away from Baldwins cause they are good filters and I like them too, but they just don't seem to flow enough.
     
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