Which truck/engine combo?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Tanksmuch, Oct 8, 2019.

  1. 72express

    72express Bobtail Member

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    What you have to figure in is how many weeks that new stuff is going to cost in downtime compared to that B out there ridin around. I had a 92 3406B and ran 7.0 mpg quarter over quarter with flatbed.
     
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  2. Tanksmuch

    Tanksmuch Light Load Member

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    There's only 1 yellow engine I'd run, C-12. It's a little underpowered but it's a fuel miser, very reliable, very light... 1,000 pounds lighter than the 3406.
    Also, I've had a couple bad experiences with "throw away" yellow engines.
     
  3. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

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    The 550 E model i drive is at 1.7mil and does what we ask every day. Never spent more than a day down since i started in march, and the pete store brings the parts to us every morning.
     
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  4. ChicagoJohn

    ChicagoJohn Road Train Member

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    @Zeviander i agree with your Mack assessment except that the mp8 has a history of bad injectors & cups. The 2018 model tried to address it by going to slave setup and common rail but talking to my local Mack shop, they're not immune to injector problems still.
     
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  5. ChicagoJohn

    ChicagoJohn Road Train Member

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    there are multiple tanker fleets running pto's on a dt12 and have been for years. Not sure who told you that information.
     
  6. win-some-loose-less

    win-some-loose-less Medium Load Member

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    I said they may have changed it over last couple of years, a quick google says the rear pto option wasn’t available until end of 2016, so that puts them in 2017 and up trucks..
     
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  7. nofreetime

    nofreetime Road Train Member

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    Your driving style, truck specs, and what your hauling have far more to do with fuel economy than engine size I'd rather run a big motor easy than a smaller motor harder because the bigger motor is going to last longer. I drove a 2013 DD13 for 300k miles then bought a 2014 DD15 with the 1st year of the EVO motor in it. I thought my fuel mileage was going to drop a bit going from dd13 to dd15 but it actually improved 0.4 mpg. I've had the DD15 from 226k miles to now with 800k over that time the engine has only done 1 active regen and the only emissions issues have been 2 wiring harnesses at $600/ea parts and labor inc neither of which required a tow and both were diagnosed and repaired correctly the first time and didn't require additional visits to the shop. The only major engine related repair in the last 574k miles has been a seal that went out which was $1800 and it was all labor. The rest of the repairs have been small dollar amount items and preventative maintenance, I did have to put a clutch in it at 660k. I run an APU, a bunk heater and I do not idle the truck. I keep up with all preventative maintenance and have the DPF's cleaned every 250k. I get great fuel economy and good power and most importantly even now at 800k miles it isn't costing me an arm and leg to run or maintain. When I bought it a Pete was what I really wanted to be driving but I knew that the Cascadia with the DD15 had the lower cost of operation, was more reliable, and less emissions issues so I sacrificed what I wanted for what was best for my business. Over the last 574k miles the truck has been a dream I've ran it paid off since day one and it has been a part a larger financial game plain that has allowed me put 275k in the bank the for a house which I'm almost ready to pay cash for as well as pay for another 125k of toys. The truck was a large link in what made all of that possible and looking back buying it over any other engine or truck was one of the best business decisions I've ever made. I plan to do an inframe on it when it's time and keep running it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2019
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  8. Tanksmuch

    Tanksmuch Light Load Member

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    That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I've heard the DD15 was a very good and reliable engine, but I have been unsure about the fuel economy. I'll give up the 400-500 pound premium on the larger engine if it will produce the same or better economy. I know they seem to have the emissions issues under control as well.
    What kind of fuel economy do you get? What rear gear? I'm very hesitant to run the 2.xx gear ratio.
    Thank you for your input!
     
  9. nofreetime

    nofreetime Road Train Member

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    I don't remember what my rear is but I'd gear the truck for the same RPM as you would have with the DD13 the power and torque curves are the same. IIRC mine are 336's with 22.5 singles and the more aggressive tread pattern XDN2's with a 10spd direct it's a good combo for slow speeds 62-64mph. The truck gets 8mpg lifetime pulling reefer almost always heavy.
     
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  10. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    If your engine is BIGGER in output, the LESS struggling as you put it it will have to do. Sometimes a new engine generations ahead of say a 1982 big Cam 400 (Pulling Breezewood at 6ish% 5 miles at 19 mph at 80000 pounds. Such as say a brand new.. *Riffles papers... 1994 or so daycab 350 mack with mach trans etc rolled that same load from the same shipper the next morning at 45ish sustained. IF she had underdrive in the top gears should have been a little more reluctant to give them up.
     
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