Calling all CAT techs. Answer this question.

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by stranger, Jan 13, 2009.

  1. stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

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    MPGs are really an issue. This engine should do better than it is doing. 1400 is not a lot of rpm. It does not do much better at 1300, as I ran it several hundred miles at that speed.

    I think if anyone would buy them they would get rid of them in a hurry.
     
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  3. C16KIWI

    C16KIWI Medium Load Member

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    Sorry I cant help you much,but for what its worth the new 08 engines will never make it over here.
    We have just started getting the first of the twin turbo's over here this year and CAT have said they are going to be limited.
    Having HUGE turbo issues already and the truck engine salesmen have already halved in numbers.
    The writing's on the wall.
     
  4. dieselroarmt875b

    dieselroarmt875b Medium Load Member

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    put an 18 speed gearbox,dont see the point of 10 speeds on highway truck even if you use it on flat relief
     
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  5. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

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    Like stated earlier these motors were designed to be the most effiecent (if you want to call them efficent) at around 1250rpm. Anything over that your just wasting fuel. The spped doesn't help either, especially out west with the winds. The C-15 I have hates the cold weather more than any other motor I have had. My mileage drops off at least .6 when the temps drop below 30. It sounds like there may be more going on in the motor or ecm. One reason you may not be able to get it over 1700rpm is if the progressive shifting is turned on in the ecm. Check with your mechanic or boss and see if it is turned on. If so learn how to use it and that should help some. One thing I have seen with the C-15's is the more you turn the setting up in the ecm (hp and torque) the better the mpg. CAT is trying to move so much air through the motor to cut down on the emissions that it is hurting the mpg.
     
  6. beltrans

    beltrans Medium Load Member

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    what mpg do you get on average, what does shimmed fuel pump mean?
     
  7. stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

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    I always use progressive shifting. I never touch the govenor except maybe in 9th getting up to speed before shifting into 10th, and only then when going uphill with a heavy load. I really don't care if the truck turns over 1700, as I don't need the extra RPMs.

    I always got .5 to 1.25 better MPG than the other drivers at my last company. I have driven this truck at every speed possible above 62 MPH, and the speed just does not help very much. It might do better at 1200 RPM, but I am not going to travel 5500 mile at 57 MPH. I ran it hours at 1300 and did not see more than one tenth or so increase in mileage.

    I am looking for answers as to if this is normal mileage, and if there is anything that can be done to increase the mileage. I think the truck is somewhat weak, but I don't know what the actual settting is, and I doubt I could get the garage to turn the truck up any.
     
  8. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

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    I average right now with the cold weather and pullling a 53' dry van around 5.4 to 5.6. I don't have any hard numbers what my mpg's are in the summer cause i have installed some stuff and changed programing in the ecm back in Sept. But with what I'm seeing now I'm guessing I'll be around 6.3 - 6.4 area.

    The shimmed fuel pump is just putting a shim in the fuel pump to increase the fuel pressure. Which in turn puts a little extra fuel in the cylinders with every injector firing. I don't suggest that everyone (especially company driver) do this. If you don't know the motor and have the gauges to watch your fuel pressure you could push fuel past the o-rings and into the oil or coolant.
     
  9. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

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    Stranger...I would say there is something in the motor or ecm that isn't right. The low mpg's your getting just don't seem normal. CAT did have a problem with fuel filters and bases...long story if you want to know more just ask. But I would talk to the mechanics to see if the other trucks are getting this bad mpg.
     
  10. 07-379Pete

    07-379Pete Crusty Commando-Pete

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    I had crapy fuel milage and low power with my MXS til I went back to using CAT fuel filters, the power came back but still have some what crapy fuel milage...just not as bad. In the winter my fuel milage always drops like a rock.

    One thing I noticed in your post was you said you was bumping 1700 while shifting in the top gears. I never get above 1450~1500 RPM's while shifting up. But mine is set at 2150 RPM's and I'm sure my fuel settings are set higher than a company truck would be. It took me awhile to figure out that anything over 1500RPM was weasting fuel with the ACERT.
    Thats one reason why I cant see spending the extra mney on turning my 475 up to a 550 because the torque falls off at about the same RPM. The 550's horsepower goes past where the 475 dose but I never run the RPM's up the high anyway.
     
  11. beltrans

    beltrans Medium Load Member

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    where did you get ecm programing done? did you change FTS, FLS?
    how much higher will fuel pressure be with a shim in a fuel pump?
    i own my truck little over 2 years, my mpg rarely gets over 5.5 with very light foot on the throttle and going around 60 mph. trying to find some info how to get better mpg. not really want to increase my HP, i have 550 now.
     
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