DD-15

Discussion in 'Gordon' started by Palazon, Apr 27, 2013.

  1. Palazon

    Palazon Road Train Member

    1,430
    912
    Feb 5, 2009
    Tacoma, WA
    0
    Ok, learned I may over taching a touch on the lowr gears, and was reminded that a/c eats hp and fuel. Thanks for the ideas guys, I'll give 'em shot and post the results.
     
    25(2)+2 Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. coldhardsteel

    coldhardsteel Bobtail Member

    28
    7
    Jun 14, 2011
    Modesto, ca
    0
    try changing your shifting, up shift at 14 unless climbing a hill and down shift at 12. when i had 10010 the first series of the dd15 it did not like being down shifted below 12 the turbo would cut out below 12 and have no power to climb hills. they took me out of 10010 because i went dedicated.
     
    Palazon Thanks this.
  4. joseph1135

    joseph1135 Papa Murphy

    11,340
    27,290
    Nov 8, 2009
    The Highway To Hell.
    0
    Slide that 5th wheel up too. I see so many GTI trucks with the 5th wheel way back. I'm on the reefer side, I slide mine up almost as far as she will go. That'll give you a little extra mpg. Don't forget too, if you have the visor on yours, that cuts back the mpg too.
     
    Palazon Thanks this.
  5. CougFan

    CougFan Light Load Member

    268
    154
    Dec 20, 2012
    0
    I will be honest with you, reefer side here, best I can do when I am really watching it is 7.0. And that is really pushing it. The hills and the trucks themselves just dont seem specd for MPG's. The cascadia's are heavy, lack of full fairings, carrying 300 pouinds of chains, 5th wheel all the way back (12 front axle) etc.

    Driving the same roads for another company in a T700 specd for MPGs I would usually get 7.5mpg, and the cali to seattle run was usually 7.8.

    And its not a matter of speed, both trucks capped at 62, both running cummings ISX, both with eaton 10spd trannys.
     
    double yellow and Palazon Thank this.
  6. coldhardsteel

    coldhardsteel Bobtail Member

    28
    7
    Jun 14, 2011
    Modesto, ca
    0
    Fifth wheel placement can actually hurt m.p.g's. Too far forward can cause too much friction between your steer tires and the pavement, which make the engine work harder, and you will be lifting the nose of the trailer causing the lip to catch the air. I found on 10010 two notches from the rear was best.
     
    Palazon Thanks this.
  7. Palazon

    Palazon Road Train Member

    1,430
    912
    Feb 5, 2009
    Tacoma, WA
    0
    Ok today 7.3 mpg. To be fair this from Cheyenne, WY to Salinas, KS (mostly flat, gently rolling hills), but that includes yesterdays 500 miles at 6.4 mpg so that means today was much higher to make that large a change. Changes: Left the a/c off and changed shift up pattern on low side to 1000 rpm and high side 1400 (and landscape). Also was careful to NOT floor the accelerator.

    5th wheel debate: I'm 2 notches forward and at 12060 on steers. Top gear 95%, Cruise 81%.

    Thanks for the help and ideas!
     
  8. double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

    5,946
    10,065
    Aug 28, 2011
    State of Jefferson
    0
    I'm sure your efforts helped, but the vast majority of that mpg improvement came from running downhill (6000' in Cheyenne, Wy vs 1200' in Salinas, KS) with prevailing tailwinds:

    [​IMG]


    Give it at least 10,000 miles OTR before you start estimating a new mpg baseline, because you'll probably have several hundred mile stretches that vary from 5 to 10mpg
     
  9. eeb

    eeb Heavy Load Member

    731
    266
    Mar 24, 2013
    0
    Unless your alignment is way off, or your steer tires are underinflated, more weight on the steer axle shouldn't hurt milage. If it does, I'd get the toe checked on the steer axle. Saw one truck with the toe so far off it caused noticeable heel-toe wear on the drives in 200 miles, that'll affect milage for sure. Just keep it under the legal limit, shouldn't have a problem
     
  10. Palazon

    Palazon Road Train Member

    1,430
    912
    Feb 5, 2009
    Tacoma, WA
    0
    I concur. I realize that I'll have to use multiple days to establish a pattern, however it's a good improvement/start.
     
  11. double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

    5,946
    10,065
    Aug 28, 2011
    State of Jefferson
    0
    It is and keep up the good work. Just don't start pulling your hair out if you get 6.7 next time and 6.9 the time after that. I remember being just exasperated by seemingly inexplicable fluctuations until I learned how much 1 rolling regen can alter your mileage (let alone multiple regen attempts if the process is interrupted)
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.