How save fuel at mountain driving

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by D16, Mar 15, 2008.

  1. D16

    D16 Light Load Member

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    Jul 11, 2007
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    With fuel price endlessly going up economical driving methods become very actual.For flat roads it's simple but what about mountains?Share your best scill guis and gals.:biggrin_25519:
     
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  3. broncrider

    broncrider Road Train Member

    get up as fast as you can, without overheating
    then let'er roll down
     
  4. D16

    D16 Light Load Member

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    Yes it's what I did usually,but I suspect it's not the best technique.:biggrin_25513:
     
  5. broncrider

    broncrider Road Train Member

    i dont think there is a fuel saving meathod for pullin a grade...if there is i would love to hear it!

    the longer you take the more yer gonna burn....at least thats how i figure it
     
  6. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    The problem with a grade is you aren't going to ever pull it at 10 or 15 lbs of boost. Just stand on it and pull in the power curve as much as you can and get over.
     
  7. D16

    D16 Light Load Member

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    Just remember my first year when I teamed with Seattle guy who was trained at Swift.His uphill climbing technique -shift down til 5th gear before uphill and slowly go up without any shifting!:biggrin_2559:
     
  8. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    That was probably from force of habit, knowing thats all the better ole slow er I mean not Swifty was going to climb the hill.

    :yes2557: :yes2557:
     
  9. kent0242

    kent0242 Bobtail Member

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    Metro Detroit, MI
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    If I can get a run at it, I try to hit it hard at the bottom. Then I let the combination of momentum and horsepower get me to the top.

    I'll let my engine run down to 1150 rpm or so and then downshift. If I'm losing rpms quickly, I tend to downshift a little sooner.

    I definitely let it run on the way back down, if I can do so without attracting unwanted attention to myself.

    There are certain hills known to me that I will start at the top with the JakeBrake and let it hold me back on the way down.


    My 2 cent's worth.
     
  10. AfterShock

    AfterShock Road Train Member

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    Engine manufacturers suggest on their modern engines that it's not the best fuel savings method to take a run at an incline, or run in a gear that produces the highest RPM while climbing, but rather in a gear higher, or a half gear higher with a 13 or 18 speed transmission, and rely on the torque instead of the horsepower.
    Keeping the RPM's lower burns less fuel over the long haul, both on approach and during the climb.

    I've used this suggested technique. I'm not saying it actually works, but I had the best average fleet MPG in a company of about 25 Big trucks, including O/O's. But I also used other techniques, such as not idling if not absolutely necessary -- and Mother Nature's gravity in the mountains, instead of powering on the down-side -- only to have to use the brakes sooner.

    I'd run cruise control only enough to get MPG numbers, then pedal it to compare my foot to the electronics. More often than not, my foot beat the cruise control.
     
  11. D16

    D16 Light Load Member

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    Can You please tell us exact RPM's at any gear and probably speed when climb long uphill?:biggrin_2558:
     
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