ISX or ACERT, can't win?

After owning 12 Cats and having a father who was a Cat mechanic for 28 years I've simply had enough of them. No matter what you do to them they will never attain the fuel mileage of a Detroit or Cummins. Don't get me wrong been a Cat fan my whole life used them in Northwestern Ontario pulling 5 axle log trailers and b-trains were they work better than anything else. But for on highway I'm looking for much better fuel numbers.

 

Dad was CAT mech. there is problem. got to get outside CAT box like many of the guys here. More hp-better mileage. never think you know it all. No one does.

 

quote of the day, right there...

 

The engine internals have not changed in the 3406e to the C15 that much, its the fuel system and ecm that you have to "repair" to get better fuel milage. There is allot of guys running twin turbo C15 engines getting 7.4 canadian pulling 80 000 lbs, they have to be geared and set up right.

 

What's your fuel mileage and weight are you pulling with your Cat now???

 

I'm now pulling tandems to the midwest. Never been a fast driver (don't break 100 kph) hard to get over 6 mpg. I don't idle the truck I use a webasto in winter. I use progressive shifting (which only pisses everyone behind me off). I pulled trains in the north and with the truck governed at 90 kph and all the gears clipped off I could get 5.5 mpg with a 550 Cat. Thats why this twin turbo bugs the hell out of me so much, half the weight and not much better fuel economy. Maybe I'll look into some aftermarket stuff, but even with anything they could do I don't believe I'll attain anything close to a Detroit. I already have the DDE rebuilt and I'm sure the increase in fuel economy will cover the cost of the switch inside of a year. I'll be doing the change myself so the only out of pocket will be any associated wiring. It's good to hear there are other die hard cat guys but I'd be lest than honest if I said it was gettin hard to keep the YELLOW faith.

 

What Cat dealer have you been dealing with? Is your engine a bxs, mxs or nxs. I have guys here in Toronto getting 7.4 canadian pulling tandem tanker and they only have the fuel temp wire.

 

That's sure a $100 or much less fix I would try 1st. Hope you guys can get this fellow some mpg;s and some jingle in his pocket.

 

I have a buddy with an 05 twin turbo accert completely stock. 550hp program from Cat , 13spd, 336's on 22.5's. Hes looking for mods to make it pull better and more mpg. Where do I purchase these mods to get his truck to run like it should. craigsappington_removemefirst_@gmail.com Thanks I cant send you a pm.

 

The mods are listed in the various CAT and ACERT threads here and a couple of other diesel forums. All the mods are pretty simple and can be done by anyone who wants to take the couple extra minutes to do them. But first a person needs to make sure the motor is healthy...check for boost leaks everywhere and up to 50+ PSI, not the normal 30 PSI. Check fuel pressure and restriction, high exhuast flow, and make sure the overhead and IVAs are working properly. After all this is done then the true mods can take place.