Wayy cool! Yeah I also run 55 too quite often, just because I have the time, I even trip plan at these slow speeds. The savings in fuel is huge, its just not worth the extra money to spend another hour in some truck stop, which is, all going fast amounts to. I am sitting at the Lancaster Pilot now, one experience I have is to put a cetane booster in the Texas fuel I buy. I don't know why, but my Detroit Series 60, seems to run better, smoother and just sounds better when I do, and my mpg's are better. Maybe its all in my head, but I do believe it makes a difference.
I am trying to be funny here, Well if it ain't you two or me that is speeding down these highways, then who are these guys just flying past us both night and day???? What I find sad is, these are basically the same diesel engines way back from World War one or earlier, since then so many things have been invented, but they still can't find a way to make a better engine? or one that gets better mpg's? how sad is that.
I have an 06 columbia 14L 10spd 370 rears, when I bought my truck I only got about 5 to 5.5mpg, 4 years later and I'm up to 6.8 to 7mpg. I've done alot to my truck though to get it there. Aircell, turbo 3000, straight thru muffler and a K&N air filter, I also use meaner power kleaner. To me meaner power kleaner works the best, I've used lucas and power service cetane boost. None of them gave me the perfomance MPK did, it raised my mileage .05mpg on the first bottle. Lubricating the injectors is crucial in these engines due to the USLD. Not trying to sell you anything, just giving you my experience with it. Also, if you buy it, buy it at Quiktrip if you're near one 12.99 a bottle versus 18 or 19 at the bigger truckstops. Good luck
Just did a run, Chapman, NE to Chicago. Fueled in Columbus, NE after loading 46,000 lb of popcorn. Part of run was several miles of stop and go in downtown Chicago to deliver.... Cicero, 79th, and Harlem streets. Then picked up 30,000 lb in Elgin and then fueled in Walcott. 7.9 mpg, pump to pump calculated. I usually run around 62 mph / 1400 RPM, but do stay with it a little for the next hill after it builds up speed on a downhill.
Well you have made me rethink trying Howes Meaner Cleaner, even if just for one tank full. I used it when I first got my truck, it did wonders cleaning out the Wabasco bunk heater. It made the heat it put out so much better. I then started with cetane boosters, mostly Diesel Kleen. I did find once IFFPs Cetane booster, I didn't really get enough of it to test it out long term. I might special order a case when I get home from autozone or napa. And yes, your right about finding products cheaper at the middle of nowhere or non big name truck stops. I realized if I see the DAS label, then it means, its overpriced and I am gonna get screwed. All I can really say is, I think the sweet spot for this truck is at 59 mpg. But mountains, hills, high winds, heavy loads, omg and everything just makes consistency impossible to determine. When I think I am doing bad, I am doing good, and when I should be doing really great, well its sometimes not. oh well...
