My MicroBlue experience

Yuppers. Looking to microblue my axle bearings as soon as I am contractually able to. Expecting about a 3% fuel economy increase.

 

Being that Bruce is friends with Kevin, who promotes MicroBlue, I wouldn't classify him as an independent 3rd party.

Something doesn't seem right either about the HP numbers. The truck now has more HP to the wheels than what it did before to the flywheel...? That just seems odd! I could understand some HP increase, but that seems excessive.

If MicroBlue has nothing to hide, then there shouldn't be a problem with them using someone not affiliated with KR, Bruce or any other entity that has a dog in the fight.

 

Formula 1 engines have used polished liners for years, for reduced friction, but they have burned all their engine oil from the sump when the race is over, not acceptable for working truck or any other normal vehicle.

I believe in coatings and polishing in racing use when you have enough money to pay thousands of dollars to gain 1 horsepower but it is not profitable for trucking business because gains are so small. But there is always people willing to buy these snake oils.

 

I'm not disputing the HP gains, I'm questioning the fuel economy claims. It's a no-brainer that reducing friction in the engine and drivetrain will translate to better HP numbers at the wheels. I'm curious to know exactly how that impacts fuel economy, and the only accurate way to do that is to run two tests at exactly the same HP setting to the wheels - one before the microblue treatments are applied and one after. On-road testing has too many variables to be accurate.

The racing applications seem to be more about squeezing the last drop of HP out of the drivetrain than about fuel economy. I'm just not convinced that reducing bearing and gear friction in the drivetrain of a class 8 truck is going to translate to any kind of meaningful savings on fuel. I'm willing to bet that most of the energy lost between the flywheel and the road is absorbed by the gears sloshing that thick 90W gear oil around, and tire rolling resistance - not by bearing friction.

 

Whatsa matter Les? Scared to take a chance?

 

He probably feels like he'd get a better return on his money at the craps table.

 

Unless you are going to have the oil pan off, I would not do them specifically until you inframe your motor. I did mine while fixing an oil leak on my oil pan that the mpg gain was too small to measure and felt like doing it to make it more bulletproof. Cost is $600 to have them MicroBlued, but call Craig @ MicroBlue for updated pricing since this was around 14 months ago when I had mine done. It my be cheaper now that they are doing more truck stuff.

Most have reported doing the 3 axle tractor alone picks up 3/10ths to 4/10ths mpg and I have heard as much as 8/10ths doing a 5 axle tractor and trailer set up. Go with the Stemco Pro-Torq Spindle Locking Nuts option that is worth the extra money spent.

My MicroBlue wheel bearings have been in on my 3 axle tractor since June 2011 and over 197,000 miles are on them with it rolling as good today as the first day I installed them. I did both rear ends July 2011, the motor bearings November 2011 and the tranny December 2011 that since the tranny was done I have over 130,000 miles with my last 30 days fuel economy is 9.11 mpg, last 60 days is 9.09 mpg and the last 90 days is 9.19 mpg. I finished up 2012 for the entire year at 8.99 mpg that I had several oversized/overweight permitted loads the last 2 quarters that drug my average down for the year, but I am still happy with the results.

Note: All my mpg results with fuel up details are posted on mygauges.com under "Dice.sTruck2012". Great website for tracking fuel mileage and comparing other trucks and motors to yours along with comparing modification results on other trucks like MicroBlue, Air Tabs, Fleet Air Filters, Synthetic oil, Turbos, ECM changes, mufflers, etc.......

 

A friend of mine (JW) has over 100,000 miles on his MicroBlued inframed Detroit with no problems and he is still getting great fuel mileage. He has not said a word about it using oil.

 

I am going to have the pan off, but I guess I was fooled by their site where it said it was comparable to other coatings. Looks like I will be sticking to a simple reasonably priced coating.

 

Doesn't HP and fuel economy go hand in hand if it is gained by reducing friction?

The more efficient the HP is used and gained will always equate to higher fuel mileage.

Drivetrain dynos that are used by F1, Indycar and NASCAR teams to reduce friction and gain more HP delivered to the rear wheels.