Stepping Out With My Own Numbers

New International LT with their new A26 motor

410 hp 1450/1650 torque
6x2
Super singles
APU
2.5 ratio
10 speed direct Fuller Advantage manual
Cruise at 60 mph, 1300 rpm

 

International LT with their new A26 motor.

The specs are important but I have a certain way of driving I’m sure a lot of people would not like or enjoy. I only use 200hp for accelerating or climbing and cruise at 60. I only use cruise control if I’m bobtail. Using gravity to my advantage as much as I can. It takes a lot of work to hit these numbers.

If you read some old articles by Bruce from Pittsburgh Power, he talks about many of the strategies I use regarding fuel mileage, they were in 10/4 magazine; that’s where I learned this stuff. Also reading some of Henry Albert’s posts on Team Run Smart are very informative. The goal is always to minimize boost as much as possible. You get great results but it’s not a lot of fun.

 

After owning two ISX, I wouldn’t buy another. I only recommend Cummins if you’re in an application where you’re heavy haul, 110k or greater most of the time. Otherwise, any of the proprietary 13l motors will do the job just fine. My big complaint about Cummins is the soot. I don’t know what they did, but both of the units I had were so full of soot and sludge. The one I drove was maintained to the T. I even had all the maintenance history from the previous fleet and that still wasn’t enough.
They are really hyping the new X15 but they haven’t convinced me they’ve solved the soot problem.

 

I think if I were running a downsped Setup where I’m cruising at 1100-1150 it wouldn’t. I’m running at 1300 rpm. That’s a good rpm for hauling freight but not for bobtailing or empty.

 

Your boost will vary based on displacement. If you have a 15l, 20-22 will be 200hp. With a 13l it’s 27-28.
I used a scangauge when I had a truck with no gauges. It helps a lot by keeping you focused on hp and boost. Additionally you can watch your GPH and determine what rpm yields the lowest GPH.
When I go over Monteagle, my lowest speed is usually around 30 mph. That doesn’t last too long before the 200hp starts to accelerate again. You don’t get anywhere fast but it definitely helps mpg. More speed means more HP to both hit that speed and maintain it; more hp always equals more fuel.

 

APUs will save fuel but, more importantly, it will save you thousands in maintenance on the EGR system.