VOLVO

Haven't been bothered yet most states wont mess with you 12500 or less some allow manufacture tire rate or axle rate and a few will allow 20K

 

ALL I dont have that much time but my problems is mainly them DUMB(cant say the other word) dont know the first thing about fixing anything. Nice truck just DONT and I said DONT get a Volvo engine if you do you better know how to fix it because Volvo cant. Get a Cummins and if you have a problem take it to Cummins DONT and I said DONT under any surcumstances take it to Volvo Unless you just want to be out of work a while when you take it to cummins to get it fixed right. Now I know why Petro and TA wont work on them Volvo aint figured out how to fix them yet so how are they going to tell anyone else how to. And a way to tell if a Volvo dealer or rep. is lieing if his/her mouth moves. You can take them dumb(see above) a sugar coated donut and tell them it fell out the engine compartment and they will spend hours trying to figure out where it go and you better hope they dont find a part in the book that look like it (by the way that will cost you $109 an hour) Other than that I love them

 

I drive for a small company with an all Volvo fleet ('bout 70 trucks) and all the trucks have Volvo engines. The company has been an all Volvo fleet for many moons. Most of the trucks are 670's with D13 485hp engines backed with 9 speeds. We do have a few 780's (which is what I drive) with D16 500hp backed by 13 speeds. All '07 and newer.

I can tell you that fleet wide we have major issues with idler pulleys freezing up and snapping the serpentine belt. I've personally sat for a few days on the road twice because of this. If I owned the truck, I wouldn't be caught dead on the road with out a spare idler pulley and serp belt.

Fleet wide we have also had issues with injector cups going bad in the winter. Supposedly there is an updated cup available that cures this issue.

Fleet wide we have had egr issues but I've personally not had that problem.

Fleet wide air leaks are definitely an issue. Every time I get a leak fixed another one pops up.

One problem that has been an issue with only the D16 780's is turbo actuators. My truck just had the actuator replaced at the ~400,000 mile mark.

And last but not least, I've had numerous cooling problems. Mostly leaks from the surge tank and the radiator. I know that fleet wide we have an issue where coolant under pressure leeks out the top of the surge tank at the coolant level sensor. I'd venture a guess that half of our fleet has epoxy applied around the coolant level sensor to keep them from leaking. New surge tanks are $$$$$$.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Something worth mentioning is we don't have much in the way of electrical problems, which seams to be a very common gripe amongst Volvo owners. Now please excuse me while I go knock on wood.

 

As far as I know nearly all the states will allow 20k on your steers so long as your front axle and tires are rated for it. I drive a 780 and my front axle is rated for 12,500 but my steer tires are only rated for 12,375. That being said, I've run coast to coast at 13,000+ on the steers many times with no issues. Now I just run with the fifth wheel slid nearly all the way back and I'm rarely ever over ~12,300. I knew it was just a matter of time before being that heavy on the steers would catch up with me. With CSA2010 in full effect I like to make the DOT at least work up a sweat to find any violations.

 

What do you consider to be the "better rear?"

I own a 2007 780 with a Volvo D12, 13 speed and 7:42 rear ends and I think I would get better fuel mileage with 7:55/7:58's. It would keep the RPM's a little higher for all the small grades. That where the fuel mileage suffers the most. Running 65mph at about 1300 RPM's the slightest grade means the engines needs a lot of fuel to maintain your speed. It doesn't take as much to do so at a little higher RPM from my experience.

 

Nutcase, what are you hauling that requires 7.42 rears? Curiosity has me now.