Tips from International HQ on saving fuel

[tracer]

I was recently applying for financing on a used International truck in Ontario and the dealer had this blackboard with various clippings... One of the print-outs caught my eye as it was called, "Put Money in Your Customer's Bank: improving fuel economy on heavy duty trucks."

The receptionist was kind enough to make me a copy of the letter and I reproduce it here for all wannabe owner-operators, as it has some nice pointers on how to improve your bottomline. It's a memo from the International headquarters by a Diane Shoemaker addressed to all International truck dealers.

....................................

From: Diane Shoemaker, Director, Dealer and Brand Communications
International Truck and Engine Corporation
4201 Winfield Rd, P.O. Box 1488, Warrenville, IL 60555

"... After decades of research and product innovation throughout the truck industry, many truck operators are still leaving their hard-earned money on the table by not investing in and utilizing some important fuel cost saving features or by skipping simple operational best practices ...

According to Bob Weber, [International] Chief Engineer Heavy Product Center, "Customers who get less than 6 miles per gallon are in need of our skilled help. These customers aren't hard to find; I believe they make up more than 30% of the market! When these customers order an optimally spec'd truck for their application, they can save thousands of dollars per truck in annual fuel costs."

Bob Weber has several key points or tips for [International dealers'] staff members who help customers specify new trucks, or who consult with customers to improve their overall operational performance. For each point, assume a truck consumes 20,000 gallons of fuel annually and the cost of fuel is about $2.50, so fuel costs $50,000 annually. Also, assume these are "best estimate" figures. [NOTE: the original letter actually used the price of $2.25 per gallon, but I upgraded it to $2.50 to reflect the March 2007 conditions.]

In order of importance and cost savings, the tips are:

1. Slow down the vehicle and utilize Vehicle Speed Limiting. Weber explains, "Speed is the largest factor in fuel efficiency because aerodynamics drag forces go up exponentially with vehicle speed." Vehicle Speed Limiting [on International trucks] is a programmable option that limits how fast the truck can travel. The limit can be set at the factory or at the dealer facility. Weber says many small fleets don't use Vehicle Speed Limiting and their fuel costs rise as a result. There may also be insurance cost savings, and certainly there are safety benefits from this option because these trucks are traveling slower." Slowing down from 70 to 60 mph and utilizing Vehicle Speed Limiting can yield fuel savings of up to 10% or $5,000 annually.

2. Specify the most fuel-efficient engine. The customer's engine OEM choice is a matter of personal preference. Dealers should contact their International application engineer in Fort Wayne and work with the various engine manufactures to understand engine-specific fuel consumption. In company testing, International has found up to a 7% range between various engines. This translates to $3,500 in fuel costs annually. [I talked to Michael Kirby, a sales manager at Altruck International in Kitchener, ON (Canada) and he said according to his experience Cummins and Cat C13 engines would be best for fuel efficiency.]

3. Gear vehicles to ensure engine speed is set according to manufacturer's specification at cruise speed. To maximize fuel efficiency, dealers need to specify vehicle gearing (transmission final drive ratio, axle ratio and tire size) to run engine RPMs according to the manufacturers specifications. By understanding the customer's desired cruise speed, the dealer can use the TCAPE computer application [a software program all International dealers are equiped with] to set the truck's transmission final drive ratio and axle gearing ratios correctly. Weber says, "TCAPE should run for every truck order but we know that's not happening in every instance. If we could make this a uniform practice throughout our dealer network, we could improve our brand image, raise levels of customer satisfaction and product reliability by a large margin. As a network, we could garner consider competitive advantage over other OEMs by making the use of TCAPE before order placement is a must." Powertrain optimization can yield fuel savings of up to 10% or $5,000 annually.

4. Specify International's roof deflector. Trucks with tall trailers that operate at vehicle speeds of 45 mph and above will benefit from the addition of an International factory-installed roof deflector. Weber says, "At a cost of about $700-$1,000, it will provide an estimated annual 10% in fuel savings. This translates into less than a 3 month payback." International's roof deflector can yield fuel savings of up to $5,000 annually. The use of a non-International roof deflector will save approximately 5%-7% annually. Weber believes many trucks on the road would benefit from a roof deflector and he says, "Customers who need a roof deflector but operate without one, are literally throwing thousands of dollars away."

5. Specify fuel economy tires with low rolling resistance. Tires with low rolling resistance use less fuel to move the truck. Specifying these tires and keeping the correct tire pressure can yield fuel savings of up to 10% or $5,000 annually.

6. Reduce engine idling. An average vehicle consumes up to 1,800 gallons of fuel while idling in a year. By specifying idle reduction solutions, including: engine programmable shutdown, fuel-fired heaters, and electric air-conditioning, operators can save the majority of this expense or about $4,500 annually.

7. Specify an automated transmission. This feature reduces operator labour by automating shift of the gears. It can save up to 5% or up to $2,500 in fual savings annually.

8. Specify a low engine-governed speed (1800 rpm in lieu of 2100 rpm). This lower engine-governed speed allows the engine to operate more efficiently. It saves up to 5% or up to $2,500 in fuel savings annually.

9. Specify cab side extenders. For hauling sided trailers traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, the addition of cab extenders will provide an estimated annual 3% in fuel savings. Cab side extenders can yield fuel savings of up to $1,500 annually.

10. Monitor tire pressure on a weekly basis. It's estimated that 25% of trucks on the road have low tire pressure. Many smaller fleets skip this important monitoring step and it costs them 3% in additional fuel costs or $1,500 a truck annually. [a tip for owner-operators: check tire pressure on both the tractor and company trailer before the trip, even though you only own the tractor.]

11. Specify chassis skirts. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, and at a cost of just $1,500, chassis skirts will provide about 3% in fuel savings or up to $1,500 annually.

12. Specify a direct drive transmission, final drive ratio = 1.0 Specify the direct drive transmission and save 2% or up to $1,000 in fuel savings annually.

13. Specify aerodynamic mirrors. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, aerodynamic mirrors will provide about 1%-2% or up to $1,000 in fuel savings annually.

14. Specify a bumper dam. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 65 mph and above, and a cost of about $150, a bumper dam will provide 1.5% or up to $750 in fuel savings annually.

15. Consult with an application engineer. Expert advice is available. Dealer staff should contact the appropriate application engineer n Fort Wayne for additional details on specifying components designed for better fuel economy.

According to Weber, "Getting a truck's specification right is the result of communication and a solid partnership between two parties - the truck owner who knows the vehicle application (speed, road profile) and the dealer who specs the axle ratio, transmission and tire size appropriately..."

[allan5oh]

2. Specify the most fuel-efficient engine. The customer's engine OEM choice is a matter of personal preference. Dealers should contact their International application engineer in Fort Wayne and work with the various engine manufactures to understand engine-specific fuel consumption. In company testing, International has found up to a 7% range between various engines. This translates to $3,500 in fuel costs annually. [I talked to Michael Kirby, a sales manager at Altruck International in Kitchener, ON (Canada) and he said according to his experience Cummins and Cat C13 engines would be best for fuel efficiency.]

Too bad there's no REAL information out there. Only "such and such an engine is good" etc..

REAL numbers would be dyno numbers, with associated brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC).

Personally, I think the EPA should dyno every engine at about 200 hp, and record how much fuel is required to make that HP. Publish it for everyone to see. Then you could make REAL decisions, not what the salesman wants to sell you.

[GMAN]

Unfortunately, there are some who will find ways to manipulate the numbers to their advantage. I agree with Allan. It would be great if they could come up with a standard method of measuring efficiency.

[tracer]

Choosing the right engine is only one of the ways to improve fuel mileage. Guys - look at the big picture.

[GMAN]

Gear ratios, type of terrain you drive and other factors can affect fuel economy. If you run mostly out West in the Rockies, you will want to spec differently than if you run more in the Midwest. There isn't one single set of specs which will work for everyone. It depends on the application.

[allan5oh]

Tracer it makes a huge huge difference however. I've heard rumors that engine makers will get a break in emissions for more "efficient" engines(those able to make more HP with the same amount of fuel). Cat is apparently all up in arms about this because their engines are mostly in petes/KW's.

If they compared the engines on a dyno(a dyno supplied and used by EPA), the public would be much better informed.

Other then travelling speed, the engine makes the biggest difference by far. For example, doing the same run, the difference between a big cat engine(pre-2003) and an m11 is about 2 mpg.

I'd be willing to bet that m11 specced all wrong, travelling at 70+ mph would still get better mileage then a big cat or cummins specced "right" and travelling at 60 mph.

[allan5oh]

To expand this conversation a bit more, I received a "survey" from EPA a little over a year ago regarding the specs of my rig. I find it interesting that the EPA is suddenly concerned about fuel mileage, they never were before.

I've also heard that the EPA may "cap" carbon dioxide output, which is actually a very good thing. Reducing NOx, PM, and other emissions reduces fuel economy, everyone knows that. Reducing carbon dioxide does the opposite, as it's directly related to efficiency.

[tracer]

okay ... then what do you think would be the most fuel efficient engine for pulling truckload freights (44,000 lbs) in hilly terrains (North Carolina, British Columbia, California, Washinton, Oregon ... you get the idea) provided I'm not interested in absolute speed and mostly run 62 mph?

[allan5oh]

a 350 HP m11. But the driver will be cranky!

[azcardnlz]

In order of importance and cost savings, the tips are:

1. Slow down the vehicle and utilize Vehicle Speed Limiting. Weber explains, "Speed is the largest factor in fuel efficiency because aerodynamics drag forces go up exponentially with vehicle speed." Vehicle Speed Limiting [on International trucks] is a programmable option that limits how fast the truck can travel. The limit can be set at the factory or at the dealer facility. Weber says many small fleets don't use Vehicle Speed Limiting and their fuel costs rise as a result. There may also be insurance cost savings, and certainly there are safety benefits from this option because these trucks are traveling slower." Slowing down from 70 to 60 mph and utilizing Vehicle Speed Limiting can yield fuel savings of up to 10% or $5,000 annually.

2. Specify the most fuel-efficient engine. The customer's engine OEM choice is a matter of personal preference. Dealers should contact their International application engineer in Fort Wayne and work with the various engine manufactures to understand engine-specific fuel consumption. In company testing, International has found up to a 7% range between various engines. This translates to $3,500 in fuel costs annually. [I talked to Michael Kirby, a sales manager at Altruck International in Kitchener, ON (Canada) and he said according to his experience Cummins and Cat C13 engines would be best for fuel efficiency.]

3. Gear vehicles to ensure engine speed is set according to manufacturer's specification at cruise speed. To maximize fuel efficiency, dealers need to specify vehicle gearing (transmission final drive ratio, axle ratio and tire size) to run engine RPMs according to the manufacturers specifications. By understanding the customer's desired cruise speed, the dealer can use the TCAPE computer application [a software program all International dealers are equiped with] to set the truck's transmission final drive ratio and axle gearing ratios correctly. Weber says, "TCAPE should run for every truck order but we know that's not happening in every instance. If we could make this a uniform practice throughout our dealer network, we could improve our brand image, raise levels of customer satisfaction and product reliability by a large margin. As a network, we could garner consider competitive advantage over other OEMs by making the use of TCAPE before order placement is a must." Powertrain optimization can yield fuel savings of up to 10% or $5,000 annually.

4. Specify International's roof deflector. Trucks with tall trailers that operate at vehicle speeds of 45 mph and above will benefit from the addition of an International factory-installed roof deflector. Weber says, "At a cost of about $700-$1,000, it will provide an estimated annual 10% in fuel savings. This translates into less than a 3 month payback." International's roof deflector can yield fuel savings of up to $5,000 annually. The use of a non-International roof deflector will save approximately 5%-7% annually. Weber believes many trucks on the road would benefit from a roof deflector and he says, "Customers who need a roof deflector but operate without one, are literally throwing thousands of dollars away."

5. Specify fuel economy tires with low rolling resistance. Tires with low rolling resistance use less fuel to move the truck. Specifying these tires and keeping the correct tire pressure can yield fuel savings of up to 10% or $5,000 annually.

6. Reduce engine idling. An average vehicle consumes up to 1,800 gallons of fuel while idling in a year. By specifying idle reduction solutions, including: engine programmable shutdown, fuel-fired heaters, and electric air-conditioning, operators can save the majority of this expense or about $4,500 annually.

7. Specify an automated transmission. This feature reduces operator labour by automating shift of the gears. It can save up to 5% or up to $2,500 in fual savings annually.

8. Specify a low engine-governed speed (1800 rpm in lieu of 2100 rpm). This lower engine-governed speed allows the engine to operate more efficiently. It saves up to 5% or up to $2,500 in fuel savings annually.

9. Specify cab side extenders. For hauling sided trailers traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, the addition of cab extenders will provide an estimated annual 3% in fuel savings. Cab side extenders can yield fuel savings of up to $1,500 annually.

10. Monitor tire pressure on a weekly basis. It's estimated that 25% of trucks on the road have low tire pressure. Many smaller fleets skip this important monitoring step and it costs them 3% in additional fuel costs or $1,500 a truck annually. [a tip for owner-operators: check tire pressure on both the tractor and company trailer before the trip, even though you only own the tractor.]

11. Specify chassis skirts. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, and at a cost of just $1,500, chassis skirts will provide about 3% in fuel savings or up to $1,500 annually.

12. Specify a direct drive transmission, final drive ratio = 1.0 Specify the direct drive transmission and save 2% or up to $1,000 in fuel savings annually.

13. Specify aerodynamic mirrors. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, aerodynamic mirrors will provide about 1%-2% or up to $1,000 in fuel savings annually.

14. Specify a bumper dam. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 65 mph and above, and a cost of about $150, a bumper dam will provide 1.5% or up to $750 in fuel savings annually.

15. Consult with an application engineer. Expert advice is available. Dealer staff should contact the appropriate application engineer n Fort Wayne for additional details on specifying components designed for better fuel economy.

According to Weber, "Getting a truck's specification right is the result of communication and a solid partnership between two parties - the truck owner who knows the vehicle application (speed, road profile) and the dealer who specs the axle ratio, transmission and tire size appropriately..."

Don't most O/O's already know this? I knew all of it except #15, and I'm a company driver.

[GMAN]

I figure that if I do everything it suggests I should be able to get about 20 mpg on my truck. :P