My New Tractor

[RockyMtnProDriver]

It got bit interesting today.

My dealer was told by his Rep that the Maxforce 13 will not be available in either the LoneStar, or the 9900 and that they will not be able to be ordered until the maxxforce 15 has been released, and that might not be until next summer.

So, no LoneStar, or 9900 for me as I need the unit in January.

We are going to look into it a bit more, but I might be getting a ProStar instead if it goes in that direction.

[no_worries]

Someone's been blowing smoke up your tailpipe if those are the numbers you're using for comparison. That aside, I'd be real wary of those Navistar engines. They're making an inordinate amount of noise about the competition and now the rumors are starting to fly. Something just isn't right there and the fact that they're pushing back the release just buttresses that fact.

[RockyMtnProDriver]

The numbers come from driving a mechanical CAT engine for over a million miles, day in day out, and from owning and driving a couple of ISX's.

I agree that there seems to be something odd about the delays in the 15 ltr engine release, but their 13 ltr engine has proven itself and they are widely available in the ProStar.

Me gut tells me that the 15 ltr crowd will not buy a 13 ltr engine in a 9900 or a LoneStar and that is what is keeping International from putting them in. Fleet operators, and business people, will not care what the size of the engine is, as long as it gets the job done at a good fuel economy rate. The Chrome and Polish, slant the CB antenna, 18 inch Texas bumper, crowd want something they can talk about when it comes to engine size. Read, the larger the better.

Luckily, I fall into the business crowd type. I do this for the money, not the glory.

I have not found anyone who has driven the 13 ltr engine yet who does not like it.

Ya, there is a lot of chatter, but it is mostly internet gossip or the he said, she said stuff.

And I don't pay any attention to that any more than I watch Oprah or Springer.

[no_worries]

I don't think the 13-liter has proven itself in an '10 configuration. Last I heard, Navistar hadn't sold a single 2010 model engine as they had been stockpiling '09s. Supposedly they've been building them, just not making them available. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more to it than you think. They still can't even build a 2010 compliant engine using their technology. They have credits built up from their 07-09 models that will allow them to sell 2010 engines that don't actually meet the EPA limits. They are betting that by the time they use up the credits they will have perfected their EGR technology. But the fact that they've been making such aggressive attacks on SCR makes one wonder if progress is slower than they had hoped. If you're set on a Maxxforce though, I would definitely make sure that you're able to get an '09 engine. Those enhanced EGR's are a little scary.

You must have been driving engines on opposite ends of the spectrum. I've never averaged anywhere near as bad as 4 mpg in a mechanical Cat and never averaged 8 mpg with a new engine; currently an ISX. In an identical operation...maybe 2 to 2.5 mpg difference, but I doubt that a 4 mpg difference is a normal expectation. Not that it can't happen with a crappy example of one and great example of the other.

[RostyC]

I get right around 6 with my mechanical CAT.

AND sell my new truck and get an old one.

Funny you should say that because that's exactly what I'm trying to do. I'm selling my 06 Ford F350, and looking for an older model Ford or Chevy.

[allan5oh]

So are they simply not making lonestars? Because the 13L is the only engine you can get with them. No cummins ISX, nothing.

[RockyMtnProDriver]

So are they simply not making lonestars? Because the 13L is the only engine you can get with them. No cummins ISX, nothing.

This is what my dealer told me. But he is looking into it. I dont really want a ProStar.

[GMAN]

This is what my dealer told me. But he is looking into it. I dont really want a ProStar.

You could always wait until the 15L engine comes out. I wonder if it is available in the U.S?

[RockyMtnProDriver]

I get right around 6 with my mechanical CAT.


:

I did a test today and got 8 mpg with my 500 HP ISX at 60 mph hauling a total weight of 78,000 lbs. The test was run over 550 miles.

The difference between 6 and 8 over 150000 miles at $3 a gallon is close to $20,000 a year in more fuel. The difference between 5 and 8 is a payment on a brand new truck. You can always say I dont want the payments, but you are paying the money. Just not to the bank, but to the oil company.

[RockyMtnProDriver]

You could always wait until the 15L engine comes out. I wonder if it is available in the U.S?

I think that is what I will do.

[RockyMtnProDriver]

GMAN,

I am at the Flying J in Bakersfield for my reset, is there a better place to be?

[no_worries]

I did a test today and got 8 mpg with my 500 HP ISX at 60 mph hauling a total weight of 78,000 lbs. The test was run over 550 miles.

The difference between 6 and 8 over 150000 miles at $3 a gallon is close to $20,000 a year in more fuel. The difference between 5 and 8 is a payment on a brand new truck. You can always say I dont want the payments, but you are paying the money. Just not to the bank, but to the oil company.

You can't compare a lifetime average of 6 to a one-trip average of 8 and say, "that's the way it is." A mechanical engine would get well over 7 on that run. Once you get to Redding it's all "downhill" and in a 55 mph state to boot. I have the same engine as you do and regularly get 8 mpg on that stretch...certainly don't average that though.

If you want cooler nights, go up to the J on top of the Grapevine (Lebec). There are a few different restaurant choices and even a decent cheap motel if you are so inclined. There's also the Petro and TA at Wheeler ridge. Good facilities at the Petro and a Starbucks and, most importantly, an In-N-Out.

[RockyMtnProDriver]

You can't compare a lifetime average of 6 to a one-trip average of 8 and say, "that's the way it is." A mechanical engine would get well over 7 on that run. Once you get to Redding it's all "downhill" and in a 55 mph state to boot. I have the same engine as you do and regularly get 8 mpg on that stretch...certainly don't average that though.

If you want cooler nights, go up to the J on top of the Grapevine (Lebec). There are a few different restaurant choices and even a decent cheap motel if you are so inclined. There's also the Petro and TA at Wheeler ridge. Good facilities at the Petro and a Starbucks and, most importantly, an In-N-Out.

I agree that one run is not a good example but it can be a benchmark for when everything is mostly flat and straight and a good target to aim for.

In the steep mountains of BC on a regular route over about 1200 miles with exactly the same load each time we got 6.7 US.

That is the real world. And I doubt any mechanical CAT would get better than 4 or 5. We consistanly got 4.5 year in and year out. And that was imperial gallons not metric like in the US. Never mind that the jake was non-esixtant so it was at least two gears lower than a compribale Cummins eninge.

The company i drove for "back in the day" only ran CATs. As I said before, I got more than a million miles in them, and have fueled them and checked them time and again.

Great engines though if what you want to do is shift allday. They have an operating range as narrow as thin ruller.

[GMAN]

GMAN,

I am at the Flying J in Bakersfield for my reset, is there a better place to be?

The last time I stopped at that Flying J they were remodeling it. If you want to stay in Bakersfield I can only think of a couple of truck stops that are close. There is a truck stop just north of the Flying J on 99. I believe it is called Valero (Exit 26B). You can see it from the freeway. Bruce's Truck Stop is off hwy 58 at hwy 184. It is an older truck stop but has quite a few parking spots as I recall. There used to be a restaurant next door that had pretty good food. The restaurant sits at the foot of the westbound exit ramp. It has been a couple of years since I have traveled around that area. Those are the only two that I can think of that are close to you. There are some others further north and if you travel south there is another Flying J and Petro south of where 99 and I-5 come together (Exit 205?). That would be at the foot of the Grapevine. Since you are doing a reset you may not want to travel that far. The restaurant at that Flying J is the only one like it. It is really interesting and they do have a nice drivers lounge.

[JBALLELECTRONICS]

Are u kidding? Canada is one of the first places to go epa .......rite after california!
Our country is socialist remember! ................20 yrs later ?? I dont think so partner

[Back on the Road]

RockyMnt,

I will be reading and watching this thread closely as I am in the process of specing a 386 Pete 244 WB:

485 Hp Paccar
Auto Shift (Not sure if I'm going with the 10 or 13 speed)
I totally second that you cant beat a computer shift to save $$ and thats what it is about. And at 50 years old, I now want an auto shift vice 13 speed manual which I had with TMC.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

I'd suggest going up a little bit in the rear-gears. I had a 05' IH with 3.25 rear gears and I too set my cruise at 65mph and i got HORRIBLE mileage. It actually did better at 70mph than at 65mph. It was a C-15 but also I was lugging the engine at 1300rpm and even with an empty trailer, I had to downshift just to go up the tiny hills in IL/IN/OH....... I'd suggest 3.55's

other than that, I'd say you got the right idea. I personally would never buy another IH tho. I have owned 2 and my father is the head for Wal-Mart maintance and they have discontinued their use of the IH too, they are going to the Petes from now on. Too many problems with headlights, wheel seals and cruise control/wiring issues i guess.

I wouldn't say this ones better, or that ones better, but it dones seem that anything PACCAR holds its resale value too. A 2006 FTL compared to a 2006 KW/PETE is about $20k right now for some reason????

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

here's the truck for ya.......

2011 PETERBILT 386 Conventional Truck w/ Sleeper For Sale At TruckPaper.com