_-* Challenge for you guys
 

A little back round first, I work for 7up now as a bulk driver ( drop the pallet and go.) Our company's fuel cost have sky rocketed within the last few months. Basiclly our higher up's are asking the drivers on ways to save fuel . So I'm basically asking you guys on some tips. A little background on our trucks.

We have 2 bulk trucks (road tractors, no sleeper.)

1st one is a 2000 Freightliner FLD, 10sp manual, c-12 cat. (My baby 8) )

2nd one is a 2000 Kenworth t800, 10sp manual, not sure about the engine, but probley a cat also

The rest of our fleet are cdl-a and cdl b side loader's, (Freightliner fl-70's, (baby city trucks) 6sp automatic's, engines are a very small cat's, don't know the model of them though, but they can only manage 60m.p.h.

Any and all suggestions are welcome, from easy quick fixes to even the expensive ones. Give it to them straight.

Thanks guys.

Well, no idling would be the main thing I'd say...I don't know if you guys get into truck stops and having to sit; if yes it might be worth it for them to pay for Idle Air or if no, maybe they can invest in APUs so you still get hot/cold air when having to sit somewhere and not burn fuel. They can also get money back on taxes for those. If some of the trucks go faster than 60 m/ph I wouldn't go faster than 65 m/ph maybe even do 63 or 62.
Hope that helps you some?

I go out the farthest ( Williamsburg, Toano, Light foot Virginia), start at to Virginia Beach. , were home every night. I dont go any faster than 65, maybe a tad more on down hill, cant speak for the other bulk driver though.

The real savings come from the basics.

Tires properly inflated
Truck and trailer aligned correctly
Practice proper progressive shifting techniques. (manuals)
Accelerate like there is a raw egg under your foot
If equipped use the cruise control when possible and safe
Properly serviced vehicles.
Keep your speed down

Downhills? Your in VA Beach, what downhills...... :lol: 8)

Try to avoid sitting in that gosh dang VA Beach traffic.

I'm talking more like Williamsburg, yorktown, etc. :lol:


I know, its awful. I'm glad 98% of what I do is on the peninsula

8)

Ok , since this has not been mentioned on the subject of fuel milage I will go out on a limb , wax the truck and keep it waxed . I used to do a bit of flying and my dad was a pilot . It was common knowledge that a clean waxed plane would be more go faster and burn less fuel. I have often wondered about trucks since there is so much area that causes drag.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...nt-job-1zX.jpg

Note to Santa: Next time watch out for waxed planes! :lol:

:mrgreen: Too funny!

I don't think waxing your tractor will help. I suggest the same is true for airplanes, too.

Aircraft are generally... well... aerodynamic. Not a lot of bumps and dips to restrict airflow around the entire vehicle. But they do NOT have laminar airflow (well, some high-end corporate craft are starting to, but as a general rule, no)

This means that the air at the actual surface of the vehicle is turbulent. The cause of this is rivets, seams, and other manufacturing marks. Each of these is HUGE when compared to dust and road dirt.

Same is true of a truck - except that it's only moderately aerodynamic on 3 sides, not all sides.

There would be absolutely no measurable difference in speed or mpg.

I read somewhere recently, that they are trying out a type of "fairing" or "fin" for the back of the trailer! Apparently, even the turbulence at the BACK of the rig is detrimental to fuel economy!

I wonder how it will affect what I call "trailer wash" sort of like prop wash? i.e: will it help or hinder the truck following TOO CLOSE behind?

Does running Teams help to balance things out :?:

I know there is a Company near where I work that runs teams...

They have Tri-Pacs (for the idle) and the trucks are very productive.

Basically the trucks run all the time and generate rolling revenue..

(just a thought) :arrow:

I think I saw an ad on one of these forums where you could run your truck on water ! :roll:

There is technology available to be able to "ELECTROLIZE" oxygen and hydrogen out of water while you drive, then inject that into your intake. There is a company in Canada that makes and sells them. However, take a look at the drawing at this site...
http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?...D=134556169521
You'll notice that oxygen and hydrogen are together in the same tank. That's a BOMB, just waiting for an ignition source. Even static within the tank enclosure. The effect of that can be very easy to demonstrate for yourself. Take two balloons and an industrial cutting torch. Fill one with the gas, then light the torch and bring it to a neutral flame. Without changing any adjustments, douse the flame and use that to blow up the second balloon. Of course, tie off the balloons. Then take two paper shopping bags. Run a little candle wax down the side of each and put one balloon in each.

Then set them in a large open area... like a PLOWED FIELD with no dry grass. Light them. The one with only the gas will simply burn. But you will get a VERY LOUD BANG out of the other one. And, the larger the balloon, the bigger the BANG

In a car, that simply blows out the filter but in a truck, you'd better be carrying a few spares of those rubber couplings for the air ducts from your turbo to your intake. A few sets of clamps as well. With a Cummins, you may have a 500 horse, but blow one of them and lose turbo pressure and you may as well have a BRIGGS & STRATTON under your hood.

At the same time, the company in Canada that makes them, which start at $14,000 a copy, claims a 5% increase in fuel economy and a 30% reduction in solid particle matter in the exhaust. But it seems to me that you would really want your intake valves to be in excellent condition with NO LEAKAGE.

Honestly, your thought is seriously flawed!

There have been numerous wind tunnel studies along those lines: waxed versus un-waxed, in all types of vehicles. Air and land based! NASCAR great Smokey Yunick applied the principle in the '60's, long before wind tunnel testing! Pure Carnuba waxes are the best for this!

Clean trucks run smoother though the wind than a dirty one! While minimal, a waxed truck will retain less road grime, thus reducing weight!

Professional swimmers go through great lengths to remove excess body hair from exposed skin, and apply a wax type substance to slide through the water! Ask any surfer the difference between a waxed and non-waxed board! I could go on, but you get the point!

So whenever I cruise with the window down, maybe I should shave my arms too? :P Just joking here.... :lol:

Sorry the nascar testing I don't buy it because driving a pepsi truck 55 mph in traffic has very little to do with 200 mph down the backstretch and drafting. Wouldn't the waxing be minimal at best at these slow speeds. Most drivers don't cruise with enough mud or dirt to really make a difference do they?

I have read about the aero tabs on trailers reducing turbulance and improving visibility in the rain. Never used them, but maybe pepsi should give them a try to see if the work. That seems more realistic and might reduce drag. Is anybody using them ?

Drag coefficients come into play into anything that moves! In some more than others, but any effort to reduce them will result in a savings of energy!

It's more efficient to ride with your windows up also, courtesy of Mythbusters on that one.

Kurbski, what about tiny Martinsville, no drafting there and they don't get over 120 mph. Cars are still waxed up like crazy. If the crew isn't doing anything mechanically on the car, they are waxing it. It gives you a smoother airflow, yes it may not be a major increase that you will see but over time it adds up.

True but its is also true that the faster any object travels through air the more critical that body slickness becomes an object doing 70mph will see far less advantage than an object traveling 700 mph.

Good point! But any advantage is better than none!

The only reason they shine up the parade cars is so they glisten in the lights and look pretty for the high dollar sponsors. :P :lol:
And BTW, we need you playing trukz at at pumpkindrivers. 8)