BEST TRUCK AND/OR ENGINE FOR FUEL MILEAGE

Jul 22, 2010 at 08:24 AM CST + 7 - 2
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. A guy was telling me his Volvo averages 8 miles per gallon pulling a hopper. Have any of you all heard the same or better? I'd like to make a list of the best engines and trucks for fuel mileage. Thanks

Replied on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 at 04:34 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. A volvo is a good truck the first two years of being new after that it becomes a money pitt. I would stay away from Volvo!!!. Detriot and Cummins is the engines of choice for me 6 to 7 miles per gallon. Stay away from 379 and w900 5 miles per gallon. T600 KW T2000 KW 387 Pete or Freightliner columbia or any airodinamic truck will increase mileage. This is my thoughts. I would continue research.

Replied on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 at 04:34 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

A volvo is a good truck the first two years of being new after that it becomes a money pitt. I would stay away from Volvo!!!. Detriot and Cummins is the engines of choice for me 6 to 7 miles per gallon. Stay away from 379 and w900 5 miles per gallon. T600 KW T2000 KW 387 Pete or Freightliner columbia or any airodinamic truck will increase mileage. This is my thoughts. I would continue research.

Replied on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 at 07:54 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Thanks, what would be the lightest truck to buy on the market? Obiously I know motor size would have a lot to do with the weight. Does Peterbilt make a lightweight truck?

Replied on Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 04:20 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I'm running T2000 KW A Freightliner Columbia and A 387 Pete they all way 17500 to 18000 with half tank of fuel and the drivers in them. Mercades has the lightest engines they had problems with the wrist pins coming out and punching holes in the block they have corrected this problem but I have'nt taken the risk of purchasing a truck with this engine. The mercades is made by Detriot

Replied on Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 04:20 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I'm running T2000 KW A Freightliner Columbia and A 387 Pete they all way 17500 to 18000 with half tank of fuel and the drivers in them. Mercades has the lightest engines they had problems with the wrist pins coming out and punching holes in the block they have corrected this problem but I have'nt taken the risk of purchasing a truck with this engine. The mercades is made by Detriot

Replied on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 12:27 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. What's the difference in fuel mileage with a truck loaded versus unloaded? Can you get an additional 1-2 miles per gallon empty?

Replied on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 03:38 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. My trucks get about half a mile per gallon empty the freightliner gets 6 mpg loaded or empty.On loads I run where I get paid both ways my drivers mash the gas coming back. If you drive the truck yourself I would say 1mpg empty better . I figure all my expences as if they are loaded lowest fuel milage or worst case. If you figure best of every thing you will loose money IT DOESN't WORK THAT AWAY IN TRUCKING something will take your profit quick I run my trucks for a 1.40 in order to get in a better freight lane but Idon't like to I normally get 1.70 to 2.00 a mile loaded If you dead head gets above 5% you are loosing money. I pull Super Hoppers and Vans The Hoppers are the trucks I am speaking about The vans average 1.45 a mile to 1.65 unless it is a hot loadThen the ball is in my court I've got up to 2.25 a mile but that is few and far between.

Replied on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 03:38 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

My trucks get about half a mile per gallon empty the freightliner gets 6 mpg loaded or empty.On loads I run where I get paid both ways my drivers mash the gas coming back. If you drive the truck yourself I would say 1mpg empty better . I figure all my expences as if they are loaded lowest fuel milage or worst case. If you figure best of every thing you will loose money IT DOESN't WORK THAT AWAY IN TRUCKING something will take your profit quick I run my trucks for a 1.40 in order to get in a better freight lane but Idon't like to I normally get 1.70 to 2.00 a mile loaded If you dead head gets above 5% you are loosing money. I pull Super Hoppers and Vans The Hoppers are the trucks I am speaking about The vans average 1.45 a mile to 1.65 unless it is a hot loadThen the ball is in my court I've got up to 2.25 a mile but that is few and far between.

Replied on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 04:25 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Yeah, I know maximizing profits are key, just trying to figure out the cost difference of my dead miles versus loaded. There is alot of dead heading now to make any round work.

Replied on Mon, Aug 02, 2010 at 05:33 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. i know of serveral pete 379's getting 7+ mpg. make sure the truck is set up correct tho.

Replied on Mon, Aug 02, 2010 at 06:14 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Peterbilt is only way too go and maybe a kenworth, Freightliner and volvo are a piece of SHIT

Replied on Mon, Aug 02, 2010 at 08:05 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. What problems will you have with Volvo's and Freightliner's?

Replied on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 at 12:46 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. First off they look like shit all of then, sencond the don't ride like a pete, and third a c 16 pete with 370 and a 18 will do circles around both of them put together

Replied on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 at 09:04 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "First off they look like shit all of then, sencond the don't ride like a pete, and third a c 16 pete with 370 and a 18 will do circles around both of them put together" I would agree that they ride worse and rattle more. They are lighter though and you could get that setup in a Volvo or a Freightliner and they are generally lighter and more aerodyne so they would pull harder than a Pete.

Replied on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 at 09:04 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "First off they look like shit all of then, sencond the don't ride like a pete, and third a c 16 pete with 370 and a 18 will do circles around both of them put together"

I would agree that they ride worse and rattle more. They are lighter though and you could get that setup in a Volvo or a Freightliner and they are generally lighter and more aerodyne so they would pull harder than a Pete.

Replied on Thu, Aug 05, 2010 at 02:46 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: " Peterbilt is only way too go and maybe a kenworth, Freightliner and volvo are a piece of SHIT" I am glad you didnt say anything about my 9900ix cause I luv my cornbinder!!!!! 565 cummins only gets 4.5 mpg but that bitch will pull the big jags like pullin legal!!! haha

Replied on Thu, Aug 05, 2010 at 02:58 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. It wont out pull my pete

Replied on Fri, Aug 06, 2010 at 08:47 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I have an 06 Volvo 630, 465 hp 10 spd autoshift 3.58 ratio tall 22.5s 40 ft timpte running KC to St. Louis 70+ mph average 6.5 to 6.8 loaded. Mty mpg 8+ . My 2nd Volvo 465 only trouble injector seals at 600,000 on an 2001. Mty weight 240 gal fuel 27000. I'm happy with it.

Replied on Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 08:14 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. DONT GET A ISX UNLESS YOUR PUTTING OUT CLOSE TO 600 HP. FUEL DRINKING PIGS... MORE POWER THE BETTER FUEL MILEAGE, AND YOU BETTER BACK IT UP WITH THE RIGHT TRANNY AND REAR ENDS.......PERSONALLY I WOULD GO WITH THE 460 MACKS THE ONES I HAD DRIVIN WERE MAKING 5.5 TO 6.5 DEPENDING ON THE WIND PULLIN 117000 GROSS WITH ALOT OF STOP AND GO.

Replied on Sat, Jun 15, 2024 at 06:53 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "First off they look like shit all of then, sencond the don't ride like a pete, and third a c 16 pete with 370 and a 18 will do circles around both of them put together" Except in the profit margin.

Replied on Mon, Jun 17, 2024 at 07:26 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "What's the difference in fuel mileage with a truck loaded versus unloaded? Can you get an additional 1-2 miles per gallon empty?" I'm roughly at 7.5 mpg loaded. 8.5 to 9 mpg. empty. Fair weather running empty one way I'm at 8.5 mpg. Fuel is dropping so does it really matter?

Replied on Mon, Jun 17, 2024 at 08:27 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I have a 97 Pete 379 Exhd with 12.7 Detroit rebuilt and turned up. It has an 18 and 3.55s on tall 24.5s at 75 mph it only turns 1550 rpm. When I'm not on interstate I can't get in top gear. I pull ethanol tanker so half my miles are empty and I average aroud 6.5-6.8 mpg.

Replied on Mon, Jul 01, 2024 at 09:04 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. We run 8 trucks. Mile for mile, we have 2 older Freightliner Cascadias. Gotta say, the 2013 has over a million and hasn't quick yet. DD15 original motor..just keeps going. The 2014 has 665K miles; DD15, same thing. Just keeps going. 6.2 to 6.6MPG average. My son just has to have Peterbilts. We have 5. Lemons...constantly fixing something. Just towed one home again yesterday. I'm sick to death of them. They LOOK great and Sound great. But reliable?? Not really. The other two are KW660s. The 2011 just turned 1 million miles. ISX Cummins, that truck also runs great. The 2015 KW660 we sold off last month just shy of 800K. Started to have what I call PACCAR problems. One thing after another. That truck also was very reliable until the DEF-related problems started. My two cents. Let the haters begin.

Replied on Mon, Jul 01, 2024 at 09:04 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

We run 8 trucks. Mile for mile, we have 2 older Freightliner Cascadias. Gotta say, the 2013 has over a million and hasn't quick yet. DD15 original motor..just keeps going. The 2014 has 665K miles; DD15, same thing. Just keeps going. 6.2 to 6.6MPG average.

My son just has to have Peterbilts. We have 5. Lemons...constantly fixing something. Just towed one home again yesterday. I'm sick to death of them. They LOOK great and Sound great. But reliable?? Not really.

The other two are KW660s. The 2011 just turned 1 million miles. ISX Cummins, that truck also runs great. The 2015 KW660 we sold off last month just shy of 800K. Started to have what I call PACCAR problems. One thing after another. That truck also was very reliable until the DEF-related problems started.

My two cents. Let the haters begin.

Replied on Tue, Jul 02, 2024 at 07:35 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "First off they look like shit all of then, sencond the don't ride like a pete, and third a c 16 pete with 370 and a 18 will do circles around both of them put together" I did a google search on Z & E. Google says the business is permanently closed. I wonder... Funny how that works.

Replied on Sat, Jul 06, 2024 at 08:40 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I've got a 2025 cascadia, 2nd quarter ifta was at 9.57 mpg. Weighs under 28,000 with a 42ft 72" hopper! Steel kingpin and steel rear undercarriage. You can read about my truck on the Team Run Smart page.

Replied on Sun, Jul 07, 2024 at 02:30 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "I've got a 2025 cascadia, 2nd quarter ifta was at 9.57 mpg. Weighs under 28,000 with a 42ft 72" hopper! Steel kingpin and steel rear undercarriage. You can read about my truck on the Team Run Smart page." That a boy! DD15 or DD13? 26 ton, not bad. Too bad they (new trucks) have to carry all that emission equipment.

Replied on Sun, Jul 07, 2024 at 08:27 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Dd15, 455hsp, 1750 torque