New D unit PM

[ChanceMaster]

Can anyone comment on developing a preventive maintenance program for a 2014 D unit from Stoops freightliner. Truck is also TVAL.

I'm going to be driving this soon, and am very interested in bringing down costs for the truck owner, and decreasing downtime for the team. Our only current program is to change oil every 15k. I'm assuming successful operators are a bit more involved than that.

Spreadsheet ?

Does anyone carry extra parts that can be used / installed by a non mechanical driver. Motor will be a DD and. TK refer, and an Onan genset.

Thanks.

 

[zorry]

Oil changes will probably be 30-35,000 miles.
Bob Caffee will be full of tips/ideas.
An auto greaser will be good.
The Onan is great but requires frequent maint.
Use Onan filters to keep warranty in effect. 50 hrs to first service. Thats one weekend ! 150 each service thereafter.
I bought a years worth of filters to get a discount and always have the proper filter. I have Speedco do the service.
This way I have good paper trail. An easy service you may want to do yourself.
I get 4000 miles to a tank of Def. always fuel at the pump. The boxes are very expensive.
Enjoy the truck.

 

[TeamCaffee]

Read the Owners Manual as the oil will get changed 50,000 miles not at 15,000.

So far no extra parts needed on our 2012 Cascadia

What engine and transmission are you getting?

I would also check on the new Team Run Smart page to ask questions about this setup as three of these guys are running the new 2014.

https://www.teamrunsmart.com

 

[TruckingSurv]

So far no extra parts needed on our 2012 Cascadia

TC, I read your article at Team Run Smart yesterday and that was one of the questions I had, you seemed to answer it right here! So no emissions related problems in almost 1/4 million miles? No other repairs other than PM's? It seems these new Cascadia's are doing well from what I read in all aspects, especially the fuel mileage.

TS

 

[ATeam]

We carry at least one spare bulb for every bulb on the truck and have an inventory and part number list of the same.

Fuel filters for our Onan Quiet Diesel generator can be purchased at NAPA for a lower price than from an Onan dealer, but don't buy them in California where they rob you. Part #: NAPA Gold 3063. Fram makes an oil filter that fits the Onan generator. Part Number: TG3593A. Another part number will also work. The number is the same. The first two letters differ. I buy them at Walmart, again at far lower price than Onan charges. For Onan air filters I have found no substitute. If you do your Onan oil changes yourself, replace the oil drain plug with a petcock to speed the process.

For the truck, reefer and generator engines, we carry spare belts and filters for each belt and filter on the truck. If you break down someplace where those parts are needed and not otherwise available, you'll be glad to have them. This is especially true for fuel filters. Having extras, you might be able to get yourself out of a bind instead of paying for a tow or service call.

An extra set of wiper blades is good to carry too. Learning how to change them and lamps can save you a lot of money over the years.

Some drivers carry hard parts with them like alternators, starters and such. That might have been good back in the day but it is a lot of money and storage space given up for something that does not fail but once in hundreds of thousands of miles.

For any truck, a prayer book and rabbit's foot are good to have on board.

 

[zorry]

ARI said to be sure you have Onan filters on if you go in for warranty work. Although I believe they need to prove a filter defective to deny a warranty claim, why hassle ?

 

[zorry]

Genuine Onan Filters
Oil <$15
Fuel <$8
Air<$20

After first pm, 50 hrs, go every 150 hrs.
The original oil filter is smaller than the replacements. Fuel filter every other service. See if yours is in-line or a bolt on. Air filter every 500 hrs. Or 3 or 4 pm.

 

[TruckingSurv]

You might see if Fleetguard has filters for the Onan. Fleetguard and Onan are both owned by Cummins, can't see a denial of warranty if using Fleetguard, in fact, I would guess that the OEM Onan filters are made by Fleetguard.


The Napa Gold filters are probably OK, I would NOT use any low end filter on my equipment OR any filter that comes from a big box discount store, likely it wouldn't even be of the same quality as the same brand of filter bought elsewhere. Many many many products at the big box stores are made ONLY for that store and corners are cut in the quality to sell them cheaper. I have no knowledge of this with filters per se, BUT lawn tractors etc. at a box store are far inferior to the same thing at a lawn equipment dealer, the only thing in common is the name and color.


On the filters a few years back Dodge/Cummins would only honor warranty for oil related failures if and only if you were using one of just a few brands of oil filter and they put out a service bulletin to that effect: Only Mopar , Fleetguard, Cummins, MotorCraft, Purolator or AC Delco AND only certain models of those brands were approved. The first three are all made by Fleetguard, not sure about the rest, but I know that brand orange was coming apart and causing engine failures.


TS

 

[ChanceMaster]

Thanks for the info packed replies so far. Looks like I will be acquiring some tools and filter replacement knowledge.

Team Caffee : I am a member at Run Smart, I always seem to forget about that resource. Thanks.

Ateam :,I like the petcock advice, thanks.

Zorry : Your always generous with your advice and help. Thank You. Good info.

 

[ATeam]

We follow the Onan maintenance intervals but I sometimes wonder if the 150 hour oil change is recommended with the RV owner in mind. Those Onans are built for the motorhome market and motorhomes sit for months at a time. A 150 hour interval increases the chances that the oil will be changed at least once a year.

 

[zorry]

You may be right, but they could also say 150 hours or once per year.
It's a small motor, limited oil capacity.

Phil, other than oil changes, have you done the other items ? Something about cleaning a spark arrester or something. It's so dependable I haven't looked at book since new.

 

[zorry]

If you do pm in Ca any oil retailer is required to take your waste oil and is set up to do so.
I don't see a truck stop turning you away from properly disposing of 3 qts of oil.

 

[ChanceMaster]

That was my next question : How to dispose of the oil ? Politely ask the shop manager if He will accept it I suppose.

 

[TruckingSurv]

You can ask the shop, many of them collect it for use in a waste oil heater for winter. They do have to pay for disposal though if not using so if you aren't buying any service from them they may say no. Oregon is the same as California, I think anyplace that sells oil to the public has to take the used oil, even places like Wal Mart, BUT they do have a quick lube at most of them, so maybe that is why?

TS

 

[ChanceMaster]

Thank you TS

 

[ChanceMaster]

I'm hoping the Onan has an hour meter ?

 

[zorry]

There is an hour meter outside and inside. Also can turn it on either outside or inside.
Only holds 3 qts. You can buy a drain pain that you can seal up until you find your favorite approved dumping spot.
I think speedco charges about $29 with the oil, if you don't care to mess with it.
I know someone went over 2000 hrs on original air filter. Recommended interval is 500 hrs.
We've never changed an LED light yet. We carry a spare headlamp and spare bulb for the three non LED lights we have.
The best thing you can do for W is get a good tire gauge and watch your pressure. Other than that, hopefully there won't be much to do other than haul freight.

 

[ChanceMaster]

The Wolverine is wisely leaving no stone unturned in His quest for profitability. Everything is being considered, and some purchases have already been made ( Crossfires for drives). Tire longevity has been a frequent topic of our discussions along with useful gadgets, I know that driving habits play a major role. Not sure what brand / model the stock delivery will be.

Michelins seem to be the one to beat, and we are educating ourselves on the different nomenclatures. My personal goal is to get 300k from one set of steers ( as obtained by a OTR T/T team in know ) .

 

[zorry]

The pressure pro is awesome. It sends the tire pressure wirelessly to the cab.

Last year on my Birthday I had two loads to run at the same time, hundreds of miles apart.

We departed Ark, running as hard as legally allowable, towards a Dallas area delivery. On the two lane an alarm went off that I had lost 12% of the pressure in my RRO drive tire. I found a wide spot, examined the tire and found a small piece of metal in it.
I consulted the GPS and found a tire shop 60 miles up the road. I told them I needed a fast repair, notified my carrier, and proceeded.
I made in into the repair at about 66 lbs remaining. Tire fixed, missed ETA by 7 minutes.
Without that warning I would have never stopped enroute. At Texas speed limits, on June 29, I may have lost the tire.

I'm a big fan of Crossfires, and actually bought some this week to use in conjunction with my Pressure Pro.

 

[ChanceMaster]

I'm thinking Crossfires for drive duals and a monitoring system for the steers and tag. I don't think you can use a wireless TPMSystem with the Crossfires , can you ? I mean that's what the Crossfires are for, and the valve stem has no place for a sensor when the Crossfires are installed.