Sterling 9500 report

LDB · Aug 30, 2008

I'm driving the class 8 Sterling 9500. I've got the MBE4000 engine and the 10 speed Ultrashift. I don't know what gears they put in the rear. I've only got 14k miles so it's not nearly broken in. I presume fuel mileage will improve as it gets more miles. On a recent long run from Houston to Philadelphia with a light load of 2500 pounds I got 9.97 mpg. I was very pleased with that since to make it without losing the load to a swap I had to run the posted limit about all the way. That meant 70 for over 1/2 the miles and 65 for most of the remainder. On a followup load, also light at a couple thousand pounds, I got 10.4 mpg running at my preferred 62-64 all the way. These numbers are better than I anticipated. I'm going to do some things that should improve mpg and handling like remove the visor and install airtabs. At this point I believe this can easily be an 11mpg truck under light loads and d/h and with care perhaps approach 12mpg.

ATeam · Aug 30, 2008

In an industry where many things happen that owner-operators cannot control, they can significantly impact fuel economy by the decisions they make. With fuel prices rising to and holding at present levels, the items Leo mentions are becoming more-widely recognized as business best practices, in a way they were not before.

One dealer told me that a growing assumption in the industry today is:

Air filters out side the hood = a broke owner-operator.

Whether it is true or not, at least some dealers think it is. With some drivers making financial gains and gaining competitive advantages by adopting fuel-economy best practices, the Billy Big-Riggers of our industry are becoming less-competitive and will feel more and more squeezed.

Leo's way, and the way of others following fuel economy best practices, are the way of the future.

With Airtabs, modified dirving practices and engine maintence (including a tune-up and two new EGR valves) we have improved our fuel economy by nearly one mile-per-gallon.

We were glad to learn yesterday that our tire dealer of choice (McMahon Tire Center, Fort Wayne, IN) can combine Michelin discounts, carrier-program discounts (available through our carrier) and wheel trades in a way that brings super-single tires into the picture (wide singles, Michelin X-One tires). For only $40 more than we would pay to replace our eight drive tires (they are about due), we can put X-One's on and gain yet another fuel-economy advantage.

piper1 · Aug 30, 2008

You will love the X-Ones's Phil, the fact that you can do it for that price is even better. Keep the pressures up at the max. During my testing back in 02, we played around with the pressures based on Michelin's load/pressure tables. It didn't work out at all. Even dropping to 110 psi (from 120) resulted in poor wear. Are you going to try the new XDN-2 tread pattern or stick with the XDA?