what engine?

[ClassicOne]

I have been out of expediting for a couple of years. Looks like I may need to get back in for a while. My last truck had a DD Series 50 with 9sp. Loved it and it served me very well, but they haven't been installed in trucks since 2003. Had experience with the Cat 3126, but they aren't installed anymore either and I'm not too sure I'd want another Cat. So I'm looking for you guys to tell me the good and bad about the new crop of engines and trans combo's. When we ran last, we averaged 200K miles a year, so I like the wheels to turn. I am looking for a bulletproof setup. Anyone getting the 10-11 mpg I used to get?

 

[dare2dream1]

Are you going to be driving the truck you are buying or are you going to be looking for a team to drive it for you? john

 

[ClassicOne]

I plan on driving the rig myself, we haven't decided on whether the wife will drive this time around. If she doesn't, yearly average would be less, still running numbers to see if running solo makes any sense.

 

[LDB]

I've got a Sterling 9500 with the MBE4000 engine and Ultrashift 10 speed. If I run a steady 58-60mph I get 11.2 empty and 10.x loaded. I'm taking the visor off and expect those numbers to go up by .25-.3 mpg. I also expect them to go up a little bit when I get more miles as I only have about 17k on the truck so far. I believe with no visor, airtabs and driving mpg speed I'll have a 12mpg truck when it's got over 50k miles on it, at least running empty.

 

[ClassicOne]

Leo, any idea where the sweet spot (rpm) is on your setup? What rear axle ration do you have? Also, what HP setting do you have on your mbe? Thanks, Terry

 

[LDB]

I don't know what the gearing is but it's higher than I'd have guessed. I run about 1325 at 60 I think. It's been a while since I drove it actually and I don't recall exactly. You could find out the specs from FL Knoxville I'm sure.

 

[GUNSLINGER]

Leo, I believe that truck has 410hp and a 3.58 rear end.

 

[spudhead911]

I have a 2007 Western Star with a Mercedes 4000 series engine set at 370hp, the rear gearing is 3.42, it has a 10 speed Eaton UltraShift tranny. At 60 mph I'm right around 1375 rpm and get right around 10.2 mpg. It down shiifts a litttle more than I like going up slight up grades when I keep the speedo between 55-60 mph. The sweet spot is right around 63-65 mph at right around 1400 rpm. The mpg is right around 9.7-10 mpg, but that includes running the reefer and using the APU when sitting. I have over 170,000 trouble free miles on the engine and tranny. I'm very happy with the setup. My Western Star sits heavy, it's a single drive axle truck, I can just make the 5000 lb. cargo carrying capacity for a WG TVAL C unit. I will NEVER go back to a class 7 truck and engine.