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Fuel economy vs HP


Purple Tractor

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My 2008 D13 is set at 435 HP, for $500 the dealer will raise it to 485..... will this hurt or help fuel economy? I know my Dodge Cummins gets better mileage when I turn it up to 420 HP than it does at 320 HP. A little harder on back tires maybe but more fun to drive.

28059299_1833533436658807_2906550914030110103_n.jpg.f147a9cc234fdcc2812d3b66d5777952.jpg2008 Volvo 670,D13, 13 speed,2018 Montana 3210MS

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1 minute ago, Moresmoke said:

Your right foot controls the fuel economy. Extra HP only uses more fuel if you use it.

True but diesels usually improve mpg with hp increase. We don't have hot rods so should increase.

2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1

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Took my ISM from 450 to 500 hp. Mileage went from 7.0 to 7.01 mpg . With my savings, I will be able to get a McDonald's senior coffee by the end of the year.

Foretravel 40ft tag 500hp Cummins ISM  1455 watts on the roof, 600 a/h's lithium in the basement.

 

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Well sounds like I need to get to work on the needlenose,6nz project a little harder, that thing should refine it's own fuel..... but if I could get just a little more MPG's out of the Volvo, my DW would be all over it..... she's a frugal accountant. And I agree $500 to hook up a computer is robbery....... I'll get it done cheaper.

28059299_1833533436658807_2906550914030110103_n.jpg.f147a9cc234fdcc2812d3b66d5777952.jpg2008 Volvo 670,D13, 13 speed,2018 Montana 3210MS

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I get the chance again, will have to find out. Want the 65 speed limit off also. I get less than 7 towing. Get 7 bobtailing. Actually closer to 6 towing. That's going by the truck readout. 

2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1

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47 minutes ago, GlennWest said:

I get the chance again, will have to find out. Want the 65 speed limit off also. I get less than 7 towing. Get 7 bobtailing. Actually closer to 6 towing. That's going by the truck readout. 

Glenn, the truck readout is often inaccurate. Do a measured test if you can.....

For others....MY opinion: if you are super concerned about fuel mileage and are in recreational service, it is likely you do not want an HDT. Because the expense of owning an HDT and keeping it properly maintained makes any fuel savings that you achieve seem like peanuts. Don't worry about fuel economy. Get the truck you want, set it up the way you want, drive it, and most importantly MAINTAIN it.  :)

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Driving by the Boost gauge will do more for MPG's then anything. Boost = HP and HP = Burned fuel. As long as the Boost is allowed to stay low for what your pulling. MPG will improve. But get up above 20+ lb of boost, well fuel is being burned. MPG is going down.

With your Gross weight  435HP should be plenty. I ran a couple of million miles with less then 350 HP and lots of times grossing way north of 80,000 lbs. Shoot pulling logs  (Grossing 100,000+) with a 315 Big Cam cummins. And while I did not fly up hills. It did a great job.

Back in 1988 ran a Detroit 11.1 set at 365HP. And even grossing 79800 that truck did the job well. And have a 11.1 now in the Kenworth. Its set at 400hp and 1350 Torque. And will take Torque over hp any day.

 

 

 

 


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A dually on steroids.  I told a guy the other day to go pull a larger trailer with a 3500 or 4500 then pull it with a HDT. Fuel economy is pretty much the same BUT the ride and braking is WAY better. Test drive before making judgement on HDT.

2002 Beaver Marquis Emerald   C-12 Cat 505 HP

2014 Volvo 630 D-13 I Shift SOLD

2017 New Horizons SOLD

 

 

 

 

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On 8/29/2018 at 4:04 AM, Jack Mayer said:

Glenn, the truck readout is often inaccurate. Do a measured test if you can.....

For others....MY opinion: if you are super concerned about fuel mileage and are in recreational service, it is likely you do not want an HDT. Because the expense of owning an HDT and keeping it properly maintained makes any fuel savings that you achieve seem like peanuts. Don't worry about fuel economy. Get the truck you want, set it up the way you want, drive it, and most importantly MAINTAIN it.  :)

Glenn is spot on!

I have seen post for mpg from 6 to 15, but "no" one ever gets rid of their HDT's due to MPG.

But if you can't afford to fix it, you just have a lump of unusable metal!!!

 

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I’ve had the paccar mx-13 derated by 25% for an electrical problem with my DEF level gauge and my fuel economy was noticeably better 

Mine is 485hp so I was derated near 365 hp  and it didn’t make a huge difference pulling a 20k fiver on level ground. Hill climbs were a whole other story

It got me thinking it would be pretty sweet to have control over the max power output like you can on diesel pickup tuners but there’s no such doohickey for big rigs as far as I can tell

I would set mine to 100% power for the hills and about 400hp for everything else

2013 KW T660

485HP, 18 speed & locking tandems

2015 XLR 45' Toy-hauler

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KWT660 - are you sure?! I mean we had many people make the statement “ upped my ISX to 875hp uses waaay less fuel...” 

Offered to buy lunch if they would stop by with before and after detailed fuel records...

I, ahem, have no detailed fuel records to share yet...

Your mileage may vary ....

"Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. 

 

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lol yeah I'm sure man after nearly 40,000 miles at 7 mpg it's hard to miss the 10-15%  improvement I got when I was derated

in my case at full power it's nearly impossible to keep the torque gauge under 100% when I'm climbing hills or starting from a stop...could be an issue with foot weight or patience but I didn't get an HDT to save on fuel :)

it still amazes me that I can get roughly the same fuel economy towing with the KW as I can with a ram cummins dually even though I drive the KW pretty HARD

 

 

2013 KW T660

485HP, 18 speed & locking tandems

2015 XLR 45' Toy-hauler

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