Here is my 10,000 mile performance update. The new updated DD15 engine seems to be performing just fine judging by the fact the oil level has not changed at all during the break in period. I have been a little heavier and in mountainous terrain more than normal .

I am really enjoying how smooth the new Detroit DT12 transmission shifts.The other items which really stand out in regards to the transmission are... 1-great low speed maneuverability thanks to creep mode 2-skip shifting for quicker more efficient acceleration. 3-E Coast which uncouples the engine from the drive line when its not needed saving every drop of fuel possible. 4- fantastic gear selections when dealing with stop and go traffic.

Listed next is the daily fuel mileage from my engine report.
9.76, 11.60,no this is not a typo, but it was light and on level ground, 7.30, this was in the mountains at 79,000 lbs. 7.41, more of the same load and some ride and drives for a dealer,9.53, 9.77, 9.81, 9.43, 9.47, 8.63, 8.58, 8.60, 4.08 for 5.1 miles, 9.05, 8.00, 9.88, 9.46, 9.40, 8.76, and 8.44. Except where noted all loads where between 24,000 and 38,000 lbs and the empty miles were under 300 in total. 

I am pleased with the early performance numbers and can't wait to see where mileage goes from here.Listed below ,you'll find my fuel mileage as tracked by fuel pump figures for comparison to the engine report at the top of the page.

   

   

Comments (6)

Henry Albert

Henry Albert is the owner of Albert Transport, Inc., based in Statesville, NC. Before participating in the "Slice of Life" program, Albert drove a 2001 Freightliner Century Class S/T™, and will use his Cascadia for general freight and a dry van trailer. Albert, who has been a trucker since 1983, was recognized by Overdrive as its 2007 Trucker of the Year.

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Henry Albert

Douglas ,
The report at the top of the page is the ECM as is the daily mpg numbers. The spread sheet at the bottom of the blog is based on fillups and was calculated from the numbers at the pump..

November 24, 2012 5:30:17 AM

Henry Albert

Joey,
The turbo is supposed to make up for most of the oxygen loss . Turbos were used to enable aircraft to fly at higher altitudes with a reciprocating engine before the jet engine. I think the biggest problem out in Wyoming is the nearly constant cross winds. A cross wind can cause much more drag than a staight head wind.

November 24, 2012 5:23:45 AM

Linda Caffee

The numbers from in the spreadsheet format are from the odometer at each fill-up. That is an impressive start for a brand new engine.

November 23, 2012 15:09:07 PM

Timothy Weber

That is pretty impressive, Henry. I am interested in seeing how this improves over time.

November 23, 2012 13:16:25 PM

Joey Slaughter

Your manual numbers were surprisingly close to the ECM numbers. I guess technology is getting better. I've seen as much as a 2 mpg disparity between the two in my experience.

I remember going across I-80 in Wyoming last year and I could almost see my fuel gauge move! I talked to another trucker about it from my home state of Virginia that I met at a truck stop in Rawlings. He said it was the wind causing our decrease in mileage. I wondered if it was the higher elevation as I stayed between 5000 to 8000 ft and the reduction of oxygen to our engines. What do you think Henry?

November 22, 2012 8:15:29 AM

Douglas Oldham

If all that is from the ECM do you have any figures done on paper on a tank by tank?

November 22, 2012 6:20:18 AM