RE: [RC] Improving Diesel MPG-OT - Pat and Janett Van Nuland
OK. Time to jump in...
My name is Patrick, and
I'm the husband (and mechanic) for the wife who loves her horses. I keep my
horses under the hood where they belong. :-) I need to clarify some things
here.
The Duramax is a 6.6
liters V8, and can be had with up to 360 hp, and 650 ft lbs of torque. It is
made by Isusu/GM
The Ford is a 6 liter V8
has 325 horse and 570 torque. Is is made by International/Ford
The Dodge is a 5.9 liter
inline-6, and has 320 hose and 610 ft lbs. Made by Cummings.
The power levels are down
slightly for the Chevy in California...(325 horse/600 ft/lbs.) The Dodge get the
mileage because it is the smallest, and has a large cross-section turbo. All of
them can can benefit from a Gale Banks turbo upgrade, but that's a different
topic.
Many, but not all semi's
have an inline. In fact, when more power is needed (greater than 300horse/1000
ft/lbs) The next step up IS the V8's. Then one can get up to 400 horse/2200
ftlbs....or more (insert wow here).
The inline
design has little to do with the efficiency of the fuel burned, and being a
mechanical engineer, (and engine-builder just for fun,) I could write all day
about this, but I now return you to the world of 4-legged horses.
It may sound conceited, but I know
as much about these kind of horses, than you nice people know about the sweaty
kind. :-) I can answer any questions you have about any truck out there. Just
ask Janett, and I'll be happy to help.
Patrick Van
Nuland
-----Original Message----- From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of LAWRENCEC
BENNASCONI Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 3:30 AM To:
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; magnumsmom@xxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC]
Improving Diesel MPG-OT
the inline design is ALWAYS more efficient than a v8, especially in
diesels. If you ever look at a 18 wheeler truck, ALL of them are in line 6
cylinders. I am trying to get ride of my Ford right now and buy a Dodge, more
power, better fuel mileage.
Both
the Ford and the DuraMax are 8 liter v8 diesel engines. The Dodge
Cummins is a 5.9 liter straight 6. My Dodge gets 22 mpg on the
highway and 18 around town. It gets 14 around town towing my
gooseneck Sundowner stock trailer. I don't know what it gets
with this trailer yet on the highway, but hopefully I'll find out
this spring. :) His Ford gets 10mpg around town, but he has
a lead foot.
Sounds like you are doing everything right.
It may just be the best the larger 8 liter v8 engine can do. The
cummins has plenty of power, btw. Mine is the year before the
"high output" option... I don't know what that does to the Cummins
mpg.
Hope this helps,
Kathy Myers in Santa Fe,
NM ps... the straight 6 is a heck of an engine. We have an old
jeep cherokee with the 4.0 liter straight six. It now has over 210K
miles. Our mechanic here says he's seen them go 350K miles if they
are taken care of. So, that's my new goal for the jeep. pps... back in
CA we would have probably sold the jeep just because that's what people
in CA do. Here in NM, we'll keep it, repair it, and drive
it. ppps... the Dodge has over 180K miles already. I know
of 3 now that have gone over 1,000,000 miles. Anyone know of a
Ford or Duramax that went over 1,000,000 miles? That's my goal for the
Dodge. pppps... is this what they call endurance
driving?????
