Why Diesel???

[Renze]

Where you been? Eaton Fullers are now 18 speeds...

I've been in Canada 3 years ago. my cousin converted a semi to a grain box farm truck, which had the eaton 13 speed.

In Europe, Volvo uses only 12 gears in the latest generations of transmissions, instead of 16 like they had 10 years ago.
It has 2 reasons: They needed wider gears to bear the new FH16 660 hp and 3000 Nm, and because of this power overkill, they didnt need as many gears anyways...

I think its a european trend to go towards 12 speeds again... But for special tasks like heavy haulage and dumptrucks, i'd want more than just 12.

 

[Renze]

In the old days, with only a 200-300 rpm range of useful torque, many gears were required. With a wide torque range, you don't need all those gears.

I agree, but on the other hand, the fuel consumption is a hot item too. more gears make it easier to keep the engine operating at its "sweet spot" rpm wise, at any given road speed.

 

[cp1969]

Yes, Mack made some 5 speeds backed by a 3 speed. They were called Triplexes, IIRC.

But they also made straight 5 speeds. Five gears, no auxiliaries, no three speed rear ends, nothing. And they pulled quite well--I can attest to that from personal experience.

 

[rback33]

Yes, Mack made some 5 speeds backed by a 3 speed. They were called Triplexes, IIRC.

But they also made straight 5 speeds. Five gears, no auxiliaries, no three speed rear ends, nothing. And they pulled quite well--I can attest to that from personal experience.

LOL I am not sure I would go THAT far, but they did work. Craziest thing about those was engaging the PTO on them.... As I recall, the gear shift was actually in reverse....

 

[RobJ]

I will say I didn't read all 4 pages, but as a poster on the first page mentioned, there are the "old" diesels and the "new" diesels. Know a couple with the new 6.4. Mileage dropped WAY down. Both had 7.3 before and never got the mileage claimed by some...18, 19, 20? On the highway one new 6.4 got 14.5 empty. Heck my v10 in a CC LB 4x4 gets 12 on the highway, 10 in town. Not to mention the 6.4 is a near $7000 option and diesel is 40+ cent more a gallon. Most guys don't tow that heavy anyway, I don't.

On the Fords the word is "regen". I think the Cummins is doing the same thing. Just dump fuel on the piston on the exhaust stroke to burn the wastes every now and then.

On my truck forum there are some going gasser because of some of these factors.

I'm still driving my 99. I can't afford a new gasser or diesel. :d

 

[cp1969]

LOL I am not sure I would go THAT far, but they did work. Craziest thing about those was engaging the PTO on them.... As I recall, the gear shift was actually in reverse....

On the ones I used, the PTO was air shifted and the transmission was in neutral.

 

[Rara Avis]

Yes, Mack made some 5 speeds backed by a 3 speed. They were called Triplexes, IIRC.

But they also made straight 5 speeds. Five gears, no auxiliaries, no three speed rear ends, nothing. And they pulled quite well--I can attest to that from personal experience.

Well all of our Macks hauling 38' Raven Dump Trailers were Triplexes...Never saw just a 5 speed Mack road tractor...

 

[rback33]

On the ones I used, the PTO was air shifted and the transmission was in neutral.

AH how lucky you are. The very short time I ran one of those I was paranoid I would get in a hurry, skip a step, and throw the truck into motion while hooked up to load or unload. The paranoia kept it from happening, but I was THRILLED when my truck was fixed..

 

[Mahana79]

Back to the original question..............Why diesel?????


i will probably never own another gas vehicle.

i choose Diesels for the economy and torque.

My vehicles:

05 Duramax i get 18-20 empty, 12-14 towing, not bad for an 8,000 pound truck. Can set the cruise with 14.000# behind me and never think twice. i have ~45,000 miles and the only problem i have had was a bad u-joint. replaced it myself for a cost of $12. i do UOA's and have stretched my oil change interval out to 10,000 miles using plain ole Rotella T 15w40. I have done a whoping 4 oil changes. It cost me about $30 for an oil change. Fuel filter every 15,000 miles. For me the diesel makes for a heck of a cost savings.

had a 99 3/4 ton Chevy with 5.7, I was lucky to get 17 on the highway empty and if i even towed an empty trailer it dropped to 8. forget setting the cruise with a 14,000 pound gooseneck behind ya.

My 02 jetta i bought used with 70,000 on the clock. 48 MPG and i have 140,000 on it now. have done timing belt and associated parts ($550) Cam and lifters, alot of 02 TDI's had some bad cams($320). had a coolant sensor go bad and a brake light switch. $32 in parts and fixed. run Rotella 5w40 syn for 15,000 miles with UOA and again about $30 for an oil change

then of course the normal wear and tear items on both, tires shocks/struts, etc.

Oh and since i make my own BioD then it really is a no brainer

 

[RobJ]

Back to the original question..............Why diesel?????


i will probably never own another gas vehicle.

i choose Diesels for the economy and torque.

It's hard to say economy these days. Factor in a near $7000 option on the Ford and diesel running about $.40 more per gallon these days, and the new emissions cutting mileage, if you factor in the price per mile it'll take years and well over 100,000 miles to just break even. And it's hard to justify all this for the average guy to tow an atv on a 4x8 trailer a few times a year. Or driving those heavy kids to school.

Just say...

I'm rich and can afford what I want or
I tow heavy ALL the time.

I can deal with that argument.

Here's the simple math...

Gasser gets 10mpg, gas at $2.60, price per mile $.26 per mile
Diesel gets 14mpg, diesel at $3.00, price per mile, $.21 per mile

difference, $.05. $7000 option for diesel divided by $.05 and that's 140,000 miles to break even.

And we'll not factor in the more costly oil changes, filters, financing the extra $7000 for 5,6,7 years these days, more insurance costs on a more expensive vehicle. And lets hope nothing goes wrong, you know shop time is usually more expensive for diesels. Yeah, this argument has been going on for a while.

Hold on, gotta check those Lotto numbers again...nope, still keeping my 8 year old gasser. shucks.