It got bit interesting today.

My dealer was told by his Rep that the Maxforce 13 will not be available in either the LoneStar, or the 9900 and that they will not be able to be ordered until the maxxforce 15 has been released, and that might not be until next summer.

So, no LoneStar, or 9900 for me as I need the unit in January.

We are going to look into it a bit more, but I might be getting a ProStar instead if it goes in that direction.

 

Someone's been blowing smoke up your tailpipe if those are the numbers you're using for comparison. That aside, I'd be real wary of those Navistar engines. They're making an inordinate amount of noise about the competition and now the rumors are starting to fly. Something just isn't right there and the fact that they're pushing back the release just buttresses that fact.

 

The numbers come from driving a mechanical CAT engine for over a million miles, day in day out, and from owning and driving a couple of ISX's.

I agree that there seems to be something odd about the delays in the 15 ltr engine release, but their 13 ltr engine has proven itself and they are widely available in the ProStar.

Me gut tells me that the 15 ltr crowd will not buy a 13 ltr engine in a 9900 or a LoneStar and that is what is keeping International from putting them in. Fleet operators, and business people, will not care what the size of the engine is, as long as it gets the job done at a good fuel economy rate. The Chrome and Polish, slant the CB antenna, 18 inch Texas bumper, crowd want something they can talk about when it comes to engine size. Read, the larger the better.

Luckily, I fall into the business crowd type. I do this for the money, not the glory.

I have not found anyone who has driven the 13 ltr engine yet who does not like it.

Ya, there is a lot of chatter, but it is mostly internet gossip or the he said, she said stuff.

And I don't pay any attention to that any more than I watch Oprah or Springer.

 

I don't think the 13-liter has proven itself in an '10 configuration. Last I heard, Navistar hadn't sold a single 2010 model engine as they had been stockpiling '09s. Supposedly they've been building them, just not making them available. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more to it than you think. They still can't even build a 2010 compliant engine using their technology. They have credits built up from their 07-09 models that will allow them to sell 2010 engines that don't actually meet the EPA limits. They are betting that by the time they use up the credits they will have perfected their EGR technology. But the fact that they've been making such aggressive attacks on SCR makes one wonder if progress is slower than they had hoped. If you're set on a Maxxforce though, I would definitely make sure that you're able to get an '09 engine. Those enhanced EGR's are a little scary.

You must have been driving engines on opposite ends of the spectrum. I've never averaged anywhere near as bad as 4 mpg in a mechanical Cat and never averaged 8 mpg with a new engine; currently an ISX. In an identical operation...maybe 2 to 2.5 mpg difference, but I doubt that a 4 mpg difference is a normal expectation. Not that it can't happen with a crappy example of one and great example of the other.

 

I get right around 6 with my mechanical CAT.


Funny you should say that because that's exactly what I'm trying to do. I'm selling my 06 Ford F350, and looking for an older model Ford or Chevy. :thumbsup:

 

So are they simply not making lonestars? Because the 13L is the only engine you can get with them. No cummins ISX, nothing.

 

This is what my dealer told me. But he is looking into it. I dont really want a ProStar.

 

You could always wait until the 15L engine comes out. I wonder if it is available in the U.S?

 

I did a test today and got 8 mpg with my 500 HP ISX at 60 mph hauling a total weight of 78,000 lbs. The test was run over 550 miles.

The difference between 6 and 8 over 150000 miles at $3 a gallon is close to $20,000 a year in more fuel. The difference between 5 and 8 is a payment on a brand new truck. You can always say I dont want the payments, but you are paying the money. Just not to the bank, but to the oil company.

 

I think that is what I will do.