GMAN,

I am at the Flying J in Bakersfield for my reset, is there a better place to be?

 

You can't compare a lifetime average of 6 to a one-trip average of 8 and say, "that's the way it is." A mechanical engine would get well over 7 on that run. Once you get to Redding it's all "downhill" and in a 55 mph state to boot. I have the same engine as you do and regularly get 8 mpg on that stretch...certainly don't average that though.

If you want cooler nights, go up to the J on top of the Grapevine (Lebec). There are a few different restaurant choices and even a decent cheap motel if you are so inclined. There's also the Petro and TA at Wheeler ridge. Good facilities at the Petro and a Starbucks and, most importantly, an In-N-Out.

 

I agree that one run is not a good example but it can be a benchmark for when everything is mostly flat and straight and a good target to aim for.

In the steep mountains of BC on a regular route over about 1200 miles with exactly the same load each time we got 6.7 US.

That is the real world. And I doubt any mechanical CAT would get better than 4 or 5. We consistanly got 4.5 year in and year out. And that was imperial gallons not metric like in the US. Never mind that the jake was non-esixtant so it was at least two gears lower than a compribale Cummins eninge.

The company i drove for "back in the day" only ran CATs. As I said before, I got more than a million miles in them, and have fueled them and checked them time and again.

Great engines though if what you want to do is shift allday. They have an operating range as narrow as thin ruller.

 

The last time I stopped at that Flying J they were remodeling it. If you want to stay in Bakersfield I can only think of a couple of truck stops that are close. There is a truck stop just north of the Flying J on 99. I believe it is called Valero (Exit 26B). You can see it from the freeway. Bruce's Truck Stop is off hwy 58 at hwy 184. It is an older truck stop but has quite a few parking spots as I recall. There used to be a restaurant next door that had pretty good food. The restaurant sits at the foot of the westbound exit ramp. It has been a couple of years since I have traveled around that area. Those are the only two that I can think of that are close to you. There are some others further north and if you travel south there is another Flying J and Petro south of where 99 and I-5 come together (Exit 205?). That would be at the foot of the Grapevine. Since you are doing a reset you may not want to travel that far. The restaurant at that Flying J is the only one like it. It is really interesting and they do have a nice drivers lounge.

 

Are u kidding? Canada is one of the first places to go epa .......rite after california!
Our country is socialist remember! ................20 yrs later ?? I dont think so partner

 

RockyMnt,

I will be reading and watching this thread closely as I am in the process of specing a 386 Pete 244 WB:

485 Hp Paccar
Auto Shift (Not sure if I'm going with the 10 or 13 speed)
I totally second that you cant beat a computer shift to save $$ and thats what it is about. And at 50 years old, I now want an auto shift vice 13 speed manual which I had with TMC.

 

I'd suggest going up a little bit in the rear-gears. I had a 05' IH with 3.25 rear gears and I too set my cruise at 65mph and i got HORRIBLE mileage. It actually did better at 70mph than at 65mph. It was a C-15 but also I was lugging the engine at 1300rpm and even with an empty trailer, I had to downshift just to go up the tiny hills in IL/IN/OH....... I'd suggest 3.55's

other than that, I'd say you got the right idea. I personally would never buy another IH tho. I have owned 2 and my father is the head for Wal-Mart maintance and they have discontinued their use of the IH too, they are going to the Petes from now on. Too many problems with headlights, wheel seals and cruise control/wiring issues i guess.

I wouldn't say this ones better, or that ones better, but it dones seem that anything PACCAR holds its resale value too. A 2006 FTL compared to a 2006 KW/PETE is about $20k right now for some reason????

 

here's the truck for ya.......

2011 PETERBILT 386 Conventional Truck w/ Sleeper For Sale At TruckPaper.com