Feeling curious about big rigs... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ericnguyen · #1 12-30-2003, 05:33 PM

Dear friends:

If you have any interesting information about big trucks, please post them here. In the meantime, here are some of my questions:

- Transmission (standard or auto?)
- Transmission oil change capacity
- Engine: number of cylinders and total displacement volume
- Average miles per gallon
- Average mileage per oil change (industry standard)
- Differential final drive unit capacity (gear oil volume)
- Total antifreeze/coolant capacity
- Full fuel tank capacity
- Engine oil change capacity
- Curb weight (without cargo)
- Maximum weight (with cargo)

etc...

Thank you very much.

Happy New Year.

Eric

chazola · #2 12-30-2003, 06:00 PM

Don't know anything about them, except I'd like to have a go at driving one. Can't think of a better excuse to get away from my wife for long periods of time...

Back in England, there's a famous boxer named Chris Eubank who is known for his 'eccentric' ways, shall we say. He dresses in riding jodpurs and waistcoats (250lb or more, built like a brick ***** house black guy) and is known for his gibberish philosophising. Anyway, he had a big rig tractor imported to the UK from the US and drives it around the seaside town of Brighton, just for fun.

Wish I had his toys...

#3 12-30-2003, 07:13 PM

Most over the road tractors are 18 or 13 speed manuals in the US. Not sure of the trans opl change capacity.

Generally the engines are straight six diesels, 10-16 liter displacement. There are a lot of factors for mileage but it ranges from 5 to 8 MPG.

Generally you get anywhere from 20,000 to 35,000 miles between oil changes although Cummins offers the "Centinal" system where you never have to change the oil.

Not sure on the differential oil or coolant capacities. These really depend on what configuration you are running

Fuel tanks run anywhere from 75 gallons to 200 gallons (twin 100 gallon tanks)

Oil capacity is anywhere from about 28 to 45 quarts.

Tractor curb weights are 14-20k lbs unloaded. I'm not sure what the trailers weigh. It really depends on what state you are in on how much you can legally carry. Generally, tractor trailers max out at 80k lbs. But some states allow you to carry 120k lbs. This is why you never cut trucks off...those weights are hard to stop.

point · #4 12-30-2003, 09:14 PM

I can help with some of it.
My 1999 Volvo has 350,000 miles on it.
A standard trany “fuller” 10 speed holds 3 gal of oil
6 cylinders 12.7 liter Detroit 470 hp @ 1700 rpm 1800 fp of torque.
Miles per gal. is 5.9 to 6.3 depending on how much idleing I do
I change oil every 3000 Gal of fuel or aprox. every 18,000 miles,
The crankcase holds 9 gal. and the 3 filters hold another gal.
Coolant holds 11 gal ( just changed it )
I think the tractor weighs about 17,000 alone and 43,720 with the empty 10 car hauler on it.
Max legal weight is 80,000 of coarse the rig would easily handle 100,000 gross.
With 10 heavy cars on it I get right up to 80,000, I have to watch the amount of fuel I have on, the 300 gal adds 1800 pounds but lets my go 1800 miles between fills.
The suspension is air the cab rides on air and the seat has 5 inches of air travel.
Great ride …..very smooth.
I usually start out in 4th or 5th and shift at 1700, the last 3 gears are the real pullers your not in the first 7 gears long enough for the turbo to spool up (no power without turbo spooled to the max.
In top gear the engine turns 1475 rpm at 70 mph.
These engines run and run and run a friend of mine never shuts his off between services, he drives team and puts on 15,000 every 3 weeks.
Rebuild on the engines are usually done around 650,000 miles, many go 1 mil. Miles.
Manufacture says the first scheduled service of the trany and rear ends is 500,000.

-mark

BTW my car is a 99 s500

zeronero · #5 12-31-2003, 07:53 PM

The last generation Freightliner looks like it used 124 turn signals.

#6 01-01-2004, 02:50 AM

The new MBE4000 series truck engine is pretty sweet. Built of course by Mercedes-Benz. Power output ranges from 350 - 450 HP. The really impressive thing is that it's at 100% of its torque at 1000 rpms. That's some quick turbo response.

Speaking of turbos, it can be equipped with a turbo brake system that produces 600 braking horsepower.

http://www.americanfreightliner.com/mbe4000.htm

and then there's the MBE900...

http://www.detroitdiesel.com/Public/ddc_prod/s900.asp

#7 01-01-2004, 10:34 PM

Not to flame Veedub at all, but MB enigines for trucks are way underbuilt for the application that they are serving, at least in the US. The MBE4000 is essentially the old Detroit diesel series 50...4 bolts per cylinder head, poor gas mileage, shorter life.

The reason that they have sold at all in the US is that they did not have to comply with the concent decree, thus they were $4000 cheaper than competitive engines.

It's interesting how MB compete's as a premium product in the automotive market but is a low-priced, inferior product in the truck market. This is also where the company seems to lose money. I love MB cars but they really need to focus on their stengths and quit screwing around with truck products, or make the investment necessary to have a superior product in the market.

I can supply a detailed competitive comparison of MB truck engines if necessary, they are truly inferior.

zeronero · #8 01-02-2004, 08:20 PM

I here that CAT and Cummins engines are the best. If I buy a pickup I want a Dodge with the Cummins.

klaus kallas · #9 01-03-2004, 07:57 AM

Eric, why the "big-truck" curiousity? I drive a '99 Kenworth T2000 5 days a week hauling steel and lumber for the most part. It has a 370hp Cummins and an Eaton-Fuller "Super 10" split shift transmission.

Oil changes come every 20,000 miles and I average 6.5 mpg.

-CAT engines have tons of torque at low rpm (good for hills)
-Cummins have good top end and hold together well
-Detroit motors are a good mix of both and get good fuel economy

It is an interesting vehicle in and of it's self, but I can't wait to get out of it come Friday!

ericnguyen · #10 01-03-2004, 05:28 PM

Dear friends:

Thanks a lot for your information. Special thanks to Point for your detailed info.

Dear klaus:

I became infatuated with MB diesel cars about a year ago, so I've gotten interested in any diesel stuff. You are 2 years my junior but already drive such a big truck

. I'm Asian-American and am not too short (5'11"), but I've never imagined myself driving such a big truck. They look kind of too imposing for me.

I've read that DBAG purchased the US truck-builder Freightliner in 1981 in an attempt to penetrate the US truck business. It also tried to create a network of about 200 truck dealers. General Motors sold its Class 8 heavy truck operations to Volvo as well as its diesel engine making division Detroit Diesel to DCAG, and Ford to Freightliner. Therefore, a large chunk of American truck business is now being owned by foreigners (dang it!). BTW, what class is your '99 Kenworth T2000 rated at?

Thanks again.

Best regards,

Eric

#11 01-03-2004, 06:05 PM

If you need a truck or any other info I work in marketing for International truck and engine corportation. We are still an American company.We build our own diesels up to 340hp and supply Ford with the Power Stroke V8.

Freightliner is a sore subject with me as they have had a negative effect on the industry by selling trucks at a loss and thus purchasing market share.

Here is a truck that we put together for fun, International 7300 4x4, DT466 215hp, modified Ford pickup bed, seating for 7. I can put these together and be competitive with Hummer pricing. Only difference is this is a real truck designed to go 300k miles....

http://www.internationaldelivers.com/site_layout/severe/bigred.asp

klaus kallas · #12 01-04-2004, 07:47 AM

Eric,

I've been driving (trucks) for 5 years now. Being just shy of 30, I'm usually the only person at the truck stop that doesn't have grandchildren yet! I was lucky in that I learned "on the job" with a building supply company that had a small fleet of semis. That definetly saved a lot of cash as truck specific driving schools can get quite costly.

You asked what "class" the truck was. It is a class 8 and requires a class A CDL license.

Quite honestly, I got into trucking because for a non-college educated person such as myself it is a well paying job that requires no degree. I still average better pay than many of my friends who graduated 5-6 years ago. That's not to say I wouldn't have attended a university had the means been available, but you take what you are dealt and play as best you can, right?

Take care and good luck! Klaus