Detroit Diesel…….A Leader in Fuel Economy

For over 70 years, Detroit Diesel has designed and built the heavy-duty engines that fuel commerce and transportation across North America and around the world. Detroit has long been recognized as the fuel economy leader in the trucking industry. EPA emission regulations have gotten tougher over the past couple years and Detroit has been able to step up to the plate and meet these regulations. Detroit engineers have met these regulatory standards with innovations in emissions, electronics and aerodynamics, all while maintaining performance, reliability and most importantly, fuel economy.

With the addition of BlueTec emissions technology, Detroit is ensuring its place in the market as a fuel economy leader. BlueTec is a complete emissions system that combines exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), selective catalytic reduction (SCR), diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and the diesel particulate filter (DPF) to efficiently meet the EPA 2010 emissions standards. BlueTec treats the exhaust gases downstream of the engine instead of requiring complex changes under the hood.

Amplified Common Rail Fuel System:

Detroit’s Amplified Common Rail Fuel System (ACRS®) improves performance by cutting emissions without draining fuel mileage or power. The “amplified” in ACRS means full injection pressure capability is achieved by internally amplifying engine fuel rail pressure. This electronically optimized fuel delivery actually changes the duration and quantity of every injection to every cylinder, every second the engine is performing. This creates incredibly effective combustion for each and every revolution, maximizes your performance within the cylinders, and reduces deposits like soot and carbon, resulting in fewer After treatment Device (ATD) regenerations.

Good Fuel Economy Starts With Driver Training:

As much as 70% of fuel economy is affected by factors that drivers and fleet managers can address and correct. When it comes to maximizing fuel economy, nothing is more important than having a good driver behind the wheel. Having a well trained operator can improve fuel economy by up to 30%. This is a pretty big savings. It is extremely important to educate drivers about important driving habits such as reduced highway speeds, shorter idle times, proper gear selection and regular maintenance. These are all key components to improving fuel economy.

Additional Tips Include:

  • Slow Down- Maintain safe, steady speeds.
  • Keep your RPM’s low.
  • Anticipate hills and traffic.
  • Reduce stops
  • Avoid idling
  • Minimize accessory loads.
  • Reduce trailer gap.
  • Use progressive shifting.
  • Stay in top gear.
  • Use cruise control (when available).

Truck Maintenance Is Important:

  • Tire Maintenance– Good tire maintenance is very important. Tires take quite a bit of abuse. Every 10 PSI of under-inflation reduces fuel economy by approximately 1%. This number is small, but over time that is many gallons wasted.
  • Axle Alignment- Keeping your axles properly aligned will help improve fuel economy and reduce tire wear.
  • Air Conditioning Compressor– About 50% of total fan-on time is from using air conditioning. When this happens, the engine has to run harder to provide power for the fan, in the end using more fuel.
  • Lubricants- The use of lubricants will reduce friction and keep moving parts operating at lower temperatures.

Following these few tips can greatly reduce fuel costs and save you money in the end. Be sure to visit Tracey Road Equipment for any information related to Detroit Diesel engines. Our knowledgeable staff is always available to meet and answer any questions you may have.