Improving our truck

[squeaky1]

We have a 2010 Freightliner Cascadia with the DD-15 in it. It is governed at 64 due to lease restrictions. Our average overall fuel is 6.8. Most of the time we have been running 77 to 79,000 for loaded weight. Average MT miles are around 35 min to 100 max from delivery point to next pick up point. What can we do to up our fuel mileage? Turbo3000? Exhaust rerun? P.P. ECM module? I'd like our loaded mileage to get up to at least 7.5. 8 would be better. Suggestions from Pittsburg would be appreciated.

[Fernando]

We have not done anything with the DD15 yet. I'll let you know if we end up making anything.

[Blackfeather]

Please post the reply to this question as I and others would be very intrested in the responce.

Thanks,
Blackfeather

[Fernando]

We don't talk much about the DD15 for a few reasons. Firstly because most DD15s are under warranty and we can't do warranty work for Detroit we hardly ever get any in our shop. As a result of this we have not had the opportunity to get into the internals of the DD15 and are not familiar enough with it. We do know the DD15 has an after treatment system that will burn up non-stock exhaust components. Also just like the DDEC V the DD15 has a VGT and will not run a non-stock turbo. A conversion might be possible to get a non-stock turbo on but it could be as much as $18k and that wouldn't be worth it. The FASS system should work but we have not tested this to verify any power or fuel mileage benefit. I don't know of anyone reflashing the ECM on that engine. I would suspect your going to have a new generation of software with a greater amount of complexity then the Series 60. Also your probably not going to find the DD15 in other off highway applications for a while so swapping out fueling profiles will likely not be possible. A Powerbox is not currently in the works but eventually could provide an answer to adding power and mileage.

The bottom line is this:
If any of you willing to risk your warranty for more mileage and power and are willing to let us use your truck for a while we might be able to make some progress. Otherwise we'll wait for the DD15 warranties to start to expire and then we will be able to have a better answer for you.

-Fernando