Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/409537
30 | Overdrive | November 2014 FIVE FAVORED FUEL-SAVERS Overdrive's survey listed 17 other fuel-sav- ing technologies that didn't quite make it into voters' top five. In-cab heaters. As with APUs, in-cab heaters eliminate the need for idling a truck to keep drivers warm in cold weather. They can offer fuel savings of more than $700 a year. Inverters. Another anti-idling technology, inverters allow truckers to power a full range of electronic devices in a truck cab and sleeper while at rest without burning diesel fuel. Automated manual transmissions. The rising popularity of automated manual transmissions is rooted in driver reten- tion, safety and other factors. But the leading benefit, especially for fleets, has been the fuel economy boost. When it comes to fuel economy, a good driver on a good day can beat an AMT, but the AMT will give re- spectable mpg numbers that experts equate to a fuel economy improve- ment of as much as 5 to 7 percent. Automatic transmis- sions. The fuel economy improvement is virtually identical to AMTs, 5 to 7 percent. Fully automatic transmissions differ from AMTs in that they have a torque converter instead of a comput- er-actuated clutch. Pro- ponents claim this gives automatic transmissions a smoother ride than AMTs. High-ratio rear axles. High-ratio rear axles are engineered for top-end speed and efficiency. They require less horsepower to get a truck moving and keep it at cruising speed, which yields modest fuel economy gains. The tradeoff is a loss in low- end torque. Centrifugal oil filters. These highly efficient bypass filtration systems keep engine oil cleaner for longer periods of time. While centrifugal oil filters aren't commonly viewed as fuel-economy enhancement systems, they offer as much as a 2 percent boost thanks to increased engine efficiency. Synthetic lubricants. Proponents of synthetic engine oils say these lubricants by them- selves offer only slight immediate fuel economy gains. But because they contribute to engine efficiency, they can help improve fuel economy. Aerodynamic wheel covers. These light- weight covers smooth over truck wheel wells and help eliminate drag at highway speeds. They can generate fuel sav- ings of up to 2 percent when used on both a tractor and a trailer. Trailer-end fairings. Air flowing around the back of a box trailer creates a vacuum that causes turbulence. According to manufac- turers, fairings on the trailer's tail can reduce this drag effect and boost fuel economy by as much as 10 percent. Adjustable fifth wheels. Another strate- gy designed to deal with the aerodynamically inefficient trailer gap is the adjustable fifth wheel. By bringing the tractor and trailer closer together, it helps reduce drag at highway speeds. Air dams. The air dam was the industry's first attempt to divert air from flowing under- neath a tractor-trailer and creating drag and turbulence. Simple air dams today are fully integrated into vehicle designs to push air around, instead of under, a tractor. Trailer-bottom aero devices. SmartTruck's UnderTray is designed to smooth airflow underneath a trailer at highway speeds and help eliminate drag. The manufacturer says it offers fuel savings from 5.5 to 10.5 percent. Aerodynamic mirrors. The days of large, flat rectangular rearview mirrors are drawing to a close. Vastly improved aerodynamic designs now offer modest fuel economy increases. Airflow tabs. These small tabs are designed to direct and smooth airflow over and around blunt vehicle surfaces, typically tractor and trailer roofs. Manufac- turers say these devices can enhance fuel econ- omy from 2 to 5 percent in highway applications. Trailer gap reducers. Engineers routinely cite the trailer gap as the tractor-trailer's toughest aerodynamic challenge. Gap reducers help keep air flowing past the gap, reducing turbulence and boosting vehicle fuel economy 1 to 2 percent. Tandem axle fairings. One of the newest aerodynamics products is tandem axle fairings. Often used in conjunc- tion with wheel covers, they help eliminate drag and turbulence around the drive axle. Wide single tires. Though still somewhat controversial, wide single tires continue to gain market share. In long-haul applications, their lighter weight and smaller footprint rela- tive to duals translate to fuel economy savings of nearly 3 percent. The runners-up