Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/472327
Custom Rigs PRo tiPs 64 | Overdrive | March 2015 800.421.1589 HOGEBUILT.COM Untitled-12 1 2/11/15 10:52 AM I n the 1980s, a basic in-chassis rebuild cost about $5,000. Today, the same job runs about $15,000 or more. For a thorough in-chassis rebuild, the total price could be closer to $30,000. Fortunately, you can greatly delay such costs by using a few add-ons that can help extend the engine's life while increasing fuel mileage. First, consider add- ing a straight-through performance muffler, which helps reduce the amount of soot in the engine oil by eliminating backpressure. Soot will destroy an engine; it will wear away the cylinder walls, removing the cross hatch in the liners and causing excessive oil con- sumption. The muffler also helps decrease the amount of iron particles in the oil. Mufflers also benefit fuel mileage: One-quarter to one-half extra mpg can be gained. For every one-quarter mpg im- provement, the engine will use 1,000 fewer gallons per 100,000 miles – nearly a $4,000 savings (at $4/gallon). A $158 investment in a muffler potentially could return $4,000 per year. Not a bad payback. After a muffler, con- sider a turbo boost gauge and pyrometer, which is an exhaust gas tempera- ture gauge. Some trucks come with them, but many owner-operators are hesitant to install them aftermarket. They are affordable – $68 for a turbo boost gauge kit, $168 for a pyrometer kit – and anyone can install them in a matter of hours. Their importance? Diesel fuel is required to make turbo boost; the higher the turbo boost, the more fuel burned. Keeping tabs on it and learning to drive along flat terrain with less than 8 psi of turbo boost will help improve fuel mileage and engine life. If turbo boost is high while cruising along a relatively level inter- state, how can it be lowered? First, slow Add-ons can help diesel