November 2009 - Performance Zone
A $20,000 MUFFLER & MORE
By Performance Specialist Bruce C. Mallinson
Hey, check out the picture of the $20,000 Kenworth muffler! That’s right guys, this muffler is worth at least $20,000 (maybe even $40,000)!! This wore out reverse-flow KW muffler has 936,000 miles on her and she cost the owner a minimum of 1/4 mpg over a nine year period. Had the owner installed a straight-through muffler on his truck when it was new, he would have saved a lot of cash. How much? Let’s do the math.
Take your calculator and divide 936,000 miles by 5.5 mpg then multiply that number by $2.80 per gallon. That should get you $476,509 dollars spent on fuel when getting 5.5 mpg. Now divide the 936,000 (miles) by 5.75 mpg and multiply that number by $2.80. This gets you $455,791 as the total cost of fuel if the owner had a more efficient muffler. As you can see, this owner-operator lost over twenty grand of his hard-earned dollars in the nine years he has owned this W900L.
Installing a straight-through muffler on your truck can save you at least $200 per month, and if the performance muffler just happens to improve your mileage by 1/2 mpg, your savings could be $400 per month. You say, “Naw, you can’t gain 1/2 mpg with just a muffler!” Oh, yes you can – and many are already doing it, however 1/4 mpg is what the mufflers usually save their owners. An extra $200-$400 in your pocket per month could be the payment on a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle, or better yet a new snowmobile (and you would have enough money left over to join us at the owner-operator snowmobile conference held this February in Grand Lake, Colorado). Just think about it!
Many of you know that Forrest Lucas and I are very good friends. Two years ago, at one of the truck shows, Forrest gave me two bottles of his Lucas Slick Mist, a spray-on wax. My first thought was, “Forrest, you’re an oil man, what are you doing making wax?” Well, I took it home and it sat on my shelf for two years until one evening, while washing my Harley, I decided to try this fast and easy wax. The Harley was still wet and I sprayed the entire Ultra Classic with the wax. The first thing that I noticed was that the entire garage immediately smelled like bubble gum, which was nice. Once I was finished cleaning my ride, I rubbed my hand over the bike, and I’ve got to tell you, this Lucas Slick Mist left her feeling smoooooth! It shines great, smells good and sure is easy to use, so every time I wash one of my vehicles, I now spray it with the Slick Mist before drying it, which gives the vehicle a just-waxed look. Forrest says that the product can be used on wet or dry vehicles and that it won’t hurt decals or tape stripes (there is no silicone in it). The spray can also be used on black bumpers (it won’t turn them white) and on your mirrors, windows and windshield (to keep them from fogging). Forrest has always told me, “If I can’t make the very best product, I won’t make it!” And I believe him – so be sure to check it out!
If you have been following what Kevin Rutherford and I have been doing in regards to building our Signature Series trucks for the best obtainable fuel mileage, you may be aware that Chad Bjorn of Tremonton, Utah is getting 9.03 mpg out of the 550 hp DD4 that we built for him. When Chad gets tired and turns on his cruise control, the fuel mileage drops to the low 8 mpg. Yes, cruise control can rob you of that much-needed mileage. We have just ordered two new glider kits to be built into the Signature Series trucks and, of course, we are looking to get into the 9 mpg range with these trucks as well.
Everyone doubted that we could get 9 mpg out of a big rig, but we did it. So, now were working towards getting 10 mpg! It might sound impossible, but we never give up. What about you? What are you waiting for? Why aren’t you making one change a month and building your existing truck into a Signature Series truck? If you continue to wait, you will just lose more money. By the way, Robbie Smith out of North Carolina runs a 1988 Pete with a Big Cam 444 Cummins set at 750 hp and is now getting 7.02 out of that old mechanical engine that nobody liked. We at Pittsburgh Power, along with many of our owner-operator friends, love that engine. You just have to be willing to make one change per month to your truck and then you too can have a great-running and efficient ride.
Thinking about how everybody wants to “go green” right now, I realized that we have been a “green” company for a long time. A brand new factory-built truck will get about 6.2 mpg and will use 24,193 gallons of fuel (driving 150,000 miles), but our Signature Series trucks will get about 8.5 mpg and use only 17,647 gallons of fuel driving that same distance. That is a savings of $18,329 and 6,546 gallons of fuel per year, per truck! Our engines burn clean, run extremely efficient, and will crank up the hills while putting a smile on your face and money in your pocket. Simply put, “going green” can save you some green! If you have comments or questions, call me at Pittsburgh Power in Saxonburg, PA at (724) 360-4080 or send me an e-mail at bruce@pittsburghpower.com today.