By Truck Parts & Service Staff

Kenworth Truck Co. this week announced the introduction of the T440 model in tractor and truck configurations for regional haul, city pickup-and-delivery, municipal and vocational applications. The T440 marks Kenworth’s second major new product introduction since June, when the company expanded its product range in the vocational and municipal markets with the introduction of the T470.

“The new Kenworth T440 offers excellent value, productivity and aerodynamics to truck operators and fleets in heavy front-axle regional haul and pickup-and-delivery applications,” said Gary Moore, assistant general manager for marketing and sales for Kenworth, based in Kirkland, Wash. “This versatile truck will also benefit vocational and municipal customers who need a heavy front axle for dumps, mixers and fire trucks.” The Kenworth T440 is now available for order, with initial production scheduled to begin in first quarter 2010.

Built on the same platform as the T470 introduced in June, the T440 has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) ranging from a heavy Class 7 vehicle at 33,000 lbs. up to a light Class 8 truck at 68,000 lbs. The 2010 Paccar PX-8 engine, rated from 260 hp to 350 hp and 660 lb-ft to 1,000 lb-ft of torque, is standard. The optional 9-liter 2010 Cummins ISL engine is rated from 345 hp to 380 hp and 1,150 lb-ft to 1,300 lb-ft of torque. Other key T440 features include 10-, 11-, and 13-speed manual and 5- and 6-speed automatic transmissions; and 12,000- to 22,000-lb.-rated front axles, 21,000- to 26,000-lb.-rated single rear axles, and 40,000- to 46,000-lb.-rated tandem rear axles.

The T440’s modern styling features an aerodynamic sloped hood designed to give the driver enhanced forward visibility, while a three-piece aerodynamic bumper, Kenworth signature grille and forward lighting with Halogen projector headlamps are standard equipment. An aluminum or steel channel bumper and high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting are available as options.

The T440 features a multiplexed dash with a large panel designed for convenient installation of body controls and gauges; the Kenworth Driver Information Center is standard. The optional, spacious Extended Day Cab can enhance driver comfort with an additional six inches of length and five inches of cab height compared to Kenworth’s traditional day cab; the T440 can be ordered with the air ride cab and a 38-inch AeroCab sleeper. Also available are factory installation of a power take-off (PTO) and one lift axle.

By Truck Parts & Service Staff

Chevron Delo announced this week that after extensive laboratory and field testing in heavy-duty engines, its Delo 400 LE SAE 10W-30 oil has demonstrated an ability to provide fuel economy improvements over the more commonly used 15W-40 grade diesel oil. Delo 400 LE 10W-30 showed a 1 percent fuel economy improvement over 15W-40 oils and a 0.5 percent fuel economy improvement over 5W-40 grade synthetic lubricants, according to the company.

The use of the lower-viscosity Delo 400 LE 10W-30 does not come at the expense of engine durability, according to the company, which said that extensive laboratory and field durability tests show the product provides wear levels and oil drains that fleets have come to expect from 15W-40 motor oils.

Chevron Delo said durability tests were conducted on a number of diesel platforms, including Detroit Diesel DD15, Cummins ISX, Mack MP7 and DAF 12.9 liter, and that it also tested its Delo 400 LE 10W-30 on 2010 engines from Volvo and experienced similar durability and fuel economy results.

According to the company, the combination of fuel economy and engine durability results from its proprietary ISOSYN technology that combines highly refined base oils with advanced additives to create products that rival synthetic lubricants in critical performance tests while maintaining costs similar to mineral-based oils.

“This unique Chevron Delo technology makes synthetics and synthetic-blends unnecessary from a cost and performance standpoint in all but the most extreme environments,” said Len Badal, commercial enterprise manager for Chevron Global Lubricants, based in San Ramon, Calif. “We have years of data to substantiate this claim. Regardless of the economic climate, most fleets can’t afford to throw away money. Delo 400 LE 10W-30 provides excellent performance at an optimal price point.”

By Truck Parts & Service Staff

Peterbilt Motors Co. this week introduced two new trucks: the Model 337, which expands the company’s medium-duty presence and is suited for pickup-and-delivery, beverage and food service vocations; and the Model 348, designed for the Class 7-8 specialty application markets that require rugged durability and a wide range of option content.

“The medium-duty market demanded simplicity, maneuverability, value and style, and Peterbilt responded with the solution,” said Bill Jackson, general manager of Denton, Texas-based Peterbilt and Paccar vice president. “The Model 337 was designed to meet the demands of virtually any business while lowering costs with the quality and durability the market has come to expect from Peterbilt.”

Peterbilt said the Model 337 combines comfort and reliability with an ergonomically designed driver display package that features an easy-to-read gauge package and includes key vehicle performance data located at the top of the dash, while an optional GPS system is intended to simplify navigation in urban environments. Power windows, mirrors and lock switches are located in the new door pad design, and dual cup holders provide added convenience. A new HVAC system is designed for improved airflow and reduced maintenance costs.

“Medium-duty vehicles are typically operated in congested environments,” said Landon Sproull, Peterbilt chief engineer. “It is important for sightlines, both in the ergonomic layout of the instrumentation or the exterior view of the vehicle’s surroundings, to be clear and allow the driver to make good operational decisions.”

Peterbilt says the Model 337 offers improved visibility with an overall increase of 17 percent side window visibility and improved forward visibility, while an all-aluminum cab is designed to be lightweight for fuel efficiency and corrosion-resistant for durability.
Peterbilt said customers can choose from two proprietary fuel-efficient engines, the Paccar PX-6 and Paccar PX-8, both of which provide a wide range of horsepower and torque. The Model 337 also is available in a hybrid-electric configuration that provides fuel savings gains of up to 40 percent, according to the company.

The company said the Model 348 represents a multidimensional performer with a GVW beginning at 35,000 lbs. and optional capacity ratings to suit almost any specialty vocation. “The new Model 348 is the answer for customers in key applications such as construction, petroleum delivery, refuse and utility vocations,” Jackson said.

Peterbilt said the all-new interior features an “in-mold” color process that imbeds the color permanently into the material to virtually eliminate peeling, scratches, scuffs and fading that can occur in harsh operating environments, while an ergonomically-designed driver display package features easy-to-read backlit gauges that includes key vehicle performance data located at the top of the dash. A new HVAC system is designed for improved airflow and reduced maintenance costs.

The Model 348 is available in truck or tractor configurations and offers vocational options such as FEPTO, REPTO and application-specific transmissions, including a hybrid configuration designed for utility service. In the hybrid configuration, the Paccar PX-6 engine offers 280 hp, while the Paccar PX-8 engine offers 240-380 hp and provides 1,050 lb-ft of torque for heavier loads.

The Model 348 is constructed of an all-aluminum cab that is lightweight for added fuel efficiency and corrosion-resistant for durability, while visibility is enhanced by a lowered and slanted side window beltline that increases the view outside the passenger side window, and a lowered dash sightline that contributes to an overall 17 percent improvement in side window visibility.

For serviceability, removable dash panels are designed to provide easier access to electrical and HVAC components, while a new electrical system offers multiplex technology designed to simplify wiring behind the dash and facilitate troubleshooting. The Model 348 is available exclusively with air brakes for heavy-duty configurations and a wide range of suspension and vocational options in both single- and tandem-axle configurations.

By Truck Parts & Service Staff

The Freight Transportation Services Index rose 0.7 percent in August from its July level, the second consecutive monthly increase, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics recently reported.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI now has gone four consecutive months without a decline after dropping in nine of the previous 12 months. This is the first four-month period without a decline in the index since 2002. The August Freight TSI of 96.2 is a 2.7 percent increase from the recent low of 93.6 reached in April, its lowest level since June 1997.

“The continued rise of the Freight Transportation Services Index is evidence that America is moving towards economic recovery,” U.S. Transportation Ray LaHood said. “The impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other actions taken by this administration are only beginning to be felt around the nation, but economic data like this should give us hope that our worst days are behind us. However, there is still a long road ahead, and we will not let this positive sign lull us into complacency. This administration remains committed to investing in transportation in order to ensure a prosperous future.”

The Freight TSI is down 14.8 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006. The 10.9 percent decline in the Freight TSI from August 2008 to August 2009 was the largest August-to-August decline in the 20 years for which the TSI is calculated. The August Freight TSI of 96.2 is the lowest for August since August 1997 when it was 94.4.

The 4.2 percent decline in the first eight months of 2009 was the largest in the last decade, exceeding the 4.0 percent decline for the first eight months of 2000. The freight index is also down 12.2 percent in the five years from August 2004, and down 6.5 percent in the 10 years from August 1999. All the five-year and 10-year declines took place consecutively in the past several months.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by the for-hire freight transportation industries, including trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. It includes historic data from 1990 to the present. The baseline year is 2000.

By Truck Parts & Service Staff

With the age of the commercial fleet of Class 3 through 8 vehicles increasing and the probability of a further increase in the cost of new commercial vehicles as a result of increased regulations on diesel engine emissions in 2010, R.L. Polk & Co. announced initial key findings of its new Diesel Engine Parts Replacement analysis.

Key findings from the report indicate market demand for 221,000 new in-frame kits by owners of Class 6 to 8 vehicles over the next 12 months. In addition, it is estimated that 258,000 turbochargers are required in the aftermarket for Class 3 to 8 commercial vehicles in the coming year.

The Diesel Engine Parts Replacement Analysis is the fifth in a series of aftermarket demand modules for the commercial vehicle industry. Conducted by Polk together with Commercial Motor Vehicle Consulting (CMVC), the analysis identifies the demand for nine specific diesel engine components, including fuel injectors, turbochargers, full engine replacements and overhaul kits. It also details the replacement demand for original equipment versus aftermarket components, as well as salvage parts.

The basis of the study is the development of replacement factors by engine manufacturer, engine part and the vehicle’s GVW. These factors are then applied to vehicle populations and can be compiled by vehicle and engine manufacturer, engine size, specific vehicle location (including ZIP code) and fleet operation.

“The Diesel Engine Parts Replacement analysis helps OEMs and aftermarket customers better prepare for market demand for replacement parts in commercial fleets,” said Mark Seng, vice president of sales and client services for Polk. “With more organizations keeping their fleet vehicles in operation longer, this solution will help aftermarket suppliers and OEMs best identify specific inventory needs.”

By Truck Parts & Service Staff

FleetPride, an aftermarket distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts, announced that it has acquired the assets of Angelo Fleet & Industrial Supply Inc. of San Angelo, Texas. Terms were not announced for the acquisition, which brings the total number of FleetPride locations in Texas to 17.

“This new location in San Angelo, combined with our locations in Amarillo and Lubbock, gives us extensive coverage of West Central Texas, and will allow us to more quickly service this region’s significant oil field and agricultural industries,” said Mike Paxton, vice president of business development and strategic planning for Fleetpride, based in The Woodlands, Texas.

Angelo Fleet & Industrial Supply has been in business since 1982 and is the primary independent heavy-duty parts distributor in San Angelo and its surrounding markets. FleetPride will continue to operate in the 11,000-square-foot facility located at 4106 South Chadbourne.

“Owners Larry and Donna Ripley are known for providing unparalleled customer service, quick delivery and dedication to doing things right the first time – all of which mirror the FleetPride business philosophy,” said Lee Stockseth, vice president of operations and the company’s Central region. “Larry Ripley will stay on as branch manager, and employment offers have been extended to all employees. The Angelo Fleet & Industrial Supply team brings immeasurable experience in the heavy-duty parts business, making them an important addition to our FleetPride family.”

By Truck Parts & Service Staff

The national average retail price of a gallon of diesel climbed for the second consecutive week, soaring 10.5 cents to $2.705 for the week ending Monday, Oct. 19. The price is the highest recorded since last Nov. 17, when it was $2.809 during its descent from last year’s record-high prices.

Still, the price – which had fallen 9.2 cents over a five-week period prior to last week’s relatively small 1.8-cent increase – is 77.7 cents less than the same week last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

All regions tracked by DOE saw price increases. The biggest increase, 11.4 cents, was found on the Gulf Coast, where prices climbed to $2.644, still the nation’s least expensive diesel by region. The smallest increase, 5.4 cents, was found in the Rocky Mountains, where prices climbed to $2.704. The nation’s most expensive diesel by region, $2.831, was found in the Central Atlantic, where prices climbed 10.8 cents.

California, which DOE tracks separately for its weekly update, saw a price increase of 8.3 cents to $2.874; that price is 58.6 cents cheaper than last year.

The turbocharger on the dCi6 engines in Mack Freedom model chassis use an outlet adapter that cannot be checked for leakage by conventional methods. The following method can be used to investigate low power complaints or when performing similar diagnostic procedures:

• Disconnect the turbocharger inlet elbow from the intake air duct.

• Using the charge air cooler tester (Tool No. J 41473), insert the plug with the air fitting into the rubber inlet elbow and secure it with a suitable hose clamp. Be sure to connect the safety cable in an accessible location to prevent the plug from blowing off when the system is pressurized.

• Connect the pressure regulator and gauge assembly from the test kit to the air fitting in the plug. Then connect shop air to the regulator.

• Slowly open the air regulator to apply a maximum of 9 psi to the intake system. The engine might need to be slowly rotated to prevent overlapping valves. If it is necessary to rotate the engine, close the air regulator to block the flow of air to the intake system.

• Spray a soap and water solution on the connection for the turbocharger outlet adapter to check for leaks. Also, spray the complete intake system, from the turbocharger inlet to the intake manifold gaskets, to check for leakage at those locations.

By Truck Parts & Service Staff

James Szudy, engineering manager of vehicle systems at Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, was chosen by the Society of Automotive Engineers International to receive a 2009 Outstanding Contribution Award. SAE International honored Szudy, a 25-year veteran of Bendix CVS, for his service and leadership on a host of SAE councils, subcommittees, boards and teams involving on-highway commercial vehicles. Szudy first earned the Outstanding Contribution Award in 2004.

Recipients of the Technical Standards Board Outstanding Contribution Award are selected based on their valuable contributions to the work of SAE technical committees, leadership in activities of an SAE technical committee, significant contributions in the accomplishments of technical committees of other organizations, and outstanding work in the form of research, test methods, procedures and/or development standards. The award, established in 1953, is administered by the SAE Technical Standards Board.

Truck and Bus Council member Richard Kempf, manager of regulatory affairs at Navistar Trucks, nominated Szudy for the award. “Jim spends countless hours in support of SAE and truly believes that its success will benefit the industry,” Kempf said. “He has been instrumental in getting key industry members on the council and effectively balancing its membership. Jim has been a significant proponent on the council to try to ensure that the committees that report to the council are focusing on the new, relevant and important topics for the industry.”

Szudy is a recognized industry leader in the brake systems and control fields. His responsibilities at Elyria, Ohio-based Bendix incorporate the technical support in the design and development of medium/heavy vehicle pneumatic and hydraulic braking systems and components. Throughout his tenure at Bendix CVS, Szudy has secured four patents covering vehicle braking systems, proportioning control valves and air dryer purge controls.

In addition to his role at Bendix CVS and involvement with SAE, Szudy has served the commercial vehicle industry in a broad range of leadership roles, including his current post as 2008-2010 chair of Heavy Duty Brake Manufacturers Council. He also is a member of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.

Caterpillar has stated that hold down bolts for the fuel injector should not be reused on engine models 3116, 3126B, 3208, 3306B, 3306C, 3406B, 3406C, 3406E, C-12, C-15, C-16 and C15. If the hold down bolts are reused, damage may occur.

When you service the electronic unit injector, replace the hold down bolts. If a washer is present on the fuel injector hold-down bolt, remove the washer and do not replace it.