I’ve just completed my 50,000 mile service which included an oil change and chassis lube. The Detroit DD15 engine only consumed a little over a quart of oil during this initial 50,000 miles. I still have a hard time getting my mind wrapped around the fact that you can run this many miles without any type of additional filtration system. Who would have thought that an engine this size could operate for such a long period using such a small amount of oil… I’m totally amazed at these results!!!

Now, here is the fuel mileage report for the year to date on the Cascadia Evolution.

 

 

  • Lifetime 9.04 mpg
  • Last 30 days 9.297
  • First 15 days of April 9.533

The first leg of running this truck involved various factors which lead to decreased fuel mileage numbers. Some of these factors included: test drives, engine break in and cooler weather. Now that we’re into the springtime temperatures, my fuel mileage has increased. I’ve also been transporting more freight and doing less demonstration drives which also has been a contributing factor.

The Detroit DT12 transmission has been performing flawlessly. I’ve often talked about the E-Coast and the skip shifting abilities of the DT12 and I recently learned a new trick that this transmission can perform. While on a demonstration drive with GVW at approximately 72,000 lbs. I crossed over a railroad bridge with a steep downgrade. A traffic light was located at the bottom with a red light. I stopped to wait for the light to change when the transmission selected 5th gear to proceed (the DT12 can detect the grade your on as part of the calculation to determine the proper start up gear).When the light turned green, the truck launched smoothly forward in 5th gear. By the time we reached the middle of the intersection, the transmission shifted into 7th gear. When we reached the other side of the intersection, the transmission then skipped into 9th gear and we were off and running! My passenger was amazed at how quickly and efficiently the transmission went up through the gears.

In closing, I suggest if you get the opportunity to test drive a Cascadia Evolution equipped with the new Detroit DT12 transmission, you won’t be disappointed.

 

 

Comments (3)

Henry Albert

Henry Albert is the owner of Albert Transport, Inc., based in Statesville, NC. Before participating in the "Slice of Life" program, Albert drove a 2001 Freightliner Century Class S/Tâ„¢, and will use his Cascadia for general freight and a dry van trailer. Albert, who has been a trucker since 1983, was recognized by Overdrive as its 2007 Trucker of the Year.

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Just rode in the my first one in Las Vegas, if you have not yet it is a must, all I can say is Wow! Dont' belevie anything you read, you must experience this transmission, then there will not be any questions in your mind. This is the real deal, you will have to have one.

May 16, 2013 10:29:38 AM

I'm amazed too at the oil use. I used to fill it up with oil and check the fuel with some of the other engines I used to operate.

April 24, 2013 17:36:16 PM

A quart in 50,000 miles? Wow. The early 80's Freightliners with the Detroit 8V92's that I drove consumed about a gallon every 2-3 weeks and I ran local most of the time with under 1,000 miles a week. Very impressive Henry! I would say Detroit and Freightliner sure have hit on a winning combination.

April 16, 2013 8:02:52 AM