How to get the most from your Cat engine. ® “These are drivers’ engines.” Gear it right to get results. • The goal: Use correct engine cruise speed. – 1750 lb-ft @ 1300-1350 rpm – 1650 lb-ft @ 1350-1400 rpm Practice progressive shifting. Russ Siegel, Cat Test and Demo Driver • Don’t “bump the governor.” • Shift up as soon as you have enough rpm to grab the next higher gear. • Saves fuel, easier on the drivetrain. Don’t be afraid to let the engine rpm pull back on a grade. I’ve driven trucks for more than 28 years, eight of those as an owner-operator. All kinds of equipment, all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. I believe that driven properly, Cat engines offer the best performance and fuel economy on the road today. • When you’re pulling a long grade, be patient. • Wait until around 1100-1200 rpm to downshift. • Letting the engine rpm pull back on grades won’t hurt Cat engines. Use the cruise and slow down. • Electronic cruise control saves fuel, makes driving easier. • Think twice about the cruise speed you choose. • Every mile per hour over 55 cuts fuel economy by .1 mpg. Remember, torque moves the load. • Torque moves the load, horsepower determines how fast it moves. • Staying in the preferred torque range of 1300-1400 rpm keeps the engine operating more efficiently, puts more profit in your pocket. • Unless you’re a heavy hauler who needs to run above 1500 rpm to maintain momentum, try to avoid it. Follow these driving tips to get the most from your Cat engine mile after mile. ® “Experience tells me these engines get the job done.” Ken Nolte, Cat Test and Demo Driver Since I got my commercial driver’s license in 1975, I’ve driven most all kinds of trucks hauling all types of freight. I’ve been a company driver and an owner-operator, and have more than 2 million miles under my belt. I know truck engines—and I know the new Cat engines really perform. Take a break from idle time. • Cat engines don’t require long warm-up and cool down periods. • At start-up, go easy on the throttle while the engine’s cold. • For cool down, three minutes of idle time should be enough. • Cutting idle time from 50% to 25% can improve fuel economy by up to 4%. Make the most of momentum. • Let your truck’s momentum work for you to save fuel. • Coasting in gear allows all the fuel to return to the tank. • Kick out the cruise control about a mile before your exit, stay in gear as long as possible, and watch how far you can coast for free. Remember to: • Leave the regeneration switch in the automatic position and just drive. • Only use ULSD fuel. © Caterpillar 2008. All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, ACERT, “Caterpillar Yellow” and the POWER EDGE trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. LEHT7296