Tips for Driving the 2 Stroke Detroit Diesel Engine

[HighTechRedneck]

Others have probably already read this but I was just referencing something on the Tejas Coach site and this article caught my eye for the first time.  It is an informative and fascinating read.  I would encourage anyone with a DD 2-stroke that hasn't already read to take the time to read it carefully.  Some of it explains things I already knew, but explains why.  Other parts cover things I had not heard before.  Worth reading.

Tips for Driving the 2 Stroke Detroit Diesel Engine It starts about half way down the page.

[white-eagle]

if you're saying you understand it all and it's correct, then i sure heard some new things that i've not heard before.  Not being much of a mechanic, i wouldn't know right from wrong, but there are a lot of hints for handling the engine and driving.

[Hartley]

Or....

Run it like you stole it!

Nuthin wilder sounding than a screamin Gimmy !!!!

Yeah, I know....

Calm down.... whoof ! 

[Dallas]

Or ......

Slam your hand in the door twice, then get behind the wheel and drive it like your house payment, truck payment, wife and girlfriend are all a week late!

To paraphrase, ♫♪♫"South Bound and Down... Loaded up and Bussin'!"♫♪♫

[TomC]

If you have a 4 or 5 speed manual, just take it to the governor and shift.  Notice the speed at which you shift (many of the speedos are marked) and down shift at that speed.  If you have an automatic, then you're set.  If you have a 92 series, you can just about drive them like a 4 stroke.  I had a 8V-92TA in my first truck and wanted to get better fuel mileage.  I was told by a Detroit dealer to use the 13 speed like a 9 speed (don't split the gears) and to up shift at 1800 and down shift at 1400.  Well-I left with two other buddies that we were all within 100lbs of each other.  One had a Cummins NTC400 and the other a Caterpillar 3406B 400hp jacket water aftercooled.  Needless to say, I out pulled them on the hills-to the point of being several hundred yards ahead of them at the top, and with my 8V-92TA being stock with 9A90 injectors.  If your Detroit is turboed and aftercooled, then letting it come down to 1200 won't hurt it.  As a matter of fact, if you have 60 or 55 injectors (71 series), the torque was rated at 1200 from the factory.  The 65 injectors (on the 71 series) were high performance ratings that produced the torque at 1600rpm-which is not that good for manual transmissions-will create extra heat and smoke.  Good Luck, TomC

[coolbus]

I thought the entire page was good reading for a Detroit Newbie like myself!

One question I have...

I am aware that lugging a Detroit is a no no, but the author states that lugging is defined as 'any time you are asking the bus to accelerate, but are not able to, or are actually losing speed' (paraphrased).

I always thought that lugging only occured when the engine RPM dropped below a certain point.

I probably lugged my 8v-71 quite a few times on my 2500 mile trip accross the US. (based on the info in the article)  The engine never did overheat - in fact, the temp guage barely even fluctuated when pulling the several long grades I came accross along the interstate. And I always watched for black smoke - none produced.

Is the only danger in lugging a Detroit an overheat situation?

thanks
Mark