Don't know if anyone here operates or purchases Class-8 trucks, but it's an interesting article nonetheless...

http://fleetowner.com/news/topstory/...l_ward_041206/

Could even be reason enough to buy and '06 Ram/Cummins instead of waiting until '07....

 

Not that it'd work for truckers, but it'd work for us.



Emissions equipment? What emissions equipment?

 

That won't work.

I own a 2001 Mack. I plan to keep it. The estimated increase in the cost of new truck is around $10,000 give or take a few bucks, depending on which engine manufacturer is talking.

In '03 the EPA regs required engine manufacturers to use some sort of EGR (exhaust gas recirculation). That has created a lot of under hood heat related failures. It is still unknown if the engines will be as reliable as previous models.

'07 EPA requirements will result in all engine manufacturers installing particulate filters on class 8 trucks. I attended a CAT seminar at the '06 Mid-American truck show that informed us that this filter will require cleaning every 2 years or so to remove the residual crud that can not be burned in the burn cycle. No one could tell me how much this process will cost.

Unfortunately, class 8 engines rely heavily on the ECM computer for operating parameters. These computers make the Dodge computer look like a TRS-80. (showing my age) I'm sure, with time, someone will figure out how to bypass all these EPA mandated devices, but there is always the spot checks to catch the offenders.