Heavy Duty Trucking, April 2018

APRIL 2018 HDT 51 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COM fuel economy At the Las Vegas launch of the LT in fall of 2016 Internationals then President Bill Kozek said the 2018 LT with an N13 engine would be 7 more efficient than a 2017 ProStar with a Cummins ISX 15 engine He claimed a 3 improvement in aerodynamic efficiency alone with lighter weights and new engine technology contributing the remaining 4 When Internationals new engine the A26 appeared in February Darren Gosbee Internationals vice president advanced engineering said the A26 would boost fuel economy by 5 over its predecessor the N13 Thats a potential fuel efficiency increase of close to 10 compared to a 2017 ProStar At the A26 launch event Gosbee said an A26 equipped LT highway truck bettered 8 mpg over three runs on a 475 mile fueleconomy test route known as the Illinois Hilly Route said to simulate real world driving conditions for 75 of Internationals customer fleets Around the LT The LT is a considerable step forward from the ProStar Beginning with the cooling module the A26 engine uses the same radiator as the X15 so theres considerable cooling capacity The interstage cooler has been dropped so there is only the radiator and the AC condenser up there A new rubber gasket around the rad seals out dust that gets kicked by the fan so the fins stay cleaner for longer preventing clogging and a loss of cooling capacity over time Youll hardly ever hear the fan come on and when it does its much quieter because it has only six blades rather than the previous 11 It draws 31 hp less than the larger fan and is much easier on the fan clutch too The hood is now taller at the top and longer overall stretching the bumper to back ofcab measurement to 125 inches This the company says improves the front profile of the truck for smoother air flow and less drag Built into the hood are a pair of splash guards that were formerly chassis mounted This makes engine access much easier while still protecting from muck The three piece bumper offers a couple of advantages First its less expensive to repair than a one piece bumper Second its available in several different configurations depending on the type of trailer you pull Aero research conducted during Internationals SuperTruck project revealed that the bumper has a large influence on how airflow interacts with the trailer whether there are side skirts or not trailer boat tail or not The bumper also sits about 8 inches off the ground to minimize damage from curb strikes The suspension at the rear of the cab now has a wider stance giving the cab a distinctly more stable ride The fuel tank mounts and the spring hangers in the International Ride Optimized Suspension IROS are made of cast aluminum saving close to 200 pounds in chassis weight The doors were redesigned and made two times stiffer than the ProStars doors International says The new doors are also canted slightly inward at the top to force a tighter seal around the opening This helps keep out drafts as well as noise Stiffening the door also helps reduce vibration and SPECIFICATIONS International LT Engine International A26 450 hp 1550 1700 lb ft Transmission Eaton Fuller Advantage 10 speed AMT Front End Axle Meritor 14K Suspension Hendrickson 14K taperleaf Brakes Air disc Rear End Axles 6x4 Meritor 40K 264 1 ratio Suspension International Ride Optimized IROS Brakes Air disc Diamond Logic electrical system 54 in HiRise sleeper Wheelbase 209 in 125 in BBC Dry weight 17820 lbs The driver environment is what drivers asked for a truck that looks like a truck but with lots of the latest technology baked in The stalk mounted shifter control is new Its easier to reach than the old dash mounted shifter and very intuitive