2015 Volvo Semi Truck Manual Transmission Guide
If you are searched for a ebook 2015 volvo semi truck manual transmission guide in pdf format, then you have come on to right site. We furnish the utter variant of this book in ePub, txt, DjVu, PDF, doc. The AutoShift transmission, based on the RT Series manual transmission, is an. Your specific vocation, please see the Vocational Warranty Guide (TCWY0900).
The 18 speed transmission is strong, versatile and easy to use, once you get the hang of the pattern and if you are experienced with manual transmissions. It’s not the easiest of transmissions if you are just starting to learn to drive a tractor trailer. Versatility is the best feature of the 18 speed. The driver can always have the right gear to keep the truck engine running at the correct RPM to save fuel and help the truck engine last. For most truck drivers, the 18 speed transmission has more gears than you’ll ever need to use, unless perhaps you’re pulling trains in the mountains or heavy weight.
There’s a gear for all situations the driver might encounter. Shift Pattern For an 18 Speed The 18 speed transmission is laid out in an ‘ H’ pattern. The easiest way to become familiar with the 18 speed is to practice shifting in an H pattern. The driver uses second, third, fourth, and fifth, then splits up into high range. Then, shift the H pattern again for sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth gear. After reaching ninth gear, split up to overdrive for the top gear. There are plenty of other gears in between, as all main gears have a high range and low range, so that the driver can split any of the gears, twice more.
It might sound a bit complicated at first, but it’s really not. The more the driver practices, and the more experience he gains, he may find that at the gear being used, may not be quite the right one for where he wants the RPM’S to be.
In that case, they can be split up or down accordingly, matching the RPM’S to the engine’s sweet spot. Drivers who like floating gears should like the 18 speed, as 12 of the 18 gears available do not require moving the shifter, as they are split gears. Related Steps to Shifting an 18 Speed Transmission The 18 speed transmission is laid out in an ‘ H’ pattern. The easiest way to become familiar with the 18 speed is to practice shifting in an H pattern. The driver uses second, third, fourth, and fifth, then splits up into high range and then shift the H pattern again for sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth gear. After reaching ninth gear, split up to overdrive for the top gear.
There are plenty of other gears in between. The main gears have a high range and low range which results that the driver can split any of the gears, twice more. It might sound a bit complicated at first however it’s really not. The more the driver practices, and the more experience he gains, he may find that at the gear being used, may not be quite the right one for where he wants the RPM’S to be. In that case, they can be split up or down accordingly, matching the RPM’S to the engine’s sweet spot. Drivers who like floating gears should like the 18 speed because 12 of the 18 gears available do not require moving the shifter.
These gears are split gears. Related Shifting Tips. Shifting properly is kind of like riding a bike. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at it.
You can have two trucks, identically spec’ed and they’ll shift differently. Every truck shifts a little differently, they each have their own personality.
Just take the time to get to know what your truck likes. Find where the sweet spots are. Shifting should be done slowly and methodically. Feather the clutch and feather the fuel to help slide it into gear. Never try to force a gear.
It isn’t necessary. It will slide in virtually on its own if everything is lined up right, the speed and the RPM and the shifter. It’s not something to be rushed.
Practice, practice, practice. 18 Speed Transmission Shift Pattern Diagram This is a very simple basic diagram of the shifting pattern of an 18 speed transmission. This is the best way to understand the positioning of all 18 gears. 3 reverse gears — Why anyone would want or need 3 different speeds in reverse is beyond me.
But, the with 18 speed transmission, there are 3 reverse speeds. 3 LO gears (1,2,3) — There may be times when you’re trying to lift a heavy load from a dead stop, or trying to get a set of loaded B trains going from a dead stop after chaining up on a grade. In this situation, the 3 low forward starting gears of the 18 speed, are just the ticket to a smooth start. It’s easy to get a heavy load rolling without abusing the clutch. 15 forward gears — in 3 H patterns.
For the average driver, many of these gears will never be used. It depends on the weight of the load, terrain and several other factors. Watch this video to learn how to shift gears with an 18 speed transmission.
There are three types of transmissions found in semi-truck tractors, which are automated manual transmission, automatic transmission, and manual transmission. This article will mainly explore automated manual transmissions which are also referred to as automated mechanical transmissions. Allison TC10 automatic transmission is the only automatic transmission available for trucks today. TC10 transmissions are not yet adept to highway/over-the-road trucks therefore will not be covered in this article as we aim to determine the best semi-truck automatic transmission.
What is an automatic manual transmission? An automatic manual transmission (AMT) is a combination of the traditional manual and automatic transmissions. An AMT is when a mechanical transmission is automated through the addition of actuators, computers, and sensors to the shift clutch and fork. People in the industry will commonly refer to AMT’s as an automatic transmission but it is important to make the distinction especially as torque converter hydraulic automatic transmissions are beginning to enter the market. The electronic parts which give AMT’s its name include the driver interface, gear shift actuator, sensors, clutch actuator, driver display (speeds) base gearbox, electronic control unit, and a clutch or torque converter. The main supplies of automated manual transmissions are Daimler’s Detroit Diesel, Eaton, and Volvo. The AMT works by using a computer control system to automatically shift the gearbox of a manual transmission.
This process is supported with actuators for the clutch and shift forks. There are different power modes for different types of driving conditions including maximum grade-ability and low speed maneuverability. AMTs have two pedals and a shift pad in place of the gearshift lever.
If you want to get an idea of which truck manufacturer uses which transmission supplier with which engine supplier, then refer to the table below: Truck Brand Freightliner/Western Star Detroit Diesel Detroit DT12 Freightliner/Western Star Cummins Eaton Volvo Volvo Volvo Volvo Cummins Eaton Mack Mack Mack International Cummins/MaxxForce Eaton/Allison Peterbilt/Kenworth PACCAR/Cummins Eaton Benefits and Downsides There are benefits and challenges associated with AMT’s as there are with all types of truck transmissions. Benefit #1: Better fuel efficiency Manual transmissions are prone to human error because shifting the gear at the right time is important if the truck is to maintain the correct torque and speed for the corresponding driving situation. By preventing inefficient shifting by a trucker, the computer is able to override the manual shifting to produce more accurate gear positions. That is not to say that AMTs do not require skill to operate.

In fact, the level of fuel economy benefits a truck operation gets out of an AMT will depend upon the capability of the driver and how well they are trained to handle electronic transmissions. However, it can be firmly said that the skill level and attention to detail required to operate an AMT is less than a manual transmission. The average improvement in fuel economy for fleets is estimated at 2%. Another way fuel economy is improved with AMTs is through the coupling of electronic transmissions with other powertrain parts such as engines that use an electronic diesel fuel injection control system. Lower RPM with high torque allows the engine to consume less fuel. Or low speed gearing with AMT’s has been analyzed by Cummins to cause a reduction in fuel economy from 7.10 MPG (AMT) to 6.92 MPG (manual) during a 330-mile highway haul which utilized the same route. Benefit #2: Better Driver Recruitment, Training, and Safety The people who make up the trucking industry benefit from the use of AMTs.
Ranked driver shortage as the 3rd biggest issue concerning the trucking industry. Perhaps, the career description is not as appealing to younger people and women so the familiarity of automatic transmissions can improve driver recruitment with these demographics. Existing drivers have also reported that less effort is required with AMTs compared to manual transmissions. There are also some downsides to using an AMT in your truck(s). Downside #1: Higher upfront cost and lower resale value On average, an automated manual transmission costs $3,000 – $5,000 more than a manual transmission and when it’s time to sell they will net you a $1,000 to $1,500 loss. Downside #2: Maintenance costs are higher Electronically controlled transmissions are made up of more parts so when it comes to repairs, the cost is expected to be higher than its counterpart. However, AMTs do not place as great of a load on the clutches which means the clutch will have a longer life and reliability level.
It should be kept in mind that automated manual transmissions have only recently begun picking up steam in terms of their use which means most AMTs are still in their initial warranty coverage period. As a result, there is a lack of concrete data to accurately determine maintenance cost averages. Downside #3: The need to Spec a truck in a more integrated way Electronic transmissions will probably require you to assess the overall parts of your semi-truck tractor to ensure they are compatible for the best performance. Therefore, evaluate the powertrain as a whole and see how a AMT will fit in with the other parts such as the engine and axles.
Detroit Transmission Daimler, the parent company of Detroit introduced its first automated manual transmission to be sold in North America. The DT12 does come in a smaller variation but the one for the standard sleeper highway semi-truck, is approved for 120,000 GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating). The ECOAST mode automatically disengages the transmission when traveling downhill. As a result, engine RPMs will drop, momentum will be maintained, and fuel economy will go up. It also has skip shift mode which essentially skips unnecessary gears which help improve acceleration to get to the cruise speed more efficiently.
Volvo Semi Truck Dealers In Illinois
The Common Powertrain Controller improves communication and operation efficiency throughout the power-train. It is one of the lightest class 8 truck transmissions which is mainly due to its It is one of the lightest class 8 truck transmissions which is mainly due to its aluminum housing and single countershaft. Detroit has also recently added a power take-off feature to their engines which is especially useful for owner-operators that haul different types of goods. Eaton Transmission Eaton has the largest market share in the heavy-duty truck transmission sector. It plays a similar role like Cummins does with its engines, being thatalmost every truck brand utilizes their product in their vehicles. However, Eaton transmissions are not featured in Mack trucks. Eaton transmissions have been reported to perform well with Cummins’ engines.
Even though Eaton has made adjustments to its previous AMTs such as adding more aluminum, eliminating the external oil cooler, and reducing the number of hoses by 12 feet, the it is still a significant amount heavier than Volvo or Daimler transmissions. Eaton’s Ultrashift PLUS series is available in 6 different models suitable for linehaul and vocational purposes. The Linehaul series for the UltraShift PLUS is built from the foundation of the Fuller 10-speed manual and utilizes an electronic clutch actuator to shift in a two-pedal method. It has no clutch pedals. The hill start aid will prevent your truck from rolling back. Skip shifting is featured to avoid unnecessary gears. Other features in the Eaton UltraShift Plus LSE are:.
Multiple operating modes including low, manual, and automatic. Performs up with the highest torque capacity engines. Engine overspeed protection. Creep mode helps operator to curb, spread, and pave. Volvo Transmission Volvo manufactures its own transmissions for its own trucks under the I-Shift product line. Volvo does offer Eaton’s UltraShift PLUS.
It may be of interest to you to know that Volvo is the parent company of Mack meaning they own the company. The I-Shift transmission is the same AMT used in Mack Trucks but it is marketed under the name Mack mDRIVE which are paired with MP8 heavy-duty truck engines. There are 4 types of I-Shift transmissions that vary based on software and mode. They are fuel economy basic, performance premium, comprehensive premium, and gentle-shift. The rock out and power launch features help truckers get their truck moving if it gets stuck in snow or mud. Refer to this for additional help regarding Volvo’s transmissions.
Factors to consider when evaluating the best semi-truck automatic transmission Now we will discuss some key factors to consider when deciding which is the best semi-truck automatic transmission to buy. It should take little time to shift between gears. Cost should be reasonable. Power-take off operation should be included. Good noise and handling. No external cooler should be required. Serviceable with reasonable maintenance costs.
Should not require special fluids. Engine speed should be maintained at high levels when decelerating to maximize engine retardation. Will be covered in a future guide. For now, you should have enough basic information to be informed of the different automated manual transmission options and to have an idea of what specifications are relevant to you. Consult the respective AMT manufacturer’s websites for more information about their products.
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