PACCAR Powertrains
Founded in 1905, PACCAR Inc. touts itself as “a global leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality premium trucks.” Even if you are not aware of the name of their company, it is unlikely you do not know the names of their most popular brands in North America: Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. In all of their heavy-duty trucks are PACCAR powertrains, comprised of axles, a transmission, and most importantly, an engine.
Engine Types
There are currently four types of truck engines PACCAR proudly manufactures, all labeled based on the number of liters each engine can hold in its piston cylinders.
PX-7
The most basic of the four PACCAR truck engines, what the PX-7 lacks in raw power it makes up for in endurance and dependability.
First, the performance statistics: the PX-7 is a little thing, with eleven variations ranging from 200 horsepower to 360 horsepower, and peak torque ratings from 520 to 800 pound-feet. The most powerful version of the PX-7 is weaker than the weakest variation of MX-13, and PACCAR themselves suggest the PX-7 for use with medium-duty vehicles only.
This is far from saying that the PX-7 is worthless. At a dry weight of under 1,200 pounds, this engine is much lighter than most, minimizing fuel consumption.
PACCAR prides itself in the PX-7s durability, so much so that they offer a warranty at 3 years, unlimited miles. It is hard to beat infinite miles. PACCAR also offers extended warranties for the length of time the engine is covered.
Another convincing perk of the PX-7 is its maintenance simplicity. While other engines have a list of maintenance intervals for parts depending on what percentage of use is idling, the driver and fleet owner only need to remember 15-15-200: 15,000 miles for the fuel filter, 15,000 miles for the oil and filter, and 200,000 for the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) filter.
While putting a PX-7 in a class 8 truck might not perform to expectations, its fuel economy, long life, and simplicity make it the perfect engine for any smaller trucks in your fleet.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 6-Cylinder
- Bore X Stroke (MM): 107 x 124
- Displacement: 6.7 Liters
- Dry Weight: 1,151 Lbs.
- Oil System Capacity: 18 U.S. Quarts
- Horsepower: 200-360 HP
- Peak Torque: 520-800 LB.-FT.
- Governed Speed: 2600-2800 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 400 LB.-FT at 700 RPM.
- Base Warranty: 3 Years/Unlimited Mileage.
For more information on the PX-7, check out the specification sheet PDF
PX-9
The stronger brother of the PX-7, PX-9’s main advertising point is its power-to-weight ratio. Its eleven variants range from 260-450 horsepower, with peak torque ranging from 720-1250 pound-feet at comparable revolutions per minute (RPM).
The higher-end variations are fit for heavy-duty trucks, but even if your fleet is medium-duty, the lower end PX-9s have features that are normally reserved for heavy-duty trucks, such as replaceable wet liners on its cylinders and bypass oil filtration. It’s the best of both worlds!
The maintenance schedule on the PX-9 is very similar to that of the PX-7, but if the engine has a coolant filter equipped, the formula becomes 15-15-15-200. Unlike the PX-7, however, the PX-9 has a much more limited warranty of 2 years and 250,000 miles, but they do offer plan extensions.
The PX-9 is truly a middle-of-the-road engine. If you want a medium-duty truck to have the extra “oomph” of a heavy-duty truck, or a heavy hauler to have some of the simplicity of a medium-duty engine, the PX-9 variations are a great fit for your business.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 6-Cylinder
- Bore X Stroke (MM): 114 x 145
- Displacement: 8.9 Liters
- Dry Weight: 1,695 Lbs.
- Oil System Capacity: 24 U.S. Quarts
- Horsepower: 260-450 HP
- Peak Torque: 720-1,250 LB.-FT.
- Governed Speed: 2100-2200 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 500 LB.-FT at 700 RPM.
- Base Warranty: 2 Years/250,000 Miles.
For more information, check out the PX-9 specification sheet PDF.
MX-11
For the fleet manager, the MX-11 is a great choice. It has remote diagnostics to help those at the top detect problems before they become a major inconvenience, minimizing downtime at every step of the trip. If this does not sound reassuring, PACCAR stands behind this engine with a 2 year, 250,000 mile warranty, with extended warranty plans available.
The MX-11’s variations range in horsepower from 355 to 430, with torque ranging from 1250 to 1650 lb-ft at 900 RPM.
While the MX-11 has a much more complicated maintenance schedule in terms of different forms of use, maintenance is overall less common than for its PX counterparts. At the absolute heaviest use, the fuel and oil filters will need replacement at every 30,000 miles, meaning less time in the shop and more time driving.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 6-Cylinder
- Bore X Stroke (MM): 123 x 152
- Displacement: 10.8 Liters
- Dry Weight: 2200 Lbs.
- Oil System Capacity: 39 U.S. Quarts
- Horsepower: 355-430 HP
- Peak Torque: 1250-1650 LB.-FT.
- Governed Speed: 2200 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 737 LB.-FT at 800 RPM.
- Base Warranty: 2 Years/250,000 Miles.
For more information, check out MX-11’s specification sheet.
MX-13
If you hate shopping for engines, the MX-13 is the engine for you. While this PACCAR MX engine only has a warranty for 2 years and 250,000 miles, PACCAR has tested it to have a B10 design life of one million miles: this means that there is a 90% chance the engine will be able to travel across the continental United States over 300 times without requiring a major overhaul. It also comes with the remote diagnostics found in the MX-11 to better ensure engine lifespan.
The MX-13 has eight variations, ranging in 405 horsepower to 510 horsepower, with peak torque ranging from 1450 to 1850 lb-ft.
The maintenance schedule is parallel to its smaller brother, the MX-11. Running it in the harshest conditions will require fuel and oil filter changes ever 30,000 miles, but normal use can up the range on these changes to 75,000 miles.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 6-Cylinder
- Bore X Stroke (MM): 30 x 162
- Displacement: 12.9 Liters
- Dry Weight: 2600 Lbs.
- Oil System Capacity: 24 U.S. Quarts
- Horsepower: 405-510 HP
- Peak Torque: 1450-1850 LB.-FT.
- Governed Speed: 2200 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 937 LB.-FT at 800 RPM.
- B10 Design Life: 1,000,000 Miles
- Base Warranty: 2 Years/250,000 Miles.
More details are available at the MX-13’s specification PDF.
Transmission Types
PACCAR powertrains come with only one type of transmission.
12-Speed Automated
Built for MX engines but also compatible with the PX engines, the 12-Speed is extremely durable. PACCAR stands by their transmission with a five year, 750,000 mile warranty for the transmission and 3 year, 350,000 mile warranty for the clutch. It is made of durable aluminum to minimize weight.
Maintenance intervals are rare and simple. Simply change the transmission oil every 750,000 miles, and you’re done! The clutch requires no maintenance.
Specifications
- Gears: 12 forward, 2 reverse
- Lower cruise speed limit: 1100 RPM
- Torque capacity: 1850 pound-feet
- Oil capacity: 16 pints
- System weight (transmission, clutch, and oil): 657 pounds
- Maximum operating weight: 110000 pounds
- PTO maximum operating weight: 8 bolt, bottom mount, 95 horsepower
- Burnup protection: Oil pressure sensor
- Transmission warranty: 5 years / 750,000 miles
- Clutch warranty: 3 years / 350,000 miles
Ratios
- 1st: 14.43
- 2nd: 11.05
- 3rd: 8.44
- 4th: 6.46
- 5th: 4.95
- 6th: 3.79
- 7th: 2.91
- 8th: 2.23
- 9th: 1.70
- 10th: 1.30
- 11th: 1.00
- 12th: 0.77
- Reverse 1: 16.92
- Reverse 2: 12.95
- Overall: 18.85
For more details, check out its specification sheet.
Axle Types
PACCAR has two axle types based off weight rating: 20K and 40K.
20K Front Axle
Designed for vocational use, the 20k Front Axle is made from robust forged steel beams, giving it a lightweight design that increases fuel efficiency. Compatible with either front air disc brakes or drum brakes, the 20k Front Axle certainly has a place in your vocational operations.
Specifications
- Weight ratings: 20,000 and 22,000 pounds
- Available with front suspensions rated from: 16,000-22,800 pounds
- Warranty: 5 years / 750,000 miles
PACCAR has more information at the spec sheet.
40K Tandem Axle
PACCAR says this is the industry’s “premier line haul axle.” Its advanced design allows it to be lighter without compromising on efficiency; PACCAR says they saved 150 pounds through their methodology.
Specifications
- GCW: 80,000 pounds
- GAWR: 40,000 pounds tandem
- Ratio range: 2.47 to 3.70
- Straight torque rating: 1,650 pound-feet
- Multi-torque rating: 1,850 pound-feet
- Warranty: 5 years / 750,000 miles
Here is the relevant spec sheet for the 40K Tandem Axle.
Conclusion
Two of the largest consistent expenses of trucking are diesel fuel and maintenance. Whichever of the two you dislike more, PACCAR has a powertrain solution for your truck(s) to reduce those expenses as low as possible.
PACCAR has researched extensively into reducing powertrain weight, insisting that a powertrain with an MX-13 engine saves 500 pounds in total. This, combined with the durability and lower maintenance intervals should reduce the twin expenses of fuel and maintenance to make PACCAR powertrains a worthy investment.
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