FM686386 Force DECAL, "125XT"

Idling
Avoid excess idling. If the truck is parked for more than five minutes, STOP the engine.If extended idle time is required, control engine speed to 1000 rpm or greater and take steps to ensure that the coolant temperature exceeds 160°F (71°C). Contact your Caterpillar dealer for assistance.Caterpillar truck engines do not require long warm up times that waste fuel. It takes just a few minutes in summer and a bit longer in winter to warm-up the engine. A load can be applied to the engine after normal oil pressure is achieved and the coolant water temperature gauge begins to rise.Getting Started
Use progressive shifting techniques. Progressive shifting improves fuel economy. Keep engine rpm to a minimum (low to mid rpm range [1200 to 1600 rpm]). Use only enough rpm to pick-up the next gear. Progressive shifting also reduces acceleration time. Top gear is reached sooner because it takes less time to synchronize gears during shifting and the engine is operating at its highest torque range. Experience with your truck will show you how much rpm is required to make upshifts under various conditions.If the truck can be operated in a higher gear after the desired speed is reached, select the highest gear available that will pull the load. By following this recommendation, you will lower your fuel costs.Cruising
The faster a truck is driven, the more fuel it will consume. Increasing cruising speed from 55 to 65 mph (88 to 104 km/h) will increase fuel consumption. Driving faster to increase stop time makes those stops very expensive! Cruising time provides the greatest opportunity to benefit from operation in the most efficient rpm range of the engine (1300 to 1800 rpm).Uphill Operation
For best performance, allow the engine to lug down to 1300 rpm before downshifting. Continue to downshift in this manner until you reach a gear that maintains desired speed. Continue to operate at low (1300) rpm if the truck will make it to the top without a downshift. Begin upshifting as the grade of the hill decreases and the engine begins to accelerate above 1800 rpm. Driving this way will give you the best fuel economy and performance! Allowing the engine to lug below peak torque is permissible if the truck is cresting the top of a hill. However, extended operation at engine speeds below peak torque (usually 1200 rpm) will raise exhaust temperature and cylinder pressure. This can lead to reduced engine life.Downhill Operation
Do NOT allow the engine rpm to exceed 2300 rpm, engine damage can result.
On a downgrade, do not coast with the clutch pedal depressed or shift into NEUTRAL.Select the correct gear that does not allow the engine speed (rpm) to exceed 2300 rpm and use the service brakes to control the speed of the truck. Select the same gear that would be required to go up the grade.Saving Fuel
Long, steep downgrades should be anticipated. Truck speed should be reduced before cresting the top of a hill and proceeding down a long steep grade. The way to achieve maximum fuel efficiency, is to minimize the amount of braking that is used to maintain a safe speed.The engine's ability to hold the truck back increases with engine speed. A gear should be selected that runs the engine near the high engine rpm limit for long steep hills when braking is required.Vehicle Efficiency
An efficient vehicle performs the desired amount of work while minimizing the power demand on the engine. The major contributors to power demand are aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) of the vehicle, rolling resistance of the tires, gross weight of the vehicle, losses in the drive train, and the load from the engine driven accessories. Refer to the publication, CAT Answers Your Questions About Truck Performance, LEDT2254.