Tom_with_a_Dream wrote:
Big rigs are 14 liters? Good Lord!!! That must be a heck of a torque rating.
I remember odd things from my educational experiences.
One of my favorites is the Driver Ed guy telling us 15-year-olds to never pull in front of a cement truck (exactly like a teenager would) because trying to stop 14 tons of cement is a whole lot different than trying to stop 2 tons of sedan!
(I'm sure he used the accurate weight, but 14 is the number I remember.)
The current Cummins ISX is 14L, the CATS are 15L, and the Volvos are 16L. I got the Cummins ISX. 475HP and 1300# Torque. A lot of the engines allow for setting the HP and torque via a computer with no modifications to the engine, depending on model.
You would be right on 14 tons. When I am fully loaded, my vehicle/payload is at 20 tons. Simple physics will say that to stop this much weight, even on good,dry pavement, is a distance thing. This is why I can't stand those truck drivers that feel they need to ride up on a 4 wheelers back side. If something, like a blown tire, happened to the car, there is no way for the semi not to crush it like a coke can. I love that the manufactures have created ABS systems and Traction control the newer trucks/trailers.
I don't blame car drivers for some of the things they do around the big trucks. Most times, they just don't understand what can happen. I do blame truck drivers for some of the crap they pull out on the road. They know better.