Running Above the Governor

I am not sure about it damaging the engine but if your truck has a qualcomm your speed is being recorded and you will reap the consequences.

 

There are two "governors" at play here.

One governor controls the fuel and thus engine RPM and power output.

The other "governor" spoken of is not a governor in diesel terms, it is a programmed truck speed limiter implemented by companies who employ drivers with no concept of the laws of physics.

Exceeding the "Truck Speed Limiter" going downhill is a trick drivers have discovered to defeat the speed limit imposed by their employer. However this will not result in any damage to the motor as long as the MOTOR is not overspeeded.

It may however be damaging to their driving careers should their employer discover the practice and Smokey will be none too pleased to witness said behavior, which will no doubt have certain financial damages.

Remember you might go down hill too fast only once! Check your Karma index before proceeding. And don't take anyone else with you when you go....

 

if you read the defination again, it says 'engine idle and max. engine speed'. Doesn't say REVS. and i'm well within engine tollerance. i've spent more time accidently over-rev'ing the engine floating gears then i have anywhere NEAR 1600-1700 revs. and the redline for the truck is 2200+.

webster says 'governor: 4a : an attachment to a machine (as a gasoline engine) for automatic control or limitation of speed'.

see, i can do it too. make me an argument, and i can find anything on the internet, spin it to make it sound like a counter point against your point.

if the truck is in gear, with the jake on (as needed) and your foot covering the brake to slow the truck when you want...how is that "out of control"?

out of control is a runway truck with no brakes, and no means to stop the vehicle. I'm still curious.....why is it okay AND SAFE for a swift lease operator to run 68, but in the exact same truck, with a governor at 62, its deemed unsafe? either its safe to go 68 or it isnt.

again, it all boils down to those lease operators all butt-hurt because someone else is doing something THEY feel is a privilege or a reward for leasing a truck. its not a safety thing....it is an insurance thing. if it was a safety thing, swift would govern all trucks at the same speed.

 

The same engines that are governed for 1800 or 2100 RPM's in trucks turn 2500 RPM's in marine applications...

 

i was able to run 68 yesterday going down a slight grade. my tach reads a tick over 1500. Funny, cause in 7th gear going 55mph, my tach is 1600. Oh...lets not forget, when i'm pulling a heavy load up an on-ramp needing to accelerate, i'll run my revs up to about 1800 and hold it for a second just to get as much speed going as i can, rather than lumber up an on-ramp, then blend into traffic going 35. But i bet this is "safer" than trying to get as much momentum as possible.

fact is...i run less revs on the engine going 68 than i do pulling a heavy load up-hill trying to get up to speed. Still can't argue the point i make about how is it safe for one swift truck to go 68 than it is for a company swift truck to do the same speed.

 

I agree, it's not about "safety." It's about marketing to prospective lease-operators and owner operators ("Be your own boss (!) and drive your own truck (!) faster." It's also about this: the guy who owns the company and the trucks and buys the fuel and pays the insurance makes the rules.

 

The main reason you dont want to run above the governor on the rpm or speed side.

If your going down a hill and something happens, tire blows, hit ice, many other senarios, you need to be able to pull the trailer to control whats happening.

If your truck is goverened at 62 and your running 62 you cant do this.
If your rpms are limited to 1700 and your above that cant pull trailer straight either.

Most trucks will rev well over 2000 mine is set for 2400 before it cuts out.
I believe it would destruct at 2800 is what detroit said.