Obviously, I know more horsepower generally equates to more grunt.
But in the real world…On a fully loaded 26 tonner…do the sub-300 hp engines struggle? I’ve seen a few 230-280’s about; but my gut tells me in excess of 300 for a hassle free life…
Ta.
More horses in the right hands means better mpg and a kinder life on the engine. Can be disaster if driven wrong though. A good driver will get good fuel out of a smaller engine, but better fuel out of a big lump. A bad driver will get slightly better fuel from the smaller engine than the bigger one. You have to nurse the throttle with a bigger engine, sit back and allow the truck to get on with it. Less stress on the driver, the lorry and the fuel card
Horse power ain’t all that matters though. We got by with 120,150,180 horses years ago when it was 32 ton gross. What we seemed to have more of was grunt (torque). No rose tinted glasses here, it’s just how I remember it. We weren’t in so much of a hurry either, but on the other hand, we could do 70 and more on the quieter roads we were on. I reckon that all the euro 3,4,5, etc crap has made those horses in to foals.
I remember running with a Leyland Roadtrain with a 290 ■■■■■■■ in at 38 tonnes. Loaded at 30 tonnes it would fly up Windy Hill. Running at 36/37 tonnes it would be a very close match the DAF CF 460 Euro 6 I drive now running at 42/43 tonnes. The DAF though absolutely pees all over the Leyland when it comes to fuel economy. I’ll average 10MPG, 9MPG on a bad day. On a good day with the Leyland you were doing 8 MPG.
Ovlov Jay said … ‘A bad driver will get slightly better fuel from the smaller engine than the bigger one.’
■■? How can he be a bad driver then ■■?
When I started driving I read that it was 10bhp per tonne mgw, so 260 was deemed enough power. Now Smiths have 26tonners with 370’s.
raymundo:
Ovlov Jay said … ‘A bad driver will get slightly better fuel from the smaller engine than the bigger one.’■■? How can he be a bad driver then ■■?
Because if he had a lighter foot he could see a vast improvement with a bigger engine, whilst the smaller engine is set up diffently to be a fleet spec one size fits all job
We have 2 MAN 26t fridge rigids at work. The 290hp variant feels slow sluggish and unresponsive yet the 320 feels like a completely different vehicle, far more than you would expect for just 30hp difference.
Give it time , the resident engineering specialist , Bking will be along to enlighten all & sundry . 
el_presidente:
Obviously, I know more horsepower generally equates to more grunt.But in the real world…On a fully loaded 26 tonner…do the sub-300 hp engines struggle? I’ve seen a few 230-280’s about; but my gut tells me in excess of 300 for a hassle free life…
Ta.
Yes ! I have a scanny 280 and other day from Scarborough to Hull I took the Foxholes road and was down to 23mph on the first hill with only 8t on!
Not in a rush but was feeble crawl up the hill [emoji2]
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NickW88:
We have 2 MAN 26t fridge rigids at work. The 290hp variant feels slow sluggish and unresponsive yet the 320 feels like a completely different vehicle, far more than you would expect for just 30hp difference.
Is the 320 a TGS? If so I think it has a larger engine (10litre?) whereas the TGM is barely 7litres.
I drive a 26 tonner with 290 and yes it really does struggle. Takes a long long time to get up to speed in my opinion.
i wouldn’t entertain anything less than 11 litres or 380 for a 26 tonner .
Muckaway:
When I started driving I read that it was 10bhp per tonne mgw, so 260 was deemed enough power. Now Smiths have 26tonners with 370’s.
Thats because our new units are 500bhp up to the two 750bhp units, it’s all willy waving. 
Our Renaults are 380’s and pull like trains whereas the Scania’s are only 320’s but struggle with even just a little weight on.
Punchy Dan:
i wouldn’t entertain anything less than 11 litres or 380 for a 26 tonner .
Typical boss, I wouldn’t drop below a 13 litre 460 
mrginge:
Muckaway:
When I started driving I read that it was 10bhp per tonne mgw, so 260 was deemed enough power. Now Smiths have 26tonners with 370’s.Thats because our new units are 500bhp up to the two 750bhp units, it’s all willy waving.
When our 8w was remapped the boss left the “360” badges on to upset some drivers.
I have a 420 at 44ton not the fastest with a 14.10 trailer at full weight. Does the job though
Don’t you think though that most of the ‘problem’ is not with the powerrrrr but the torque or lack of it with the engines being strangled at euro 5 & 6? Also final drive could be a bit high geared to ‘improve’ fuel economy on ordinary roads but crucifies them on more difficult routes. My ***burner is a typical example. Goes lovely with about 15 tonne in the box but any more or difficult terrain and she doesn’t half start crying!
