Being fairly-new in my job as the marketing guy at Pittsburgh Power, I (Andrew Wilson) attended the 2019 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville for the first time this year and wow, what an event. With over 1,000,000 sq-ft. of space, it would be a challenge to see everything – there was almost too much to see. From the major truck and powertrain manufacturers in the North Wing to the amazing rigs outside in the Pride & Polish lot, it was a lot to take in.
With over 18,000 owner-operators in attendance, we were quite busy in our booth in the West Wing, talking with clients and answering their questions. It was also a great opportunity to connect with fans of the Road Dog radio show who were able to meet the people behind the voices they hear every week. We received a lot of compliments on our new display, which featured three workbenches we built in our shop. We also unveiled new products – the Max Mileage 
Fuel Catalyst and the Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer. Overall, it was another successful show, and we appreciate meeting with our fans and customers.
For those of you who are dealing with aftertreatment system issues due to excessive soot, we have got feedback from a customer who tried our Max Mileage Fuel Borne Catalyst and the results are astonishing. Bruce Luke, an owner-operator from Hartsfield, GA who owns a 550-hp 2013 Cummins ISX CM2350 engine, began having troubles with fault codes and a severe lack of engine power due to DPF issues. It cost him $6,000 to have the DPF baked and the codes cleared. Six months later he had to pay for the same repair again.
At this point, Bruce decided to try our Max Mileage product. After using it for a month he inspected his DPF, and instead of seeing the usual 
black oily soot, he only saw a small amount of dry loose powder. He also noticed an increase in performance and fewer DPF regens. Now, the truck only needs the occasional passive regen while driving, saving him time and money. Between this and the increased fuel mileage, Bruce Luke’s business is now more profitable.
Here at Pittsburgh Power, we have a three-pronged approach to dealing with DPF regen issues. The first is our Diesel Force complete engine cleaning, which gives the engine a fresh start and cleans any existing carbon deposits. Next, we install our “Dorothy” cyclonic EGR filter to catch soot before it enters the intake. Finally, we administer a continual use of Max Mileage, which helps reduce the amount of soot the engine is producing and burns off soot in the DPF. With these procedures in place, we feel that a newer truck could run between 1.2 to 1.6 million miles with little or no emissions-related problems.
Our ideal plan for emission care and maintenance is to install a “Dorothy” immediately and then add 1 oz. of the Max Mileage Fuel Borne Catalyst per every 25 gallons of fuel. If you want to make super fuel, you can also add the Lucas Fuel Conditioner, which is 1 gallon per every 400 gallons of fuel. The Max Mileage Catalyst comes in 1-gallon containers and will treat 3,200 gallons of fuel. This catalyst eliminates most of the soot generated in the combustion chamber, and then the “Dorothy” catches the remainder of the soot before it gets back via the EGR system to the intake manifold. If there is 
no soot going through the EGR valve, the turbine vanes in the VG turbo, and no soot in the DPF filter, regens are almost eliminated, and the use of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) greatly diminishes. The savings alone in DEF fluid will more than pay for the Catalyst and Lucas. This Catalyst could very well change the world for diesel engines and be their saving grace, making it possible to enjoy a new smoke-free semi-truck, pickup truck, or anything with a Tier 3 or 4 diesel engine.
Another new product we introduced at the show in Louisville was the Safe-T-Plus steering damper. This is not a “new” product, however you probably never heard of it unless you’re affiliated with the motorhome industry. Back in the mid-1980s, the Safe-T-Plus was mandatory on all the Great American Truck Racing semis. The reason for the damper was because the amount of right front tires we blew out on the asphalt circle tracks was astounding. When the tire blew at well over 100 mph, the truck would rip through the wall. Needless to say, we were destroying race tracks.
Needing a cure for this damaging problem, TL Sexton, a 31-year owner-operator from Atlanta, GA, came to our rescue with a steering damper that would keep the truck going straight, even after a blowout. The other benefits of the damper include the elimination of wandering when the roadway has grooves, jarring of the steering wheel when crossing uneven overpasses, and swaying when being passed by a fast-moving truck pulling a reefer or van. This damper has 270 pounds of force holding the steering wheel straight! You would be shocked at the driving pleasure the Safe-T-Plus will give you. Yes, at $699 it’s a bit expensive, but that price also includes the installation kit.
Lastly this month, we have a special announcement from one of our owner-operator customers, Bill Reeves. Bill is selling a very nice 1965 Ford Mustang coupe and would like to find it a good home (he doesn’t have time to drive it and is moving out of the country for his retirement in a few years). He bought it at the Cleveland Piston Power show in 2010. It had a recent frame-off restoration done by the previous owner and comes with a 289 with a 4-barell carb, an automatic transmission, and headers with dual exhaust. Some unique features include rear air shocks, custom front grill, side scoops, Cobra air cleaner and extra-wide rear tires. It’s in good running and driving condition with no mechanical issues, except maybe some dash wiring that might need attention. It comes complete with new window cranks, new interior door cards, and a custom-fit cover. He’s asking a very reasonable $25,000 for it. If you’d like to contact Bill, please call and leave him a message at (732) 620-5256.