Trying to understand engines and transmissions. Could use help.

[Windsjorn]

I'm going to buy a truck, specifically the MACK Superliner. Problem is I don't understand the stats on the engines and transmissions due to me not knowing car stuff and truck stuff.

http://imgur.com/a/SJAe7

These pictures show the engines and transmissions of it. Could someone help me understand which of these engines and transmissions are better? I'm so far basing it off of price alone (the more expensive = the more better).

Please be aware if you use terms like "Retarder" I may ask what they are/mean.

[Nono54Fr]

You may find what you need in there :

http://steamcommunity.com/app/227300/discussions/0/828935673154648813/
http://steamcommunity.com/app/227300/discussions/0/144512526678153933/
http://steamcommunity.com/app/227300/discussions/0/154642447915546083/

[Twelvefield]

Torque is the best stat, since you need pulling power over speed, especially on hills.

Transmissions are a matter of taste, although to be realistic the more gears the "better". However, modern trucks can have computer-controlled transmissions, and there are tractors with automatic six-speeds that drive kind of like a car.

So beyond what the truck market presents, you can choose in Options to drive an automatic or a standard. Then in the market, you can choose the transmission with the number of gears you like. A lot can depend on what you are using for a game controller, since some configurations like the 13-speed work well with some shifters.

A transmission with a retarder will help you control your speed when braking or going downhill.

[Windsjorn]

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

Torque is the best stat, since you need pulling power over speed, especially on hills.

Transmissions are a matter of taste, although to be realistic the more gears the "better". However, modern trucks can have computer-controlled transmissions, and there are tractors with automatic six-speeds that drive kind of like a car.

So beyond what the truck market presents, you can choose in Options to drive an automatic or a standard. Then in the market, you can choose the transmission with the number of gears you like. A lot can depend on what you are using for a game controller, since some configurations like the 13-speed work well with some shifters.

A transmission with a retarder will help you control your speed when braking or going downhill.

So would you say the choices for the MACK are the correct ones?

[B_Wald]

It's not nearly as complex as in real life, as there are fewer variables.

In general: BIG NUMBERS = BETTER. Horsepower and torque are the most important. If you have two engines with very similar stats, go for the most torque. If they have the same torque stats, go for the one that provides that torque over the widest RPM range (listed right below the torque figure).

Transmissions are the same: more gears is better. The more gears you have, the easier it is to keep the engine RPM in that torque range I mentioned before. Most trucks can take an 18-speed. Do so. You can always take gears two or three at a time when you want/need to (knowing when to do so will come with experience). Buy one with a retarder if possible. It's a drivetrain brake that makes using cruise control much safer.

Hope that helped, happy trails!

[Twelvefield]

Originally posted by Rain Twister:

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

Torque is the best stat, since you need pulling power over speed, especially on hills.

Transmissions are a matter of taste, although to be realistic the more gears the "better". However, modern trucks can have computer-controlled transmissions, and there are tractors with automatic six-speeds that drive kind of like a car.

So beyond what the truck market presents, you can choose in Options to drive an automatic or a standard. Then in the market, you can choose the transmission with the number of gears you like. A lot can depend on what you are using for a game controller, since some configurations like the 13-speed work well with some shifters.

A transmission with a retarder will help you control your speed when braking or going downhill.

So would you say the choices for the MACK are the correct ones?

There are no incorrect choices. The worse the stats, the harder it will be to do some things in the truck, but it won't ever be undriveable. Even the lowest-rated truck will do everything you want, and do it well.

[wolfedg]

@Twelvefield I'm not sure about ATS, but in ETS that wasnt entirely true. I had a couple of jobs that started in a quarry that I couldnt get out of there with.

[Fury6]

Originally posted by wolfedg:

@Twelvefield I'm not sure about ATS, but in ETS that wasnt entirely true. I had a couple of jobs that started in a quarry that I couldnt get out of there with.

Operator error. There is no job in ETS2 that can't be hauled out of the quarry with even the lowest spec tractor in the game.

To be fair, the quarry haul is indeed a bit of a challenge, but certainly nothing even close to not-doable.
--

To the OP, as Twelvefield says there are really no 'bad' or incorrect choices as such. If you don't like changing gears, choose ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ with fewer gears :), if you like to have an easy time hauling the heavier loads, choose a higher torque engine.

BTW you can ignore the horsepower stat altogether here, just to make things a little easier. It's nothing more than a plain text field for the information display panel (It's pretty much irrelevent anyway). Same goes for the RPM stat. All the default engines in the game have the same torque curve and are configured for peak torque between 1100 and 1400 RPM, regardless of what the info panel says.

As for the modded engines, they're pretty much hit and miss regarding how correctly the information panel relates with the actual configured torque values and RPM stats.

[Windsjorn]

Thank you all for the help. I love this game. I just wish I understood it better, like maybe have a tutorial that covers what the stats mean would have helped.

[Windsjorn]

Originally posted by Fury6:

Originally posted by wolfedg:

@Twelvefield I'm not sure about ATS, but in ETS that wasnt entirely true. I had a couple of jobs that started in a quarry that I couldnt get out of there with.

Operator error. There is no job in ETS2 that can't be hauled out of the quarry with even the lowest spec tractor in the game.

To be fair, the quarry haul is indeed a bit of a challenge, but certainly nothing even close to not-doable.
--

To the OP, as Twelvefield says there are really no 'bad' or incorrect choices as such. If you don't like changing gears, choose ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ with fewer gears :), if you like to have an easy time hauling the heavier loads, choose a higher torque engine.

BTW you can ignore the horsepower stat altogether here, just to make things a little easier. It's nothing more than a plain text field for the information display panel (It's pretty much irrelevent anyway). Same goes for the RPM stat. All the default engines in the game have the same torque curve and are configured for peak torque between 1100 and 1400 RPM, regardless of what the info panel says.

As for the modded engines, they're pretty much hit and miss regarding how correctly the information panel relates with the actual configured torque values and RPM stats.

So what the more important stat is the torque/NM?

[Fury6]

Originally posted by Rain Twister:

what the more important stat is the torque/NM?

Yep, well it's technically the *only* stat :).

[xTNPxSeal]

I always pick the engines with the most torque, it makes jobs much easier.

[wolfedg]

I don't see how it was operator error as the thing just wouldnt climb the hill (yes it was a beginner truck). It could be that my game settings being Simple Automatic made it so I couldnt operate at the proper gear or something, but that shoulnt prevent it gameplay wise unless it was either intended or a bug seeing as all i could do is make a straigth run at the hill and hold 'W'. Also bear in mind that this was long ago when I first started playing ETS II so things may have changed.

[Elwyn]

Torque, (measured in Nm or lb/Ft, depending on whether your country uses Metric, or has been to the Moon,) is a measure of the raw turning force of your engine.

Power, (Measured in Horsepower or Kilowatts) is a measurement of torque-over-time. Two different engines could produce identical peak torque numbers. If one of them produces that torque at a higher RPM, it will produce more horsepower.

These being heavy trucks, what you're really after is "low-end torque." Engines that produce plenty of torque in the lower RPMs are better at dragging themselves up through the gears.



With regard to transmissions, you'll see 3 numbers. "Speeds," "Ratios," and "Differential."
The first is pretty self-explanatory. It's the number of gears you have. Transmissions with more gears allow your engine to take smaller "bites" out of the climb from its lowest to highest ratio.

Which brings us to ratios. The large number represents the gear ratio in the transmission's low gear. The small number represents the gear ratio in top gear. Lower numbers mean more speed, but less torque.

The differential number is the ratio of the ring and pinion gear set in the axles. These provide further gear reduction, on top of whatever gear the transmission is in. The lower the number, the faster the axle, but the less pulling power it's going to have.



A retarder is an electro-magnet (basically) affixed to the output shaft of the transmission that forces the driveline to slow down. It functions similarly to an engine brake, but is quieter, and doesn't necessitate repeated downshifting.

[Fury6]

Originally posted by wolfedg:

I don't see how it was operator error as the thing just wouldnt climb the hill (yes it was a beginner truck). It could be that my game settings being Simple Automatic made it so I couldnt operate at the proper gear or something, but that shoulnt prevent it gameplay wise unless it was either intended or a bug seeing as all i could do is make a straigth run at the hill and hold 'W'. Also bear in mind that this was long ago when I first started playing ETS II so things may have changed.

--

Assuming you were hauling vanilla loads (!>25t), it was operator error :P

I personally tested this long ago using the smallest engine and heaviest load (25t) in the game and had no difficulty getting up the ramp. I use manual shift with wheel/pedal/h-shifter, however Margalus has posted video proof that he could easily do the same with keyboard and both SA and AA auto modes. There was quite a discussion about this on the ETS2 forum with plenty of people making the same claim that it couldn't be done and wanted the quarry site changed. Margalus' videos pretty much ended the discussion IIRC :).

Using keyboard, you're certainly at some disadvantage as you need to modulate your use of the 'W' key as to make sure the transmission doesn't change up during both the run-up as well as the climb itself, while also not losing too much RPM. Most people will make the mistake of just holding the key down and taking a full-up run at the ramp, allowing the transmission to change up as they go. Then when they hit the full incline and the transmission has to shift back down it just loses way too much RPM and the truck grinds to a stop.

The quarry was a fun challenge, I used to enjoy picking up loads from those during my time with ETS2.
--

Soz for off-topic :0.

[wolfedg]

Originally posted by Fury6:

Using keyboard, you're certainly at some disadvantage as you need to modulate your use of the 'W' key as to make sure the transmission doesn't change up during both the run-up as well as the climb itself, while also not losing too much RPM. Most people will make the mistake of just holding the key down and taking a full-up run at the ramp, allowing the transmission to change up as they go. Then when they hit the full incline and the transmission has to shift back down it just loses way too much RPM and the truck grinds to a stop.

Yep that wouldve been my mistake, wish I had knew it as I ended up calling for a tow.