What engines/transmissions are a good pick for different jobs?

[sparks567jh]

I started in ETS, and recently moved to this game a few months ago and have enjoyed driving around the US. I have 2 main profiles, both level 8, one was my first profile, with a Kenworth T680, and the newest one I have been using recently is a Peterbilt 389.
I haven't, and don't really plan on trying the special transport jobs, the ones with the escorts, for the primary reason that I encountered several bugs with them in ETS 2. so I mainly do the highest paying jobs, I have the heavy cargo DLC (not the one with escorts) which I do quite often.

The main jobs I find myself doing is large farming/construction equipment (from heavy cargo DLC), often giving my rig and trailer an entire weight of 80,000-140,000 pounds (my rig currently only weighs ~19k with a full tank. so a decent amount of weight I'm pulling) but I still am currently using the stock engine, and one of the higher transmissions (I think the one available on either level 5-8. cant remember) but I am unsure about upgrading my engine, as it seems, engines only increase heavy cargo ability, and decrease normal cargo

Should I upgrade my engine, which is still stock from when I bought the truck, to an engine that can carry heavier cargo, but worse at normal cargo. are the better engines only good for transporting the special transport loads with the escorts? or are they also useful when transporting heavy cargo like construction equipment.

This is also kind of a question for ETS, i have a Scania R 2009, with the top 8x4 frame, and the engines and transmissions that increase heavy cargo as much as possible, and it gets to speed incredibly quickly even with large loads. while my peterbilt can barely get to the speed limit. and only really accelerates past ~50mph when going downhill. but im unsure if that is due to engines, the different games affecting it, or what.

Thanks for the help, and sorry for the long post. ive been wondering this for a few months.

[Wolfgang]

AFAIK the issues with the special transport DLC in ETS2 should be fixed.

While the bar for heavy cargo increases with higher HP engines and the normal cargo bar decreases it doesn't mean that with a 500HP engine you can not haul normal cargo. It just means that this engine is not as efficient for the normal cargo as for the heavy cargo as it has a higher base fuel consumption than lower HP engines. So you are buning more fuel with a higher HP engine for normal cargo than with a lower HP engine (and vice versa).

The acceleration is actually a thing that also struck me at the beginning as wired but when I used the chase camera to see the incline I was less surprised. Also the engines in ATS have lower HP than in ETS2 (can not say if that is real in the US though). I think the highest HP engine in ATS has about 600HP and the highest HP engine in ETS2 has 780HP.

As for upgrading your engine: If you have an engine with 480HP then you should be good. However, upgrading the transmission is the more important thing.

[Sandhill]

A more powerful engine and better (more gears or Allison 7 speed) is always better under every circumstance unless you enjoy the challenge of getting jobs done with less. As Wolfgang says, the "Normal" bar is confusing as all it represents is economy, and unless you are running a harsh economy mod the game does not reward economy, so increasing "Normal" is really not desirable.

[Stenleh44]

Originally posted by Sandhill:

A more powerful engine and better (more gears or Allison 7 speed) is always better under every circumstance unless you enjoy the challenge of getting jobs done with less.

I recently did this. I purposely bought a “regular” truck no setup for heavy cargo. It was a good challenge to get jobs done. I actually had to drive the truck and use the gears. Normally I have my 600hp engine with 18 gear Eaton and it just goes! No challenge what so ever. Tonight I just may have to fire up that truck again!

[sparks567jh]

Ah, the engine decreases the normal bar, so i thought that would make my truck even worse at the jobs i am currently doing, and only be useful for the special cargo deliveries. so for the heavy cargo deliveries i should still upgrade my engine? because i often pull heavy construction equipment, or double/triple trailers. would a heavier cargo engine help with that?

[Simrealism]

the only real downside to big is better is high fuel costs but you'll make oodles of money by the time you upgrade everything

if you play on a hard economy mod then the fuel costs can really hurt you.

[sparks567jh]

The only mods i use are ones that increase traffic density, and i actually kinda enjoy pulling into gas stations to refuel. (i regret putting 3 points into fuel economy in ETS because now i basically never have to refuel, so i dont even really pull in to gas stations) so a more thirsty engine isnt a problem for me

[sparks567jh]

so maybe i will get a new engine. is there any way to hear what different horns/engines sound like? in ETS i had to pour like 10k into equipping every horn to see what each sounded like. and engines are a lot more expensive. so is there a way to hear what each sounds like without having to equip each one?

[ttower]

Originally posted by sparks567jh:

Ah, the engine decreases the normal bar, so i thought that would make my truck even worse at the jobs i am currently doing, and only be useful for the special cargo deliveries. so for the heavy cargo deliveries i should still upgrade my engine? because i often pull heavy construction equipment, or double/triple trailers. would a heavier cargo engine help with that?

A higher power engine is not designed for only Special Transports, but Heavy Cargo as well, if not more so. The Heavy Cargo trailers can weigh an insane amount, and you will still need to make it to highway speeds. Special Transport can be heavy, but are always just big, and you have a top speed of 40MPH. A high powered engine is still good for heavy loaded regular cargo too, such as doubles/triples, which can also be very heavy.

[sparks567jh]

So as a double, triple, and heavy cargo driver, a better engine is a must have? a really worthwhile investment?

[sparks567jh]

because right now, running nearly stock, with a rather low end transmission, i am struggling to get to 40-50 MPH in the 65-75 MPH speed limits of arizona and utah (primarily working around page and flagstaff currently, however i often go up to vernal, salt lake city, and idaho.)

[ttower]

Originally posted by sparks567jh:

So as a double, triple, and heavy cargo driver, a better engine is a must have? a really worthwhile investment?

A must have, no. An improvement, for sure. You can use a lower power engine, which you have been doing. However, there is no reason to not upgrade to a better engine unless you are concerned about fuel costs, which with the stock economy is not generally an issue. I would upgrade if I were you. A better engine will allow you to pull more weigh, climb hills better, accelerate faster, and be better able to reach highway speeds. A transmission will help as well, I use the 18 speed Eaton, but there are quite a few good choices.

[sparks567jh]

ah ok, i likely will upgrade. got like 500k in loans in ETS so im currently working those off, then i might go back to ATS and get some engine upgrades. unsure if im high enough level for some of the better ones like the 18 speed one you mentioned, as im still level 8, but i might see about getting a good engine. im not really worried about economy or anything, and i kinda prefer trucks to go thru fuel quicker, since i enjoy stopping at gas stations and toll booths.

[Simrealism]

Originally posted by sparks567jh:

ah ok, i likely will upgrade. got like 500k in loans in ETS so im currently working those off, then i might go back to ATS and get some engine upgrades. unsure if im high enough level for some of the better ones like the 18 speed one you mentioned, as im still level 8, but i might see about getting a good engine. im not really worried about economy or anything, and i kinda prefer trucks to go thru fuel quicker, since i enjoy stopping at gas stations and toll booths.

A 13 speed will do you just about as well as an 18, especially will a 6x4 and a beefier engine say 450 ish hp would be fine for most loads and even the heavier loads with a little strategy

[The Pitts]

Also note that unless you are playing with the realistic fuel consumption checked in Options that the size of the engine makes no difference whatsoever to how much fuel you burn, it is just a function of the distance driven and your Ecodriving skill.

[Wolfgang]

Originally posted by The Pitts:

Also note that unless you are playing with the realistic fuel consumption checked in Options that the size of the engine makes no difference whatsoever to how much fuel you burn, it is just a function of the distance driven and your Ecodriving skill.

Interesting. That I didn't know.
(Then again, I have realistic fuel consumption on because otherwise I am burning very little fuel.)