In the world of vehicles, there are worker vehicles, show vehicles and a combination of both. In 2005, General Motors Company created a more powerful worker vehicle--the GMC C6500. The C6500 is a medium-duty truck that can carry a hauling box on its frame. It can be thought of as a scaled-down version of an 18-wheeler. Examining the specific details of the GMC C6500 brings to light the durability and power that goes into a medium-duty truck.
Engine
Is anyone aware of how to enhance the output of a Cat C7? Those are programmable, but I don't know if a Cat dealer will change the program for you or not. Louvered Tailgate adds Horsepower, Towing, Hauling and RV Forum, Mar 7, 2005. Weight VS Horsepower on grades?
The 2005 GMC C6500 has a Caterpillar 3126 engine. The Caterpillar brand is known for creating tough industrial engines, and GMC's decision to invest in a Caterpillar engine for the 2005 C6500 reflected a desire for durability and work performance. The 3126 engine in the GMC C6500 has brake horsepower (the horsepower measured at the drive shaft) with a range of 215 to 260.
Performance
Due to its large size, it is important for the 2005 GMC 6500 to have an oversized fuel tank. This vehicle can hold 75 gallons of fuel. Because the C6500 is often used to haul weighty products, decreasing fuel stops helps keep costs to a minimum. Measuring a mile per gallon ratio for the C6500 is difficult because of the varying amount of weight that can be added to the vehicle. Without a box or any material added to the truck, it can achieve 8 to 11 miles per gallon. The reason for this low MPG rate is the size and heaviness of the truck.
Dimensions
The wheelbase (the length from the center of the front wheels to the center of the rear wheels) for the 2005 GMC 6500 is 260 inches. The truck has a single axle, which means that there is a single rod running from the front of the truck to the back of the truck. The GVRW or Gross Vehicle Rated Weight, the maximum amount of weight that the truck is designed to carry, is 25,950 lbs.
- new work truck image by Tom Oliveira from Fotolia.com
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From 2003 to 2009, the Cat C7 was Caterpillar's engine offering for medium duty class trucks. Medium duty trucks from GMC, Ford, Paccar and Freightliner could be purchased with the C7 as an engine option. Medium duty trucks cover a gross vehicle weight range of 18,000 to 33,000 lbs, have a single drive axle and are typically box trucks, flatbed trucks and tow trucks.
History
The Cat C7 replaced the model 3126E in the Catepillar on-road engine lineup to comply with the stricter diesel emission requirements which went into effect on January 1, 2004. Some truck manufacturers switched to the C7 as early as the 2003 model year. The engine was upgraded to meet the stricter emission requirements of January 1, 2007. Caterpillar stopped selling the C7 and the company's other on-highway truck engines at the end of 2009. The company elected not to try to meet the January 1, 2010 emission requirements.
General Description
The Cat C7 is an inline 6-cylinder diesel fueled engine. The displacement of the C7 is 7.2 liters, or 441 cubic inches. Engine features include turbo-charged air intake, common rail fuel injection system, full electronic control system and Caterpillar's ACERT fuel/air management system. Advanced emission solutions include a closed crankcase breather and a diesel particulate filter using Cat's proprietary regeneration system. The B50 life rating -- period to which 50 percent of engines had a major failure -- is 450,000 to 500,000 miles.
Dimensions and Capacities
The overall dimensions of a C7 engine are a length of 42.9 inches, width of 38.8 inches and height of 38.2 inches. The approximate dry weight is 1,425 lb. Engine oil capacity is 4.75 gallons or 6.75 gallons with the optional deep sump oil pan. Cooling system capacity -- engine only -- is 3.99 gallons. Cat C7 engines produced in 2007 or later require the use of ultra low sulphur diesel -- ULSD -- fuel.
Power Ratings
The Cat C7 was available with the following horsepower ratings: 210, 230, 250, 275, 300, 330, 350 and 360 hp. Torque ratings ranged from 520 up to 925 lb-ft. The 201, 230 and 250 hp. ratings were available in either a low torque or high torque option. The choice of torque options allowed different transmissions, which are rated by torque capacity, to be matched with the C7. The 330 through 360 horsepower ratings were only available in RV and firetruck applications.