Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
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HOW TO Will low viscosity engine oils provide benefits for my engine and my bottom line? The reasons to switch to using lower viscosity, full synthetic or synthetic blend motor oils continue to build. The tried and true SAE 15W-40 By Dan Arcy Shell Lubricants conventional motor oils that many use has competition from lower viscosity grade oils that promote better fuel economy and other benefits. A number of diesel engine manufacturers recommend lower viscosity lubricants in their newest engines, and the move to lower viscosity lubricants is reinforced by the recent announcement that one of the focus areas for the next generation of heavy-duty diesel engine oils will be fuel economy savings, which lower viscosity oils have demonstrated the ability to provide. This is particularly important as the first-ever fuel economy regulations for heavy trucks will begin in 2014. Less energy is consumed when starting a cold engine when it is lubricated by a synthetic SAE 5W-40 than is consumed with a conventional SAE 15W-40. Lower viscosity oils also help reduce friction in an engine, which can result in fuel savings. Anti-idling laws mean the days of 40 percent idle time are over. Idle times of 10 percent or less are now common, meaning more start-ups. The better cold temperature flow of a lower viscosity oil such as SAE 5W-40 full synthetic or SAE 10W-30 synthetic blend versus SAE 15W-40 will provide easier starting and faster lubrication in colder weather. Low viscosity oils, Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic SAE 5W-40 or Shell ® Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend SAE 10W-30 have been shown to deliver fuel-economy savings, extendeddrain capability, enhanced engine cleanliness, and excellent wear protection. Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com ® This monthly column is brought to you by Shell Lubricants. Got a question? Visit ROTELLA.com, call 1- 800 - 231- 6950 or write to The AnSWER COLumn, 1001 Fannin, Ste. 500, Houston,TX 77002. The term "Shell Lubricants" refers to the various Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. How_To_0913.indd 36 when it was new," he says. "There is absolutely no degradation in terms of performance or efficiency when running retreads." They call Brodsky "The Preacher" because he is so passionate and outspoken about the value of retread tires in commercial trucking and his unceasing campaign to convince owner-operators to give them a chance. Odds are if you've made a late-night run with your stereo tuned to a trucking radio station, you've heard Brodsky and his distinctive Philly accent, urging truckers to reconsider A technician for San Bernardino, Calif.based Bear Trucking inspects a truck's what they think they know about steer tire. A tire's first life should begin retread tires and to give them a fair on the steer axle, and as long as the casing is preserved, it can be retreaded shot as a business solution. for two cycles on the drive axle and "There is not a major fleet in this one final life on a trailer. country that doesn't use retread tires today," says Brodsky. "That's a lesson that owner-operators need to take to heart. If you're an owner-operator, you're trying hard to scratch out a living. Every penny counts, and so owner-operators understand better than most the importance of saving money." Here's how to start and maintain an effective retread program that could save thousands of dollars over the lives of four drive tires: • PARTNER WITH A TOP-QUALITY, FULL-SERVICE TIRE DEALER. This will help ensure reliable products and good warranty support. • FIND A RETREADER YOU CAN TRUST. The Retread Tire Association can supply a list of reputable retreaders in your area. Alternately, many top-tier tire manufacturers have their own retreading programs that guarantee you will receive your own initially-purchased tires back as retreads. Take the time to tour the facility and judge the quality of the process. • PURCHASE THE BEST TIRES YOU CAN AFFORD. Top-tier manufacturers design their tires to last multiple lives. • ROUTINELY MONITOR TREAD DEPTH. Steer tires should be retreaded when tread depth gets to 6/32nds, and drive and trailer tires at 5/32nds. The potential for retread-limiting road hazard damage increases at tread depths below 4/32nds in all tire positions. • STICK TO A TIRE MAINTENANCE PLAN. It's not uncommon to be able to retread an undamaged drive tire twice, getting three lives in the drive position, and then do a final retread for service in a trailer position. The savings can work out to about $900 each time a retread is chosen over putting new shoes on your rig; that yields an approximate life savings of $2,700 per tire – more than $10,000 for a set of drives. Keep written records of each tire by serial number with dates of purchase, retreading and position. • CONSIDER JOINING THE RETREAD TIRE ASSOCIATION. Members can be jumped to the head of the line for retreading, mounting and balancing tires during downtime. Turnaround averages two days, but same-day service is possible. 36 | Overdrive | September 2013 8/27/13 9:27 PM