Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
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18 | Overdrive | March 2015 LOGBOOK Why do I have to top-off oil in my engine? Most of you probably check your oil level each day or when you fill your fuel tank. Low oil level can lead to faster degradation (oxidation) of the oil, faster consumption of the oil additives and potentially shorter engine life. When discussing the issue of oil consumption, we must keep in mind that there are only two ways oil is consumed in a diesel engine: oil is either burned in the combustion chamber or it leaks through seals or gaskets. There are also a number of factors or conditions that can affect the amount of oil an engine consumes. Some of the factors that affect oil consumption include engine idle time, driving conditions, load, terrain, engine operating temperature, oil volatility, fuel dilution, and miles on the engine. Another important point to remember is that no two engines are alike. You may have noticed that engine oil consumption has been reduced with late model trucks. New oils help control piston deposits which results in better oil consumption control. Newer piston and piston ring designs, along with changes in engine operating conditions, are also factors. Oil formulation can help provide the best oil consumption control. Premium motor oils are formulated to exceed the most current requirements of all North American truck engine manufacturers, as well as those of the American Petroleum Institute. Shell Rotella ® engine oils are formulated with a careful balance of detergent, dispersant, anti-oxidant and anti-wear chemistry designed to maximize engine protection. Adding a gallon of oil every few thousand miles was once common. We now see late model engines that will go an entire drain interval without requiring that any additional oil be added. However, we still recommend you check your oil daily and top-off as required. To further help monitor conditions in your engine, we recommend having an oil analysis program. It is one of the most effective ways to monitor the condition of your engine. A regular oil analysis program helps you build a historic database and watch for trends in a variety of areas. Ideally, you want to analyze a sample of used engine oil after every oil change. By Dan Arcy Shell Lubricants The term "Shell Lubricants" refers to the various Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. 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. Preliminary approval was granted in January to the nearly $25 million settlement struck last year between fuel providers and fuel buyers, both diesel and gasoline, in the ongoing "hot fuel" lawsuits fi led in 2006. The case technically is broken into 28 class-action settlements – one against each fuel provider sued – and recognizes as part of the class any "person or entities who bought gasoline or diesel fuel at a gas station in any of the states at issue between Jan. 1, 2001, and Dec. 10, 2014." Plaintiff s contended that the fuel providers violated consumer protec- tion laws by not disclosing that fuel expands in warmer temperatures, so that it contains less energy and is worth less. The defendant compa- nies denied the claims but agreed to the settlement to resolve the cases. BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Shell and Sinclair will pay a combined $23 million, and a combined $1.6 million will be paid by the remaining companies. Fuel buyers have three options in the case: opt out of the settlement to pursue their own litigation, object to the settlement in full or in part, or remain a member of the class. A June 9 fairness hearing will determine whether the settlement is adequate. Those considered part of the class have until March 23 to opt out or object. – James Jaillet $25M 'hot fuel' deal reached Because fuel expands in warmer temperatures, a gallon contains less energy and is worth less during warmer months. A U.S. DISTRICT COURT ordered $119,612 in back pay to an ex-driver fi red by Old Dominion Freight Line after he self-reported alcohol abuse. The jury in Fort Smith, Ark., returned the verdict Jan. 16 after concluding the less-than- truckload company had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2011, the Equal Em- ployment Opportunity Commission fi led suit on behalf of the driver after failing to reach a volun- tary settlement with the Thomasville, N.C.-based company. PACER CARTAGE, an in- termodal transportation and logistics services carrier, said it plans to appeal a California court judgment of more than $2 million owed to seven drivers for alleged wage theft. San Diego's su- perior court upheld the state labor commission determination that the company had misclas- sifi ed the truckers as independent contractors instead of employees. JAMES PIELSTICKER, former president and CEO of now-defunct Arrow Trucking, pleaded guilty Feb. 4 to one count of conspiracy and one count of tax evasion stemming from charges he misused company money and arranged schemes to overcharge customers for services. Pielsticker, who led Arrow until the company's sudden closure in December 2009, faces up to 10 years in prison and more than $50 million in fi nes. SAIA MOTOR LINES faces a $119,000 fi ne proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor for safety and health violations uncovered during an investigation into an explosion at the company's St. Louis terminal that left four employees hospitalized. The explosion was caused by a forklift igni- tion source and a loose coupling connection to a liquid propane tank.