Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/510235
22 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | MAY 2015 JOURNAL | FUEL SAVVY A federal rule to boost the fuel economy standards of medium- and heavy-duty trucks has been sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for its stamp of approval, moving the rule one step closer to publication. The new fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards would go into effect for 2018 model-year vehicles, building upon the Phase 1 fuel economy and emissions standards that went into effect last year and build to 2018. Phase 2 comes from executive action taken by President Obama in February 2014 when he ordered the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency to develop the 2018 standards. Obama said at that time that while heavy trucks represent 4 percent of vehicles on U.S. highways, they produce 20 percent of all of the transpor- tation sector's GHG emissions. As the action comes from executive action rather than legislation, a suc- cessor to Obama could undo the action. To take effect, the rule still must be cleared by OMB and be published as a proposed rule in the Federal Register with a public comment period. DOT and EPA then must develop a final rule and have it cleared by OMB before publication. – James Jaillet What's this new diesel engine oil I'm hearing about? You are probably hearing or reading about a new API category in development for heavy duty diesel engine oils. This new category, currently referred to as Proposed Category 11 (or PC-11), is under development as you read this. So what is it and why are things changing? In simple terms, when engine technologies change we often see a new oil category introduced. This was true in October 2006 when the current API CJ-4 category was launched. At that time, we needed to work with new technologies like diesel particulate filters and the anticipated higher operating temperatures of some engines. In the past, changes were typically driven by reducing particulate matter and NOx emissions. However the driver for this round of changes is a little different. Truck manufacturers are adapting their technology to develop next-generation diesel engines to meet emissions, renewable fuel and fuel economy standards, as well as to meet CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions mandates due to be introduced in the next few years. PC-11 will be a significant undertaking for the industry not just in North America but also globally. The engine manufacturers have to respond to new regulation such as renewable fuels mandates, on and off-road exhaust emission and greenhouse gas emission standards. There are also changes to the hardware and operating strategies of engines which can introduce factors such as: increased power density, increased combustion and injection pressure, increased in-cylinder NOx reduction, higher oil temperatures and wear resistance coatings. As an industry we must keep pace with such developments and of course, give the market the products that it needs. This is why the American Petroleum Institute, Shell Lubricants and others in the industry are looking to provide changes in the new oils that include improvements in oxidation stability, aeration benefits, shear stability, biodiesel compatibility and scuffing/adhesive wear protection. This will mean developing new engine tests and modifying existing engine tests for deposits and oil. The development of this specification is well underway and the planned launch is early 2016. We'll keep you updated on developments for the new specification and the next generation of Shell Rotella ® engine oil products. 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. More fuel standards for heavy trucks on the way Second phase of fuel economy, emissions standards sent for OK The new fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards would go into effect for 2018 model-year vehicles.