Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/566087
18 | Overdrive | September 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-BEST-OIL or write to The ANSWER COLuMN, 1001 Fannin, Ste. 500, Houston, TX 77002. A trucker charged in a crash that left six dead was put behind bars one day after Tennessee added him to its "Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives" list. Benjamin Scott Brewer, 39, of London, Tenn., was arrested Aug. 7 at a shopping center in Lexington, Ky. He is being held at the Fayette County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond following his Aug. 3 indictment in Tennessee on charges related to his involvement in a nine-vehicle crash in Chattanooga. Lexington police charged Brewer as a fugitive, as well as for criminal mischief and possession of less than two grams of meth. On June 26, Brewer's truck collided with vehicles stopped in a construction zone on Interstate 75. A Hamilton County Grand Jury indicted him on six counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of reckless aggravated assault, one count of DUI by impairment of narcotics, one count of speeding and one count of false report of duty status. Last month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration de- clared him an imminent hazard to public safety and ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. The agency's post-crash inves- tigation indicated Brewer had falsifi ed his records of duty status when he reported being off duty from June 15 until 7 a.m. on June 25. His employer's vehicle tracking system and other records showed he had been on duty and driving on June 22, 23 and 24. – Jill Dunn 'Most Wanted' trucker arrested Benjamin Scott Brewer was arrested after being charged in a nine-vehicle crash that left six dead. Sept. 18-19: Richard Crane Memorial Truck Show; Little Bear East Arena, Marquette Street, St. Ignace, Mich.; www.nostalgia-prod.com Sept. 18-20: Busted Knuckle Truck Show; Wilkins Oklahoma Truck Supply, West Fountain Road, Tonkawa, Okla.; Fri., 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sat., 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun., 8 a.m.; www.wilkinstruck- chrome.com Sept. 19: U.S. Diesel Truckin' Nation- als; Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J.; www.usdtn.com Sept. 24-26: 4 State Trucks Guilty By Association Truck Show and Customer Expo; 4581 State Route 43, Joplin, Mo.; Thurs., 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri., 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat., 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; chromeshopmafi a.com Sept. 26: Shine & Smoke Show and Drags; Island Dragway, Great Mead- ows, Independence Township, N.J.; www.supershowrigs.com Sept. 26-27: West American Truck Show; Fresno Convention and Entertain- ment Center, 848 M St., Fresno, Calif.; www.westamericantruckshow.com Oct. 8-10: Overdrive's Pride & Polish, PDI Customer Appreciation Dyno Event and Truck Beauty Competition; 687 N. Industrial Road, St. George, Utah; Thurs., 2-5 p.m., Fri., 8 a.m.-dusk, Sat., 11 a.m.-dusk; truckshow.com July 14-16, 2016: 37th annual Iowa 80 Walcott Truckers Jamboree; I-80 Exit 284, Walcott, Iowa; Thurs., 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri., 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; iowa80truckstop.com CALENDAR