Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/667099
84 commercial carrier journal | april 2016 If I use thinner oils will my engine still be protected? The ability of engine oil to prevent wear by keeping moving parts separated is one of the key functions that it has to perform. That ability comes from the fluid viscosity and the additives which protect the metal surfaces. The thickness of the oil film which separates the moving parts is dependent on the viscosity of the oil and it will also depend on the speed and load of the engine operation. If oil is too thin to provide effective separation between moving parts or does not effectively control contaminants, this could result in increased wear through the contact of metal parts or abrasive wear, and could possibly shorten engine life. As truck and engine manufacturers are trying to achieve the maximum fuel economy for their equipment, the trend is to use lighter viscosity oils to assist in reducing fuel consumption. These full synthetic or synthetic blend oils are expected to provide fuel economy benefits, but not compromise on engine durability. Through extensive testing on synthetic blend Shell Rotella ® T5 10W-30, Shell has demonstrated a 1.6% fuel economy improvement benefit vs. conventional 15W-40* with no compromise on durability. Manufacturers develop their engines to operate efficiently with specific viscosity grades, so you should check with them to see which viscosity grades they allow and/or any specific conditions such as ambient temperature, which may influence the use of those viscosity grades. The SAE and API have established minimum requirements for lighter viscosity oils which should allow for effective protection of key engine parts. 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 announcement that one of the focus areas for the next generation of heavy-duty diesel engine oils will be fuel economy improvements, 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. Synthetic engine oil also can help keep the engine clean through improved sludge, deposit and varnish protection, and helps reduce overall engine wear under extreme operating conditions. Synthetic engine oils typically have more stable viscosity and provide better protection when the engine is running under high-temperature conditions, such as high speeds and heavy loads. * as demonstrated in 2009 on-the-road field testing for 10W-30 viscosity grade only, highway cycles, compared to Shell Rotella ® T Triple Protection ® 15W-40. 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 1-800-237-6950 or write to The ANSWER COLUMN, 1001 Fannin, Ste. 500, Houston, TX 77002. By Dan Arcy Shell Lubricants Untitled-5 1 11/9/15 9:07 AM PREVENTABLE or NOT? Doe can't sneak by snack van W inter hauling in a straight truck had paid off for driver John Doe – as evidenced, in part, by his acquisition of two polychromatic battery-operated "Smurdley Super Strike" bass lures that emit- ted enticing noises, thrashed around a whole bunch and had enough LEDs to generate a light show. Alas, Doe's profitable ways were about to take a beating … along with an illegally parked Chevy van owned by "Tasty Hot Lunch Inc." The collision would occur at high noon under a cloudless sky as Doe had pulled away from the freight dock of the local food distribution center and was proceeding cautiously down a narrow one-way exit road when he saw that his path was obstructed partially. The obstacle in question was a steam- ing lunchwagon-type van that'd dropped anchor in a "No Parking" zone to sell fresh sandwiches and beverages to hungry freight handlers. Eyeballing the situation, Doe determined that clearance was ad- equate to squeak past the van, so he started to pass the other vehicle at a snail's pace. Just as Doe was about to clear the scene, the van's driver, Jimmy Dorfman, swung open both rear doors, and the van's left door was touching the side of Doe's truck! Armed with the lightning reflexes of a professional truck driver, Doe detected the sudden door-opening maneuver in his shotgun-side West Coast mirror and instantly hit the brakes, but … WHUMP! Oh no! The right rear corner of Doe's truck had snagged one of the van's doors, crinkling it and causing the vendor's supplies to cascade onto the ground! Since Doe contested the preventable-accident warning letter from his safety direc- tor, the National Safety Council's Accident Review Committee was asked for input. To Doe's relief, NSC declared it nonpreventable, since he couldn't have anticipated that Dorfman suddenly would swing the van doors open. As John Doe was squeaking by a parked van in a narrow space, the van's driver opened the rear doors, one of which was damaged by Doe's truck. Was this a preventable accident? Hot Lunch