Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
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18 | Overdrive | August 2016 LOGBOOK Caterpillar settles ACERT lawsuit A settlement has been reached in the class-action lawsuit that alleged Caterpillar's 2007-10 model-year ACERT C13 and C15 engines were defective, driving up costs for owners and driving down resale value. Cat's ACERT engines were introduced as the company's alter- native to exhaust gas recirculation to meet 2004 emissions standards. The company's Caterpillar Re- generation System, which consisted of a diesel particulate fi lter, an aftertreatment regeneration device and an electronic control module, allegedly caused the engines to lose horsepower and shut down, requiring Caterpillar to repair the engines, according to the lawsuits. Caterpillar knew about the prob- lems, the lawsuits alleged. The $60 million settlement off ers payments to current and former owners and lessees of trucks with the engines. Settlement class members who experienced no CRS repairs are eligible to receive $500 for each engine. Those who experienced between one and fi ve CRS-related repairs are eligible to receive $5,000 per engine. Anyone who had six or more CRS-relat- ed repairs done to one of these engines is eligible for $10,000. Also, anyone who dealt with at least one CRS-related repair has the option to seek to claim losses up to a maximum of $15,000. If this route is chosen, the class member can't claim from the settlement. Caterpillar has denied the allegations, but said it "endorses the settlement class as a realistic resolution of this class action." Claims must be submitted by March 20. For more information, go to EngineSettlement.com. – Matt Cole 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. BESTPASS' WEB PORTAL now consol- idates tolling information and analytics into one location online. It allows for detailed searches of toll transactions with fi lters for transponder, date/time, facility, vehicle and cost center. Users also can download toll spreadsheets and manage payments. EATON INCREASED the warranty cov- erage for its RTLO 13- and 18-speed man- ual transmissions with the company's Solo Advantage clutch and approved lubrication to seven years/750,000 miles on the transmission and fi ve years/500,000 miles on the clutch. PILOT FLYING J AND SPEEDWAY entered into a joint venture consisting of 120 travel plazas in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Speedway, which acquired WilcoHess in 2014, will contribute 41 locations, and PFJ will contribute 79 to form PFJ Southeast LLC. All 120 locations will fl y either the Pilot or Flying J fl ag. The 41 Speedway locations will be renovated. Anyone who had six or more CRS-related repairs done to a Caterpillar ACERT engine is eligible for $10,000.