CCJ

December 2016

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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76 commercial carrier journal | december 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 dinged by bargain-hunting Buick R evitalized by coffee and a moderate-sized stack of Walnut Waffles – with low-fat butter, diet syrup and a healthy helping of fresh fruit – trucker John Doe pulled out of Snardley's Truck Stop with a smile on his face, a fresh bag of celery sticks at his side, and happy thoughts of weekend bass fishing in his head. e sun was shining on Interstate 40, the morning air was crisp, and the CB chatter was especially entertaining. At the moment, Channel 19 was being dominated by doubles driver Dudley Hill, who'd just con- cluded a demonstration of his newly acquired duck call and now was extolling the virtues of L.C. Smith double-barrel shotguns. "Ol' Dudley really quacks me up," Doe mused. Doe approached the intersection with Hickey Highway, where he cau- tiously checked his mirrors, activated his turn signal, moved into the inside lane and slowed to about 20 mph, preparing to make a le turn. At that instant, a badly dented Buick station wagon driven by retired roofer Clyde J. Crumbquist recklessly rocketed out of the adjacent shopping mall, zipped across the right lane while fumbling through his coupons and ... BLAM! ... crashed into the right fender of Doe's long- nose conventional! ankfully, no one was hurt, but Doe received another blow from his safety director: a warning letter for a preventable accident, which he con- tested. Rendering a final decision, the National Safety Council's Accident Review Committee ruled in Doe's favor, deciding that he had no time to react and could not possibly have anticipated or avoided Crumbquist's crazed attack. John Doe was preparing to turn left from the inside lane when a four-wheeler zipped across the right lane and crashed into his right fender. Was this a preventable accident? Hickey Shopping Plaza I-40 Hickey Highway

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