Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/782964
present leaders in the trucking maintenance community. researchers, oil marketers and test- ing laboratories. We started working together in late 2012 and quickly aligned everyone on what the goals should be. The creation of the test was not as easy. Normally it would take miles and miles and thousands of hours to produce these conditions in a normal engine operating in the fi eld, but we only had a fraction of that time. So, it was a diffi cult balancing act. Q: What do the results show about the new diesel engine oils? Alessi: The oils that passed the Volvo T--13 test showed signifi cant improvements in oxidation stability compared to the predecessor CJ-4 oils. Being able to pass the Volvo T-13 test indicates that an oil is capable of reducing the formation of sludge in engines while allowing them to perform at high levels. Q: Will the Volvo T-13 test be used in the future as well? Alessi: Going forward, it's projected that the Volvo T-13 engine test will become the industry standard oxi- dation test for diesel oils. When the engine manufacturers originally requested the PC-11 cat- egory be put in place, one asset they called for was improved oxidation stability. With the Volvo T-13, they got the right test for that. Q: Finally, what steps should fl eets take as they switch to the new CK-4 and/or FA-4 oils? Alessi: It's important for fl eets to know the API's PC-11 specifi cation will not change many of the best practices that help drive success. In fact, the only change that most fl eets will see is how advanced CK-4 or FA-4 oils can deliver better performance than their previous CJ-4 counterpart. As they transition to CK-4 or FA-4 oils, fl eets should work closely with their lubricant suppliers to ensure they choose the right lubricant based on the specifi c engines they use and the common operating con- ditions in which their vehicles oper- ate. Also, they should follow OEM- recommended oil drain guidelines and conduct ongoing oil analysis to evaluate the performance benefi ts of the new engine oil. 2009 Ron Szapacs Air Products & Chemicals 2008 Peggy Fisher TireStamp 2007 Lew Flowers U.S. Postal Service 2006 Thomas Newby Old Dominion Freight Line 2005 C. Oren Summer FleetNet America 2004 David Foster Southeastern Freight Lines 2003 Robert Deal Deal & Associates 1995 Bob Flesher AGA Gas 1994 Blaine Johnson Ryder Truck Rental 1993 J.W. Robertson ABF Freight Systems 1992 Charlie Jaynes Central Freight Lines 1991 Donald Dawson Roadway Express 1990 Christopher Roach Armellini Express Lines 1989 Paul Manwiller Air Products & Chemicals 1981 Harry Fink Arkansas Best Freight 1980 Charles Ratliff Frito-Lay 1979 Ken McKibben Hertz-Penske 1978 Nolan O'Byrn Sea-Land Services 1977 E.Clair Hill Safeway Stores