Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/782964
68 commercial carrier journal | february 2017 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 cut off at the pass – well, not quite D uring lunch at Union 76, some of the guys at the far table were arguing about who had the best country-western guitar. Trucker John Doe definitely felt he'd won, having spoken with great author- ity about the thunderous, wondrous sound made by his jumbo 1969 vintage Gibson Dove – fitted with heavy-gauge special-alloy bronze strings, of course. Still burping from a tasty couscous, lentil and arugula sal- ad topped with garlic vinaigrette dressing, Doe le the truckstop with a steel-laden flatbed in tow, heading west on Route 1. He stopped at a red light, preparing to turn right onto Pooca Park- way with his right-turn signals flashing. When the traffic light turned green, he carefully scanned his mirrors before starting to turn, but hidden from his view was Mark "Crazy Marky" Fraznik, whose gray 1993 Ford Mustang was directly behind Doe's trailer. Fraznik also wanted to turn right, but darn it, he sure didn't want to get stuck behind the nasty ol' 18-wheeler that blocked his path. So, fortified by several cans of Red Bull, Fraznik drove off the road, onto the grassy corner of the intersection, then attempted to head off Doe's rig before he could complete his turn. But Fraznik didn't make it and slammed into the side of Doe's tractor. "No way could I have seen Fraznik coming," Doe argued when he received a preventable-accident warning letter from his safety director. Asked to settle the issue, the National Safety Council's Accident Review Committee sided with Doe, noting that there was nothing he could have done to avoid being blindsided. John Doe was making a right turn when a sports car hidden from view behind him drove onto the intersection's grassy corner to try and head him off, only to slam into Doe's tractor. Was this a preventable accident? Rt. 1 Pooca Parkway