Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
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VOICES CHANNEL 19 10 | Overdrive | June 2015 Visit Senior Editor Todd Dills' CHANNEL 19 BLOG at OverdriveOnline.com/channel19 | Write him at tdills@randallreilly.com. The June Roadcheck will have taken place by the time you are reading this. Month-to-month inspection numbers don't appear to show evidence of any consistent eff ect from this well-known event. June, when the blitz has taken place the last two years, showed smaller numbers in both years than May of 2013, lending cre- dence to reader reports of some states "getting started early" on the blitz. Many readers have remarked over the years that law enforce- ment's announcement of the nationwide event months ahead of time may dampen its impact. One response from many opera- tors is to schedule a little well-de- served R&R. However, considered in other ways, the Roadcheck eff ect is real. In 2014, Roadcheck's 72 hours of offi cial activity, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, saw about 75,000 mostly Level 1 (truck and driver) inspec- tions performed nationwide. If that's correct, those three days (10 percent of the month) ac- counted for 27 percent of all June inspections performed last year. Consider that 75,000 inspections equals 2.4 percent of 2014's total inspections, but done in less than 1 percent of the year's time. And no month showed a greater number of fi xed-location inspections than June in both of the last two years, illustrating the manpower states put into weigh-station inspection pro- grams during the blitz. For some readers, Roadcheck is a good excuse for taking the week off or, like Connecticut indepen- dent Joe Bielucki, buttoning up the truck in preparation. When I talked to Bielucki in April, he and his 2004 Kenworth were headed up to "Tri-State Kenworth in Enfi eld, Conn.," Bielucki's regular shop. The diesel mechanic that started the place, Bielucki says, "used to work on Cummins (engines) in his backyard. … He'll go through the truck with a fi ne-tooth main- tenance comb." Other readers reported using SpeedCo and other private inspection services in preparation. You? Join the conversation on inspec- tions in the April 28 post on the Channel 19 blog. Todd Dills 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. May 6 this year saw an unannounced national brake check day, such as at this Georgia scale house. Anticipating Roadcheck