Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
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18 | Overdrive | August 2017 Logbook 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 A federal court last month dis- missed a lawsuit brought by the Teamsters Union challenging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Ad- ministration's cross-border trucking program. FMCSA in January 2015 opened the U.S. operating authority application process to all Mexican carriers. The Teamsters' lawsuit, filed in March 2015, alleged FMCSA didn't generate enough inspec- tion data during its three-year cross-border trucking pilot pro- gram to make a proper determina- tion about expanding it. The Own- er-Operator Independent Drivers Association sided with the union in the lawsuit, backing the Teamsters' claim about a lack of data. A panel of judges on the 9th Circuit, however, said FMCSA has the law-given discretion to grant operating authority to Mexican carriers despite concerns over data. FMCSA's pilot program, held between 2011 and 2014, was im- plemented to gather data to gauge the safety of Mexican carriers. The agency said before the program be- gan that it would need 46 partici- pating carriers to make an accurate safety determination about Mexi- can cross-border operations. However, only 15 carriers signed up for the program, and inspection data was lacking because of the subpar participation, according to the U.S. Department of Transpor- tation's Inspector General. DOT argues it was required by the North American Free Trade Agreement to open the application process to Mexican carriers. The policy ends the roughly $2 billion in retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. exports to Mexico. – James Jaillet Mexican carriers in the cross-border program are required to pass a Pre-Authorization Safety Audit and abide by all U.S. regulations. ARROW TRUCK SALES announced that the National Association of Independent Truckers joined its Prime National Account Program, a used truck purchasing platform. Owner-operators who drive for car- riers that participate in the program qualify for a free six-month/50,000- mile warranty, a $1,000 allowance and more. Go to ArrowTruck.com/ Docs/ArrowPrime.aspx. DRIVEWYZE EXPANDED its weigh station bypass services in North Carolina, bringing its total locations in the state to 16. The 13 new sites are located along Interstates 26, 40, 77, 85 and 95. TRUCK DRIVER Ashot Grigoryan, 59, was arrested as he tried to enter Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City with 35 boxes of marijuana weighing 715 pounds and several thousand bottles of marijuana THC vape oil in his trailer. The drugs were found during a routine inspection at the base's gate, hidden among frozen chicken destined for New Jersey. Decision allows Mexican carriers to continue U.S. operations