Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/93737
MONEYMATTERS EXTENDED OIL DRAIN INTERVALS mean avoiding much larger repair costs in the future. However, we've seen signifi cant sav- ings as oil change intervals have increased on our newest pickups. This doesn't mean we are gambling with I engine repair costs. Advances in engines, oil, fi lters, fuel and emission controls have all contributed to keeping oil eff ective for more miles. The old school "3,000 miles or three months" is a faint echo of years gone by. In many cases, mileage is not the best indicator of when to renew the lubrication in vehicles. There are other options to help you decide when it is cost eff ective to change the OIL SPOILERS Having a properly sealed air fi lter is important for oil life. A fuel system that is working properly, including sensors and the like, to ensure the combustion is burn- ing at the correct air fuel ratio ensures there is less opportunity for fuel contamination to the oil. A proper functioning cooling system ensures that the engine reaches and maintains proper operating temperature – extreme temperatures can cause premature oil deterioration. 16 PROPICKUP October 2012 nvoices for oil changes have been coming across my desk for as long as I can remem- ber. Money spent on oil changes now can oil. Some approaches can actually extend the useable life of the oil itself. TAKE IT FROM THE TOP The big three pickup manufacturers now employ proven systems which use complex algorithms (eff ected by vehicle use) to de- termine when a vehicle needs an oil change. Such systems do not directly monitor the oil via sensors. Here's how they work: The GM Oil Life System (GMOLS) was engineered to take in account four diff erent oil characteristics – oxidation stability, acidity, alkalinity and viscosity change. The system optimizes oil change intervals based on vehicle and environmental operating condi- tions. GMOLS comes standard on 97 percent of GM vehicles sold in the United States. Ford's Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor is de- signed to "simplify decision about oil change intervals, make it easier for customers to bundle multiple maintenance tasks during service visits and provide reassurance that long-term reliability of the vehicle is main- tained with engine oil in good condition." Ram recommends that you heed the "Oil Change Required" display on the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC). In addition cycles and the lubricants they recommend changing the oil if it has been six months since last oil change, you drive your vehicle off -road for extended periods of time, or oil change intervals exceed 8,000 miles. These systems represent years of proven testing by the best engineers in the industry who have concluded that oil change intervals should be determined by vehicle use as monitored by the truck's computers. If your fl eet includes newer vehicles with oil monitor- ing systems, take advantage of the extended intervals to save fl eet maintenance costs. OIL ANALYSIS You can determine the condition of the oil by sending samples to a laboratory. Test- ing can gauge the health of the engine, determine if the oil is working well with the specifi c engine, and facilitate decisions about extending the oil drain intervals of the pickups in your fl eet. Total Base Number (TBN) is an important term in oil analysis. It's a measurement of the amount of active additive left in a sample of oil. Comparing the TBN of used oil to the same oil in its new condition determines how much additive is left in the oil to neutralize It pays fl eets to analyize both lube By Robin Walton, CPA