Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/978209
May 2018 | Overdrive | 39 truck is scheduled for service – extending it may not make sense. At the small fleet level, operations with rigorous maintenance schedules are often the best candidates for sizeable extended intervals, Whitacre says. Since other systems on the truck often are serviced during oil changes, the overall mileage target will include various ele- ments of a fleet's overall PM program. "The fleet doesn't always get a lot of benefit from a small incremental increase because they may have other PMs to do on the vehicle at a different cycle," he says. "There isn't a one-size- fits-all answer to that." Application matters Engines achieving at least 8 mpg are among the best candidates for extending drain intervals. "Fuel is an indicator of the work that's done by the engine," Granger says. "If the engine has consumed less fuel, it's done less work, and fewer contaminants can be found in the crankcase." Drain intervals often are proportional to fuel consumption, with higher-mpg trucks offering more flexibility for them. "There's a strong correlation between how fast the oil degrades and how hard the engine is working, and fuel economy is a very good indicator for that," Whitacre says. "The more fuel you burn, the faster the oil degrades." Humphrey says stop-and-go driving causes oil to break down more rapidly than fewer stops, so oil changes for these vehicles need to be more frequent. "For vehicles making long-distance trips where optimum road and engine speeds can be maintained for long peri- ods, there is generally less stress on the oil, and longer drain intervals can be achieved," he says. Granger and Whitacre recommend any transition for out-of-warranty trucks to be done in consultation with some- one who can interpret oil analysis data. "Make sure they're not saving money in the short term but compromising the integrity of their product longer-term," Whitacre says. Granger says on older trucks, an oil distributor often makes a good primary resource for evaluating candidates for extended drain intervals. However, that process will mirror the plan recommend- ed by an OEM expert. "We're going to recommend right off the bat that they do an oil analysis," he says. "You always have to have a refer- ence point. You've got to know what is happening in your crankcase." • Go online to www.iowa80.com and request your FREE CATALOG of the finest selection in Chrome and Professional Trucking Accessories! • Or Call Toll Free – 866-4-IOWA80 (866-446-9280) • Shop online today! www.iowa80.com • w a F t C P A • 8 (8 • Sh Truck Accessories For The Professional Driver Tr Tr T u ru r ck Accessori ri r e ie i s Fo Fo F r Th Th T e Pr Pr P o ro r fe fe f ssio io i nal Dri ri r ve ve v r GET YOUR FREE CATALOG! OD 2018 IA80com OD 042418.qxp_Layout 1 4/24/18 9:14 AM Page 1