The cost of ownership benefits of low-viscosity lubricants
On-highway fleet maintenance is arguably more complicated than it’s ever been. Fleet managers, maintenance managers, and techs alike face the difficult challenge of minimizing their total cost of ownership (TCO) amidst a radically evolving business landscape. The challenge of keeping current with and understanding how emerging trends affect each other is perhaps the most complicated,
Why EVs will change the way you look at lubricants
As concerns about climate change multiply throughout the world, pressure is rising in the transportation sector to move toward electric vehicles (EVs), whether they are hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) or battery electric vehicles (BEVs). In some cases, governments are directly regulating the light-duty vans and trucks that make up your fleet. In other cases, they
What’s stopping fleets from adopting FA-4 diesel engine oil?
Choice of engine oil might not be something that many you, as a fleet owner or operator, think about every day, but it’s a choice that could be having a significant impact on the total cost of ownership. Why is that? The American Petroleum Institute introduced the FA-4 performance category for heavy- duty engine oils,
Using the right greases for electric vehicles
Recent announcements by governments and original vehicle manufacturers demonstrate an accelerated transition toward production of electric vehicles, particularly in passenger cars but extending to a portion of commercial vehicles too. Lubricant manufacturers must adjust to this new reality. In today’s internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, there are typically 50 different places where greases are used.
Here’s how your choice of engine oil can impact your bottom line
Unplanned maintenance for a disabled truck is one thing that fleet owners never want to deal with, a problem that can lead to a domino effect of inconveniences and costs. If paid per mile, your truck’s driver may be temporarily unable to earn his or her living. Additionally, a sidelined truck is an unprofitable one,
How the right engine oil can impact your DPF maintenance costs
Name your biggest service headache. Ready, go: DPF! Jinx.
Diesel deposits compromise engine design
Today’s diesel engines are more complex systems than ever before. Engines now run at higher speeds and temperatures than in the past, which puts them at greater risk of developing diesel engine deposits. With fuel economy, power and emissions top of mind, keeping engine injectors clean and free of deposits is critical to maintaining optimum
How fuel additives are enhancing engine performance
You don’t need to tell maintenance managers that contamination of even very small amounts of precipitated wax in diesel fuel can cause serious problems. Properly blended diesel fuel—with the right additives—keeps fuel clean and engines running properly. The blending of additives is an exact science, which continues to be perfected. Designed for performance Diesel engines
Fuel economy and new engine oils
Engine oil makers weigh in on the new oil formulations to help meet EPA improved fuel economy standards.
Demistifying CK-4 and FA-4 oils: What you need to know about compatibility, and more
The most important thing that fleets need to know about CK-4 oils, according to Len Badal, global commercial brand manager for Chevron Lubricants, is that they are fully compatible, and there should be no concern if the two are mixed…
Unintended consequences of propane usage in heavy-duty trucks
I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and didn’t go too far in debt. Let’s look forward to more sanity in 2015: What are the odds that we will be disappointed? We’ll start this year off on a high note: I’m encouraged to see the recent interest in propane as an alternate fuel. This work has