Engine idling can have a significant impact for waste fleets, especially those operating in unique, urban conditions. By selecting a lubricant that can perform in these conditions to provide enhanced protection for heavy-duty engines, waste fleet managers improve the reliability of their fleet while reducing any unplanned downtime.
By Brian Humphrey
Heavy-duty diesel vehicles that collect and transport waste and operate in urban environments where they are required to stop and start regularly, can be tough on their engines. Additionally, fleets are often exposed to a wide variety of operating temperatures that can increase engine wear and lead to unplanned maintenance and downtime.
It is crucial that fleet managers capitalize on marginal gains in reliability and fuel economy and consider all the factors that will affect the performance of waste equipment, including what prolonged impact engine idling can have.
Focusing on Idling Engines
Many off-road vehicles spend a large amount of time with an idling engine. According to manufacturer Komatsu, an average vehicle will spend 40 percent of its time idle. Given the stop/start nature of the urban environments that waste fleets tend to operate in, it can be safely assumed that this figure will likely be higher for the industry.
Just an hour of idle time aggregates to approximately 25 miles of driving and can also impact the engine by increasing the likelihood that oil temperatures will drop below 200oF. This can alter the combustion process and is often overlooked. When the process is altered, water can accumulate, leading to the formation of acids in the engine oil, while also increasing the risk of fuel dilution. A prolonged period of idling will therefore accelerate engine wear and increase the likelihood that operators will have to change the vehicle’s oil, regardless of what the vehicle’s hour meter displays or maintenance schedule suggests.
Additionally, idling engines experience considerable fuel consumption—as much as 1 gallon of fuel for each hour it is left idling, according to estimations. In the face of this problem, however, heavy-duty lubricants can offer superior engine protection while also improving fuel economy.
Where Can Lubricants Help?
Using a quality lubricant can reduce an engine’s pumping and spinning losses while minimizing metal-to-metal contact between components. They also protect the engine’s vital components, as well as helping improve performance and fuel economy.
For those in heavy-duty industries such as waste fleets, API CK-4 oils are now significant. These new specification oils protect against oxidation and aeration and offer increased shear stability. Improved aeration control is crucial for heavy-duty vehicles as they can take on more air than others in their engine oil, especially at the bearings, so they require a more robust oil film to protect them.
Along with the high level of idling that the engine averages, operators should examine the region and climate that their waste fleets operate in as this can also impact the rate of engine wear if it is not properly lubricated. Fleets operating in warmer climates will have different oil requirements than those in the colder regions. Oils that are designed to provide protection in colder climates are marked with a ‘W’ (denoting winter), featuring after the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineer) grade. For fleets in warmer areas, heavier oils like the SAE 30 or 40 grade would be more appropriate as they resist the breakdown that occurs at high temperatures, ensuring adequate flow and engine protection.
An oil’s ability to flow is determined by its viscosity. In colder conditions, a high viscosity could mean that the oil resists easy movement and delays the lubrication, ultimately effecting the protection of the engine that may result in increased engine wear. Oil marketers use industry standard tests such as ‘Cold Crank Viscosity’ (CCS) and ‘Low Temperature Pumpability’ (MRV) to ensure that oils will lubricate critical components even in the coldest of operating conditions.
Monitoring the Impact
Operators can highlight if their oil needs to be changed earlier than usual by implementing a used oil analysis program and bringing maintenance issues to attention before they turn into serious issues. As well as saving on repair costs, used oil analysis helps to uncover the hidden impact that idling can have on waste fleets.
Oil analysis can also help to extend oil drain intervals, although this should only be undertaken based on recommendations from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) manual and advice from technical experts. Going against recommendations may invalidate any warranty coverage if damage or engine failure occurs, meaning that referencing the OEM manual could save money on expensive repair costs.
As generally a three-step process, used oil analysis involves taking a representative sample from the equipment in question, sending the sample to a qualified used oil analysis lab and then interpreting/acting upon the recommendations of the results. When analysis is performed at regular intervals, performance databases can be generated to establish trends in the data. For waste fleets, unplanned downtime can seriously reduce efficiency, meaning scheduling this process allows maintenance plans to be adjusted in advance and managed in-line with planned downtime.
Improve Reliability
Engine idling can have a significant impact for waste fleets, especially those operating in unique, urban conditions. By selecting a lubricant that can perform in these conditions to provide enhanced protection for heavy-duty engines, waste fleet managers improve the reliability of their fleet while reducing any unplanned downtime.
Brian Humphrey joined Petro-Canada Lubricants (Mississauga, ON) in 2013 as OEM Technical Liaison, HD Commercial Equipment Powertrain sectors, with responsibility for building the Petro-Canada Lubricants relationship with the North American Heavy-Duty Original Equipment Manufacturers. His role is to gain a clear understanding of the changing needs of heavy-duty equipment lubrication and specifications and communicate those within the company to provide high value products and services to mutual equipment end users. With more than 35 years of experience working for, and with, prominent companies across energy, transport, chemical and industry sectors, Brian has held senior R&D, Engineering, and Sales Services roles and worked in international markets.
To find out more about Petro-Canada Lubricants, visit lubricants.petro-canada.com or for more information on DURON™, visit DURONthetougherthebetter.com.
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References
https://www.equipmentworld.com/how-to-save-money-protect-equipment-by-creating-an-anti-idling-policy-at-your-construction-company/
http://www.llecp.org.uk/advice/mitigation/anti-idling-campaigns