Through offering guidance and expertise on issues, such as oil change schedules, analyzing used oil data, and optimizing your lubricant selection, partnering with a lubrication technical expert can unlock efficiencies across your fleet and help contribute to a lower total cost of ownership.
By Darryl Purificati
Finding efficiencies has always been important for any waste handling business, but in the current economic climate, it is crucial. I have written previously on how lubricants can provide often overlooked efficiencies for waste fleets and this remains true.
When owners and operators of waste fleets are asking for more from their equipment, it is time to ask for more out of their lubricants, too. Here, technical experts can provide the answers and give your fleet the edge.
Access to industry-leading technical support can provide a range of benefits to improve the efficiency of your waste fleet’s operations. From advising on oil selection to troubleshooting issues in the workshop, ongoing engagement with a lubricant expert can save you valuable time and money in the long run.
Great experts have been working with waste fleet customers for many years, and a Technical Services team will have a wealth of experience in providing knowledgeable recommendations to them. This means that they know the tough conditions that the equipment is subjected to, they understand the heavy loads that vehicles are asked to carry, and they are aware of the effect that endless stop-starts and hours of idling can have. Following are some areas in which a lubricant technical expert can help you to optimize your operation.
Photo courtesy of Petro-Canada Lubricants.
Lubricant Consolidation
Regardless of the vehicles or equipment within your fleet, you will likely have a variety of lubricants in your workshop. Not only does this require additional space for storage, but it can also lead to increased risk of selecting the wrong lubricant for an application. The process of consolidation can be complicated and require expert insight to balance an Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM’s) individual recommendations with what is best for your business.
While a degree of consolidation can be beneficial, it is important not to reduce the number of lubricants you are using for the sake of it. Some products offer the benefits that your equipment requires while others may not. By using the wrong lubricant, you could compromise your equipment’s internal hardware protection, void your warranty, and incur costly repair fees. Through consulting your lubricant technical expert, you can safely consolidate your lubricants while maintaining and protecting your equipment.
Oil Drain Intervals
Another way technical lubricant experts provide operational efficiencies is through optimizing your oil drain intervals. Extending the time between oil drains can offer numerous benefits—from enabling trucks longer road time between scheduled maintenance to directly reducing maintenance costs and even helping with sustainability goals. However, as serious issues can arise if not planned and monitored correctly, oil drain intervals should only be extended or optimized with the support of a technical service advisor and a used oil analysis program.
Your technical lubricant expert will be able to identify any issues before lubricant protection is compromised and help to safely extend your oil drain intervals, resulting in reduced time in the shop and lower overall maintenance fees.
Interpreting Used Oil Analysis Data
Used oil analysis reports can be complicated, with multiple data points and various factors to consider when determining the oil’s condition. Lubricant technical experts can share their knowledge, insight, and experience to translate this laboratory data into practical insight. Technical Service Advisors monitor oil analysis data for any abnormalities in oil sample reports on behalf of our customers, providing a ‘second set of eyes’ to look at all the critical pieces of information and early warning signs on the vital equipment that comprises customers’ fleets.
For example, the presence of coolant or glycol could be the sign of a failing Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler seal whereas an increase in iron and aluminum could indicate a failing camshaft, coolant attacking the liners or the engine, requiring mechanical adjustment. Spotting these changes in used oil analysis reports early can result in maintenance that is both less disruptive and costly, helping fleets get back on the road sooner.
Your technical expert will also be able to advise on other important considerations, such as how the makeup of your fleet will impact your used oil analysis insight. For example, not all vehicles in a fleet will be subject to the same OEM thresholds for specific properties. This means that while a certain level may be acceptable in one vehicle, it could be cause for concern in another.
Technical experts can also offer specialist training sessions to further support a fleet and its technicians. These sessions allow you and your team to better understand your equipment and its requirements in the future.
Workshop Efficiencies
Effective organization and storage of lubricants plays a crucial role in a workshop, allowing you to maximize space and efficiency while minimizing risk of human error. Through in-person visits to your maintenance site, technical service advisors can share actionable guidance and tips on how to optimize your workshop organization and lubricant storage. This includes guidance on proper labeling and advice on how to safely decant or store lubricants. Additionally, these visits provide an opportunity for you and your team to ask any questions you might have.
Troubleshooting
Lubricant experts are also available to provide real-time advice on problems you may be experiencing. For example, technical service consultants frequently offer guidance on how to obtain a high-quality oil sample. Additionally, they can provide information on emerging standards and important changes in the industry, such as the upcoming PC-12 oil standard being developed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) in response to legislation announced by the EPA, or answer questions regarding OEMs recommendations, a critical aspect for upholding engine warranties and, therefore, deemed essential knowledge for all fleets.
Unlock Efficiencies
Lubrication specialists have the potential to make a significant contribution to the improvement of your waste fleet. Through offering guidance and expertise on issues such as oil change schedules, analyzing used oil data, and optimizing your lubricant selection, partnering with a lubrication technical expert can unlock efficiencies across your fleet and help contribute to a lower total cost of ownership. | WA
Darryl Purificati is Senior Technical Advisor, OEM/Automotive, at Petro-Canada Lubricants, an HF Sinclair brand, and also chair of the American Petroleum Institute (API) lubricants committee. For more information or to speak to a Petro-Canada Lubricants technical expert, visit www.petrocanadalubricants.com.