ENERGY
CONSIDERING EXTENDING YOUR HEAVY-DUTY DIESEL ENGINE OIL DRAINS ?
Considering extending your heavy-duty diesel engine oil drains ? It can produce real savings in terms of reduced costs and downtime ; however , moving the engine oil drain interval past the original equipment manufacturer ( OEM ) recommendation based on duty cycle is a huge step and can seem risky .
You should take the time to explore if extended drains are right for your business / fleet . Engine oil drain intervals on heavy-duty trucks and equipment can vary widely . Oil drain interval recommendations are determined through extensive testing by the OEMs as they have the biggest liability and warranty on the vehicle .
There is more to extending drain intervals than just adding miles or hours between changes . Here are some important factors to consider :
• Oil selection - high-quality base stocks , high-quality additives , and enhanced shear stability protection ( consult your FS Energy Specialist )
• Oil filter performance suitable for extended drains ( consult your filter provider )
• Used oil analysis protocols , necessary as extended drains MUST be validated and monitored ( more on this below )
• Load and environment severity
• Fuel consumption and quality
• Oil consumption
• Idle time
Other factors include :
• Upgrading shop “ best practices ”
• Synchronizing drain intervals with other preventive maintenance
• Optimal lube handling / storage practices
• Workload severity
• Operational capabilities of the equipment
• Understanding the risk and rewards
• Sump capacity