FUELS & OILS
Mobile fuel & lube delivery
The latest addition to the underground Elphinstone fleet announced in October 2019 and available
through the worldwide Caterpillar Dealer Network is the WR810 Fuel & Lube truck. It offers a
Caterpillar powertrain, all-wheel drive, oscillating hitch, spacious three-seat climate-controlled ROPS
cabin, 5,000 litre diesel tank, 4 x 300 litre oil tanks, space for 2 x 44 gallon oil drums, 2 x grease
drums, air compressor, fire suppression system, bunded tray and many other features. This truck
was specifically designed for the in-situ servicing and “top-up” of fluid levels of production
equipment underground. Back on surface, the versatile Haulmax 3900 truck from Elphinstone can be
fitted with a Support Vehicles Australia (SVA) fuel and lube service module. These have been sold
and serviced by WesTrac to a valued iron ore mining customer in the Pilbara, Western Australia. No
less than 17 Haulmax trucks have been delivered to the same customer since 2012, the oldest with
more than 40,000 hours of strong reliable service. SVA worked with Elphinstone to integrate the
67,000 litre capacity module and ensure optimum load distribution on the Haulmax chassis.
up to 300 gpm depending on specifications and
components. The company installs pressure-less
fuelling systems on its equipment to help ensure
safe and efficient fuel delivery.
All Ground Force fuel & lube solutions also offer
“ground level” fill panels with overflow protection
integrated into the system in the form of indicator
lights and a warning alarm for ease for the
operator.
A newer addition to the offering is an in-cab
product level indicator system, that is designed to
give real-time product levels to the operator.
Ground Force also offers a wide range of filtration
options from simple filtration to the most complex
kidney loop filtration. "Our enclosed, insulated,
and heated units add protection from the
elements in harsh environment applications," the
company told IM.
Fluid transfer components are of the highest
quality, with stainless steel used in many
applications and where requested for reduced
component degradation. All fuel and product
tanks are also designed with strategic baffling.
"This as well as an engineered low centre of
gravity makes our solutions the safest on the
market. For articulated fuel trucks, we offer roll
over protection caps on the fuel tank as well as an
optional in-cab inclinometer to provide the
operator with a warning system while driving."
All Ground Force Fuel & Lube Solutions come
standard with a ‘Parker G11’ which allows
Bluetooth accessibility for troubleshooting and
upgrades.
A Ground Force 250 ton fuel lube truck at a mine in South
America. It is the world's largest with capacity for 25,000 gal
(94,635 l) of diesel, plus 1,200 gal lube, 1,200 gal coolant and
additional capacity for greases
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) delivery has become
a standard for all Ground Force fuel & lube
solutions. “We also provide solutions for older
Ground Force equipment as well as competitive
products, by way of replacement of a current
product tank or integration of a new tank into
another area on the equipment.”
Lastly, Ground Force fuel & lube skids offer all
the same quality features listed above with the
added value of office space and restrooms. These
skids are available with fuel volumes up to and
beyond 100,000 gallons of fuel with multiple pitstop
locations and various oil, grease, and coolant
volumes. They can be easily moved around via
dozer or lowboy trailer to accommodate site
“saving thousands on startup and infrastructure
costs compared to permanent structures. DEF can
be integrated into these skids as well or we offer
several DEF only options to add to your existing
fuelling solution.”
Ground Force says it “continues to improve our
fuelling solutions by way of directly interfacing
with customers to best learn challenges,
processes, and needs so we can adapt accordingly.”
Oil performance in warmer conditions
Darryl Purificati, OEM Technical Liaison, Petro-
Canada Lubricants, told IM that mining fleets tend
to focus on the impact of cold temperatures on
performance, but this shouldn’t be
the only consideration. "In the
summer months, the impact of
warmer conditions must also be
taken into account as high ambient
temperatures can alter a heavyduty
engine oil’s chemical
composition and affect lubrication,
cooling and protecting the
equipment’s engine in the way it
was designed. This can wreak
havoc on the performance of the
fleet, meaning operators must be
aware of the performance issues
that their lubricants can encounter
when working under such challenging
conditions."
Whether mining fleets are operating at the
height of summer or in extremely warm climates,
high temperatures often dictate the need for a
heavier engine oil. He adds: “It’s important to
select a product that is able to resist viscosity
losses under these conditions, such as an Society
of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 30- or 40- grade.
Viscosity loss occurs with increasing temperatures
which will decrease oil film thickness and threaten
boundary lubrication. This can result in increased
deposits forming on the valves, poor airflow to the
engine and can lead to poor sealing of the
combustion chamber and accelerated wear. When
this happens, engines tend to operate at reduced
efficiency, suffering reduced power and fuel
economy losses that can have a significant
financial impact on a mining fleet. A heavier
engine oil will ensure proper and adequate flow
with adequate oil film thickness, protecting critical
engine components.” Petro-Canada offers its
DURON highly durable oils which meet the new
category demands of API CK-4 and FA-4.
The most common problem that equipment
owners will experience with their oils operating in
higher temperatures is oxidation, as the process is
accelerated under these conditions. This can
cause additional problems, like an increase in
sludge deposits, formation of acidic byproducts
and corrosion as well as loss in foam control.
“Reducing stress on a machinery’s hardware is
critical to overall efficiency. Characteristics such as
oxidation, viscometrics and volatility must be
considered and monitored. In the mining sector,
significantly increased stress can reduce
equipment’s fuel efficiency and increase the
likelihood of metal-to-metal contact within the
engine. If this happens, the engine hardware can
seize up or fail, and fleets will experience
increased downtime and spiralling repair and
maintenance costs. With a business to manage
and vehicles to keep running, it’s important that
equipment owners choose the most appropriate
product to meet the demands of the seasons, and
their operating conditions. This choice should
always be based on the particular OEM's ambient
temperature range lubricant recommendations as
provided in the owner’s manual.”
He concludes: “All oils, and for that matter,
engine components, have their limitations. It’s
vital that mining fleets make smart decisions
when it comes to selecting the most appropriate
lubricant for their equipment and application. To
do this, the impact of hot temperatures on
lubricants as well its cold flow properties should
be considered so fleet managers can be well
informed of the specific demands of their fleet.
This means that their machinery can be afforded
the utmost protection, no matter the terrain or
temperature.” IM
38 International Mining | JULY/AUGUST 2020