last
WORD
Fully synthetic lubricants
can enhance the bottom
line
By Tristan Wiggill
W
ith so many South African
goods and ser vices
transported by roads, road
transport and logistics
accounts for approximately 10 per cent of
South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Therefore, efficient fleet management remains
critical for the growth of the economy.
Fleet managers are under significant pressure
to deliver profits that reflect the potential of
the industry despite being impacted virtually
immediately by the fluctuating oil price.
According to Raymond Abraham, Commercial
Technical Manager of Shell South Africa, oil
is extremely sensitive to developments in the
Middle East. As a result, local fleet managers’
profits are continually under threat due to fuel
price volatility, making it difficult to project –
and maintain – margins.
Opting for diesel vehicles, he says, is proving
to be a smart way to go in many instances,
given the relatively lower cost of diesel and the
corresponding better fuel economy that can be
achieved when compared to petrol engines.
According to him, introducing more efficient
vehicles is part of the solution, and matching
the correct lubricant to the vehicle is equally
important.
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Abraham says fleet managers are increasingly
combining Original Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs) and lubricant technology to improve
efficiencies as operators are able to extract
‘extra kilometres’ from their fleets, as well as
reduce maintenance requirements, carbon
emissions and smoke.
“A basic understanding between synthetic
and mineral oils can give fleet managers the
confidence to gladly accept an oil change which
will ultimately lead to a cleaner engine that
operates more efficiently, delivers more power
and consumes less fuel, he says.
The introduction of synthetic and semisynthetic oils represents a significant change
for the heavy-duty transport industry. Thanks
to modern refining technology, today’s
high -quality mineral oils provide adequate
equipment protection and offers many benefits
over traditional mineral oil-based engine oils.
Traditionally, lubricants have been based
on mineral oil, a component of crude oil
used in thousands of everyday applications
from engines to cosmetics. Mineral base oils,
however, are complex mixtures of naturally
occurring hydrocarbons that may contain
impurities. Synthetic lubricants, on the other
hand, are made from chemicals selectively
chosen and free of impurities.
An important function of lubrication, for
example, is ensuring the engine continues to
be protected under extreme temperatures,
including cold starts, and at high operating
temperatures. High-quality synthetic base oils
are engineered for excellent low-temperature
flow properties, high resistance to thermal
degradation and low oil consumption. When
combined with advanced additive technology,
this results in products that are well placed to
deliver best in class engine protection.
Compared to some mineral oils, this means
that synthetic products can help to extend
equipment life. The latest generation of synthetic
lubricants also fulfils additional functions that
can help improve cost efficiencies.
Traditionally, delivering enhanced fuel
economy meant lower viscosity (thinner) oils,
which helped to reduce friction in the engine
but with the perceived trade-off of reduced
engine protection. With the latest technologies,
this trade-off is no longer a necessary. Highquality synthetic base oils and advanced
additive tech