With fuel prices rising, delivery deadlines getting tighter, and truck drivers in short supply, fleet operators continue to look for ways to streamline their operations and reduce operating and maintenance costs. It means more than focusing only on the initial purchase price of the truck, but instead on reducing the total cost of vehicle ownership.
Fleet operators want improved durability in their trucks to limit turnover and to lower capital expenditures over the long term. They need greater reliability to help increase overall fleet productivity. And they need greater efficiency from their vehicles to decrease their operating costs and fuel spend.
Hardware designs have evolved significantly over the last 30 years to keep up with demands of increasingly stringent regulations. With each change, new demands have been placed on the lubricating oil. With tighter tolerances between components, today’s advanced engine technologies achieve greater efficiency, but are more sensitive and run much hotter than previous designs. And when the engine runs hotter, so too does the oil, which has prompted new demands on oil quality.
Like most things, too much heat can stress the oil. It makes it more vulnerable to breakdown, which can cause it to degrade. Severely oxidized oil will become much thicker than when the oil was new, and can also become acidic and attack internal components like bearings and bushings. Oxidized oil also contributes to deposit formation in places like the turbocharger and power cylinder. Elevated temperatures can also cause a portion of the oil to evaporate, which can impact oil consumption and further accelerate degradation.
Of course, engines and the oils that protect them must be robust not only at elevated temperatures but also at the very low temperatures encountered upon winter startup. Fluids that can handle these wide temperature swings have what oil formulators call high “viscosity index.” Increasingly, we turn to synthetic oils that, when formulated with high performance additives, deliver on the high stability, low volatility, and high viscosity index that today’s operators demand.
It’s helpful to understand the difference between conventional and synthetic oils. Conventional oils are made from refined crude oil and undergo further processing to remove harmful impurities and to further tailor their properties. In contrast, synthetic base oils are purposely built chemicals that are synthesized to deliver high performance. Synthetic base oils are generally less volatile, and more chemically stable than conventional base oils. Yet, they are particularly robust at low temperatures as well.
Of course, it is not just the synthetic base oil that delivers these properties, but also the additive package that is unique to each producer. The greatest potential for high performance comes from the optimal combination of synthetic oils and additive formulation expertise. The properties we often attribute to synthetics are actually the result of the additives working with the base oil to produce the desired performance. More simply stated, not all synthetics are created equal.
With the trend toward smaller, technologically advanced heavy-duty engines, we have seen a parallel trend toward lower viscosity lubricants. This is leading logically to the wider use of synthetic blends, and ultimately, full synthetic engine oils. With the right additive formulations, synthetic lubricants will help deliver on the goals of lower emissions and high fuel economy that truck manufacturers have been working towards. Fleet managers would do well to understand the benefits of synthetics and to prepare for this transition as they upgrade their fleets.
Shrader Tire and Oil can help meet all of your heavy duty synthetic oil needs. Contact our customer service department today at 800-589-6589 and ask about our products and services. We keep the transportation industry rolling and safe!
Retread tires are created by removing a worn-out tire tread and applying a new one, without having to deal with the components required to produce new casings. So, what’s the benefit to you, and why should they take the place of a new tires? To put it simply, retread tires are cheaper, of equal quality and performance, safe, environmentally friendly, and built to last.
Through the retread process, businesses are able to maintain lower production costs, ultimately leading to a lower price for consumers. Since new casings aren’t necessary, all efforts are able to focus solely on the production of new treads. Even though they are cheaper, their fuel efficiency, life span, and overall quality is equal to, if not better than, new tires.
This is where Shrader Tire & Oil can step in. We are the solution to your retread tire needs. As a certified Michelin MRT Retreader, Shrader Tire & Oil recently earned the highest audit scores in the industry. With our nine-step manufacturing process, we ensure efficient and quality results. Our retreads are held to the highest standard and are inspected thoroughly – both digitally and by hand. To support our claims, all of our retreads are backed by a warranty.
Although the myths about retreading may seem alarming, according to the Managing Director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB), studies indicate that retread tires are just as reliable and safe as new tires. As long as they are properly maintained, exactly like how you would with a new set of tires, they will be just as effective.
As more information is uncovered, the demand for retread tires is ever increasing. TRIB states that 89 percent of fleets with 500 trucks or more utilize them. However, it’s not only about the large fleets. As the retread process continues to evolve and improve, fleets across the country, both large and small, are recognizing the benefits of retreading. This is especially true for those considered a part of the last mile.
There is no better application for retread tires than when it comes to box trucks, delivery vans, and other light weight trucks. For companies such as UPS and FedEx, they are a necessity. With such high delivery rates, these types of trucks are constantly turning, accelerating, braking, and damaging their wheels. Retread tires are the most cost-effective solution to the high demand of tires in this industry. The bottom line is that retread tires are here to stay – and it’s for a good reason.
Contact Shrader Tire & Oil today at 800-859-6589 and ask about our retreads. You will be glad you did!
If you’re in the trucking industry, you’ve heard many myths about retreads. For example, you may think you will save more money by buying and discarding lower priced imports than by retreading quality casings. Or you may believe all the “gators” you see on the road are retreads.
In the Retreads Reimagined video series featured here, we tackle the top 7 myths in the industry and show you how retreads could be a very smart decision for your business.
The overall quality of retreaded truck tires has increased dramatically in recent years with the introduction of advanced technology, including the use of computers in manufacturing and nondestructive tire testing. Retreaded tires have historically made up about 50% of the replacement commercial tire market in the U.S. Fleets know they can rely on retreaded tires to deliver safety, reliability and performance while significantly driving down costs.
When choosing to retread a premium tire using the process of a major manufacturer, you can count on a retreaded tire that will outperform a lesser-brand new tire, and will even deliver mileage that’s on par or better than a new, lesser-brand, cheap import.
Don’t let the old myths keep you from choosing retreaded tires as a safe, effective, environment friendly, cost-effective addition to your fleet’s tire management program. Share these myths and truths with your drivers to assure them of the safety and performance of retreads.
With diesel fuel prices surging north of $5.00 per gallon across the country, fleet operators are looking for more ways to control their biggest operating expense by increasing fuel economy. Most likely you are already doing all you can to improve vehicle aerodynamics and keep tires properly inflated. But there is another, less obvious and often overlooked way to gain a few extra percentage points in fuel efficiency: your choice of an engine oil.
Let’s start with the weight or viscosity of the oil. To reduce fuel consumption, you need to reduce friction in all its forms throughout the vehicle. And one source of friction is the thickness of the oil. A 40-weight oil is going to put up more resistance within the engine than a 30-weight. So just by moving from a 15W-40 to a 10W-30 viscosity oil, you are going to reduce the resistance, or friction, caused by the oil. In doing so, you will have more horsepower available, which means you don’t have to force as much fuel into the engine to maintain your desired speed. This simple change in viscosity can translate to as much as a 1% improvement in fuel economy – which may sound small, but at today’s prices, it can add up to a substantial savings per truck per year across an entire fleet.
Many truckers tend to have more confidence in thicker oils because that is what they are used to. However, if a truck is no more than 10 to 15 years old, you can safely move to a lower weight oil without compromising on engine protection and performance. In fact, the major truck OEMs have been using 10W-30 oils as their factory fill since 2013, and most agree that today’s 10W-30 oils could be backwards compatible as far as the 2007 model year. With the potential fuel savings, switching to a lower viscosity oil definitely warrants consideration.
What about synthetics? You may see a small fuel economy gain by moving from a conventional oil or semi-synthetic “synblend” to a full synthetic oil. It won’t be as significant a gain as the change from a 40 to a 30-weight viscosity, but again, every increment counts in today’s economy.
Another potential source of fuel savings is improving the performance of the exhaust aftertreatment system, specifically the diesel particulate filter, or DPF. Many operators may not realize that the engine oil plays a critical role in the health of the DPF. Non-combustible metallic additives in the oil are the chief cause of unburned ash accumulation in the DPF, which impedes fuel economy in a couple of ways. As ash builds up and starts clogging the filter, it restricts the flow of exhaust. The resulting buildup of exhaust gases in the system causes backpressure, forcing the engine to work harder to push exhaust out, meaning the engine is going to burn more fuel just to operate normally. The engine loses horsepower in the process, and the driver’s natural impulse is to press harder on the gas pedal to compensate, causing fuel to burn even faster.
DPF clogging also leads to an increase in the number of forced regenerations required to burn out the soot that builds up along with the ash. If we estimate that every regen burns about one gallon of fuel with the truck in a stationary position, then more frequent regens are going to reduce fuel economy dramatically. Chevron research has found that the combination of backpressure and more frequent regens exacts a fuel economy “penalty,” or loss of 3% to 6% over the DPF service lifecycle.
The easiest solution to excessive ash accumulation in the DPF is an ultra-low ash oil. Chevron introduced the first such oil for heavy duty diesel engines, Delo® 600 ADF, which has been shown to reduce ash accumulation in the DPF by 60% and improve fuel economy retention by as much as 3%. Along with the potential fuel savings, using an ultra-low ash oil reduces DPF maintenance costs and regeneration downtime.
Let’s hope $5.00-plus diesel fuel is a temporary situation. But if and when inflation cools down, economists predict that prices are likely to remain higher than we were previously accustomed to for the long haul. Now is the time to take advantage of the latest lubrication technology to help offset the impact of rising fuel prices.
Contact your Shrader Tire and Oil representative today to ask how we can help your fleet with oil and maintenance to help you save at the pump!
TOLEDO (May 24) — Highway patrols in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are joining forces this week on a safety belt enforcement blitz. The special enforcement will continue through Memorial Day.
The high-visibility enforcement will include the Indiana State Police, Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police and the West Virginia State Police, as well as Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The initiative began at 12:01 am. Monday (May 23) and ends at 11:59 p.m. May 30. It coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign as well as the Highway Patrol’s Operation CARE All-American Buckle Up Mobilization.
“Properly using a safety belt is a simple step that has proven to save lives,” said Col. Richard Fambro, patrol superintendent for the Ohio State Highway Patrol. “Motorists must commit to buckling up every trip, every time, so they are protected if they are involved in a crash.”
The project is a multistate law enforcement partnership aimed at providing combined and coordinated law enforcement and security services in the areas of highway safety, criminal patrol and intelligence sharing.
Nine people died on Ohio’s roads over Memorial Day weekend 2021. Twenty died in traffic crashes over Memorial Day weekend 2020, according to Highway Patrol statistics.
