december2021 - 36

e-axle and electric powertrain lubricants. " Those
units will require less frequent and extensive
services and will need less volume of fluids for
servicing them during their effective lives. "
It is important to note electric powertrains and
e-axles may require special lubrication fluids.
" As electrification of driveline systems (including
transmissions and axles) is getting more widely
developed by OEMs at different parts of the
world, Chevron is partnering with them to develop
the right fluids for their evolving hardware in this
space, " Do said.
Allison's will require longer drain intervals
compared to conventional transmissions.
" Depending on the duty cycles and vocation,
the fluid and filter of the e-axles may last for a
vehicle's lifetime, " Foster said of the eGen line.
When it comes to the lubrication of the electric
powertrain, and specifically the transmission,
Meritor has simplified the design and runs the
axle lube through the transmission system.
" Generally, the transmission will run on different
fluids, automatic transmission fluid, for example, or
some other fluid that's different than the axle lube, "
Bennett explained. " Because
our system is fully integrated
and we didn't want to have to
service multiple lubes, it's just
one oil, and it's typical axle oil
that runs through the whole
integrated system. We did that
for ease of maintenance. "
Dana also has simplified
e-axle lubrication for fleets.
" The only standard maintenance
that's required on
our e-axles is your traditional
axle lubrication interval, " said
Freznick, who added Dana also
utilizes
special
lubricating
fluid. " You do have to pay attention
to some of the powertrain
cooling fluid intervals, which
are typically 100,000 miles. "
Traditional gear oil is used
in the differential, though, and
has the same gear lube interval
change as a traditional axle.
" You've got a typical drain
plug you pull; catch the gear
oil like you would with the
traditional axle, " Freznick
advised.
" You change your
coolant every 100,000 miles
and you're good to go. "
Freznick stressed that wiring
and cable checks will need to
be added to the inspection list.
" There's a high voltage interlock
that is the job one would
do before performing any kind
of checks or maintenance, "
he said. " Basically, it shuts
down the high voltage cable
and de-energizes the system.
You want to de-energize your
system before you're doing any
of that maintenance work.
" There is always some
JANUARY 24-27, 2022
GRAPEVINE, TX
36 Fleet Maintenance | December 2021
FleetMaintenance.com/inquire
hesitation because it's new, "
Freznick attested in regard of
the adoption of e-axles. " But,
the majority, if not everybody
who's been through the safety
training understands, what
you need to do is provide a safe
work environment. Everybody
feels very comfortable with the
systems at that point. Once
the newness wears off, and
you can appreciate that, really,
once you de-energize the
system, things are just like you
would expect with a traditional
drive axle and drive shaft. "
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december2021

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