Fleet Maintenance - 26

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26 Fleet Maintenance | October 2019

LeBlanc Sr. warns against changing
the composition of the engine oils as
well and the use of additional additives
not already included in the original oil's
composition.
"Oil additives already make up
between 10 and 20 percent of a heavy
duty lubricant that has been validated
to OEM-approved standards," LeBlanc Sr.
says. "The additive system is comprised of
a careful balance of additives that work
together to ensure hardware protection
and longevity of vital components."
Engine downsizing
A trend in engine downsizing, which
refers to a lower displacement volume, can
provide fuel economy benefits because a
smaller engine would inherently use less
fuel. For example, specifying a 13L engine
compared to a 15L engine. Coupled with
that, a smaller engine unit means less
material used during the production
of that system. OEs, like Navistar, have
looked to still provide the same amount
of horsepower with the smaller engines.
"Engine downsizing provides benefits,
over 600 pounds in weight savings for the
[International] A26," Nachtman explains.
The proprietary International A26 12.4L
engine provides 365 to 500 hp, and 1,250
to 1,750 ft-lb of torque. "This contributes
to fuel economy improvements, as well as
higher payload capability in some applications. Smaller engines tend to be easier
to service as well."
For those fleets opting to operate
the same sized engines, newer designs
offer more horsepower than previous
generations.
"A lot of those engines - 30 years ago
- may have been similar in size [as to
what they are today] with 350 hp maybe
400 hp, in that range. Now 15L engines
[provide up to] 600 hp," advises Shell
Lubricants' Arcy. "You're taking the
same displacement engine, and you're
getting over 30 percent more horsepower, and improving fuel economy, and
reducing emissions."
A number of manufacturers have taken
an opposite approach to this trend, keeping the engine displacement volume the
same, translating to even more horsepower and torque. Daimler's Daniels explains
the Detroit DD15 15L engine has been a
popular size for long-haul applications,
while the Detroit DD13 13L engine has
been more commonly specified for
regional and vocational applications.
"Selecting the right power rating is
also important," says Daniels. "Higher
displacements and horsepower ratings
are making it easier for fleets to keep drivers satisfied with the performance of the
vehicle; and for fleets that prefer the most
efficient setup, lower the horsepower and
rear axle ratios (to) get the most distance
out of the fuel in the tank."
Of course, it is important to consider

» Many engine OEs provide general guidelines dependent on application
including severe duty, short-haul, and long-haul. A general rule of thumb
is to assess based on the miles-per-gallon average of the fleet.
Photo courtesy of Volvo Trucks North America

Powertrain items to consider for
PM checklists
When it comes to the
engine, there are a number
of areas, systems, and
components to periodically
check in order to ensure
maximized vehicle uptime.
It is critical to adhere to both the proper
intervals, and to review all necessary
aspects of the engine, to ensure vehicle uptime is maximized by a fleet.
Many engine OEs provide general
guidelines dependent on application
including severe duty, short-haul, and
long-haul. A general rule of thumb

As with any
newly introduced
technologies, a jump
in maintenance is not
necessarily welcomed,
but always expected.
the duty cycle and application whenever
specifying engines.
Overall, efficiencies have improved,
and downsizing may be a suitable option
for some fleets.

is to assess based on the milesper-gallon average of the fleet.
An owner's manual, or assistance
from the engine manufacturer, is the
best way to ensure all areas of the
system are in the best working order.
Items to consider when reviewing
preventive maintenance checklists
include: oil drain intervals, engine oil
filters, engine oil levels, fuel filters, coolant filters, coolant levels, drain water
separators, engine lash adjustments,
electrical system components and
harnesses, assess belts, piping, and
clamps, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) filters,
and diesel particulate filter (DPF) ash
cleaning intervals or filter replacement.

Downspeeding
In recent years, engine manufacturers
have continued to push the minimal
engine operating rpm, without compromising torque, from 1,500 rpm down to
1,200 rpm, and even lower.
"Downspeeding allows the engine
to make the required horsepower at a
lower engine rpm," explains Navistar's
Nachtman. "Thus, reducing internal
engine friction [and] improving fuel
efficiency."
Downspeeding may allow for lower
rates of fuel consumption, but specifications with the transmission and rear axle
ratio configurations must be considered
in order to benefit from this functionality.
This is another reason the industry has
seen a continued shift toward automated manual transmissions, according to
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Fleet Maintenance

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