Maintenance Q&A – October 2023
Preventative maintenance is changing.
Not that long ago, as a service technician at a medium-to-large fleet, we serviced tractors every 15,000 to 20,000 miles. This included changing the oil, replacing the filters, inspecting the condition of various items and lubricating the chassis.
Oil and filter technology has advanced so much that the modern tractor may go 50,000-plus miles before needing its next preventative maintenance service. With these changes, the maintenance-conscious vehicle owner needs to know what these advancements are and how they affect a quality maintenance program.
Engine oil has a complex list of responsibilities. Oil is expected to lubricate, cool components and clean contaminants from the critical parts it contacts. The ability of engine oil to successfully complete these tasks depends on two factors: the quality of the base oil and the additive package used during manufacturing.
Though this is an oversimplification of a complex manufacturing and refining process, base oils come from one of two sources. One is refinement from crude oil taken out of the ground; these are referred to as conventional oils.
The other is synthetic oils, which are base oils that are engineered or manufactured. Additionally, there is a middle ground called synthetic blends or semi-synthetics. Synthetic blends use a mixture of both synthetic and conventional oils.
When compared to conventional oils, synthetic oil has more uniform molecules and fewer impurities, or in some cases no impurities. Synthetics also can be engineered to have better friction reduction and fuel efficiency, as well as better tolerance of high temperatures.
Conventional oil will always have impurities due to its source, crude oil. It will always need to be drained more often than synthetics. So why use conventional oil? Price. Conventional oil can cost less than half the price of leading synthetics.
Oil additive packages take the functions of oil well beyond simply lubricating. Additives include:
- Detergents – clean and neutralize acids
- Antioxidants/corrosion inhibitors – as the name suggests, prevent oxidation such as rust or corrosion that is inherent to the hot interior of internal combustion engines
- Viscosity improvers – help oil maintain its viscosity through various temperatures
- Wear/friction/pressure additives – contribute to the film strength that carries the load and prevent metal-to-metal contact
Additive packages can be customized to fit all service applications an engine will see. One example of this is high-mileage oil. These oils have specific additives that assist seals and gaskets in achieving a good seal, exactly as a high-mileage engine needs.
Other additive packages are geared toward extending oil life. These extended interval-focused oils can last three to four times longer than standard engine oils.
Filters are evolving, as well. All oil filters capture contaminants in the filter media as the oil passes through.
But in recent times, oil filter manufacturers have completely reengineered their interior design and materials to extend service life.
Many manufacturers have found creative ways to layer filtering media within the filter housing, which vastly increases contaminant-capturing capacity. Some manufacturers also chemically treat their filter media to neutralize acids in the oil as it is filtered. By utilizing the filter to provide assistance to the oil, the filter helps extend the life of the oil additive package and the oil drain interval.
As mentioned earlier, a preventative maintenance service is more than just an oil change. The advancements mentioned above have made it common to see recommended oil change intervals of 50,000 miles and in some cases even 75,000 miles.
But what about all the other components maintained during a preventative maintenance service? Can they wait 50,000 miles? Definitely not!
If you have components that require periodic inspection and lubrication, such as brakes, steering and drivetrain components, they still must be serviced at their recommended service interval.
This can be accomplished through specially designed extended interval preventative maintenance. These services address only the areas of the vehicle that require service between oil changes.
Preventative maintenance is a key component in every successful trucking operation. Failing to understand the frequent changes and advancements in technology can cause you to over-maintain your vehicle, or worse, to under-maintain it. This can cost you big. If you want to give your truck the best of the best in oil and filters, try out extended-life oil and filters with oil specifically designed for your application and vehicle. TA
Daniel Mustafa is the director of technical service for Travel Centers of America and Petro Stopping Centers. His role entails the research, development and implementation of truck repair services and programs. He also oversees the truck service technical support center.
He has worked in the vehicle service industry for 15-plus years and holds ASE Master Certification status in medium/heavy truck, automobile and school bus segments. He also holds ASE L1 and L2 advanced level specialist certifications and various original equipment manufacturer certifications.