The Impact of Oil & Lubricant Choice on Truck Performance & Longevity
Over recent years, there have been significant changes in the formulation of heavy-duty diesel engine oils designed to meet the requirements and manufacturer specifications of the latest commercial vehicles. Adrian Hill, Morris Lubricants’ Technology Manager, outlines some of the important factors that need to be considered as the market continues to focus on reducing emissions and meeting new regulations.
What have been some of the biggest changes in the industry?
There is a continual focus on ensuring commercial vehicles are as fuel efficient as possible in a move towards reducing emissions – and the natural solution to support this focuses on engine technology. However, correct heavy-duty engine oil use can also make a significant contribution to reducing emissions.
Going back just 15 years, fleet managers and truck mechanics were likely to be working with just one or two main engine oils in their workshop, but today, there are numerous different oil specifications on the market, meaning that operators need to be fully abreast of the formulations available. It is vitally important that the correct heavy-duty engine oil is used in a truck, bus or HGV to make sure the vehicle is reaching its maximum performance levels.
Why has there been a move towards thinner engine oils in Trucks?
To match the developments and requirements of the latest engine designs, engine oil formulations have also needed to evolve. Improvements in fuel efficiency can be made by using engine oils that produce thinner oil films in the bearings and the ring/liner area. Thinner oil films result in less drag, and therefore, more usable energy goes to the wheels.
To ensure that component integrity is not compromised, these thinner oil films are fortified with polymer chemistry to ensure there is no metal-to-metal contact. Polymers are essential when formulating 5W-30 and 0W-20 engine oils for the commercial vehicle market, with the environmental benefit of fuel efficiency resulting in reduced CO2, which is one of the targets of Euro VII engine designs.
How do these changes make a fleet run more efficiently?
With the increasing complexity of engine designs and the wide variety of aftertreatment devices that are now added to trucks to help reduce emissions, maintaining commercial vehicle fleets has certainly changed in recent times. But what has remained consistent is that vehicles must be kept on the road regardless of the size of the company to protect profits.
Trucks, coaches and buses will be on the road for long periods of time, which puts a huge demand on the engine. A truck that is always off the road and in the workshop does not earn any money and can lead to increased costs and, more importantly, lost business.
As highlighted earlier, oil formulations in newer engine designs are becoming thinner. In particular, the oil film thickness for certain commercial vehicle engines is similar to passenger car levels. Heavy-duty diesel engines must be capable of using these oils without accelerated wear and related issues taking place.
Heavy-duty engine oil choice is becoming more complex. Fleet managers and mechanics must therefore make sure they follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and use oils and lubricants that cover Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specifications. Meeting a vehicle's servicing intervals is essential, and to skip a service will be costly in the long run. Using the wrong oil that does not meet the vehicle’s requirements will cause the engine to run poorly and inefficiently, with a lack of power and the high risk that costly unseen damage is being caused. If not cared for correctly, the engine and aftertreatment devices may end up needing a timely and costly overhaul.
How are OEMs adapting to these new demands?
Global lubricant specifications from ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) and API (American Petroleum Institute) have been developed for oils and lubricants to suit new engines and their emissions demands, but the OEMs are taking it further by tailoring these standard specifications and adding their own testing sequences.
Most of the OEMs are already factory-filling new vehicles with 5W-20s and 5W-30s, and then go on to require this or a similar grade of oil that meets the correct specifications during service fill.
Scania, MAN and Volvo are already specifying these low-viscosity lubricants for service fill, with the other main commercial vehicle manufacturers having specifications in draft form that will become factory fill to start with, before entering the service fill market. Morris Lubricants has recently introduced its new Versimax HD15 5W-30 heavy-duty diesel engine oil which has the latest Volvo VDS-5 specification approval, along with other original equipment manufacturer (OEM) qualifications.
The launch of Versimax HD15 5W-30 for Volvo VDS-5 applications, with full OEM approval, means that Morris Lubricants’ customers have access to the correct high quality engine oils to keep their engine investment operating reliably. This official approval gives reassurance and complete peace of mind."
Versimax heavy-duty engine oils
The Versimax range of heavy-duty diesel engine oils from Morris Lubricants, has been formulated for previous and current generations of engines in commercial vehicle fleets. These engine oils work with the various aftertreatment devices found on trucks, coaches, buses and HGVs, as well as to help reduce downtime, assist in the improvement in fuel efficiency and, of course, contribute to the reduction in engine emissions.
Morris Lubricants’ Versimax range of engine oils are used by fleet operators, maintenance technicians, mechanics and drivers to rationalise usage where mixed fleets of vehicles and engine technologies are in operation.
As highlighted earlier, engine oil choice should not be taken lightly, and the OEM specifications in a vehicle's guide should always be followed. The mixing of different types of oil must always be approached with caution, as using an inferior oil could cause damage or premature failure. As always, seek professional advice if there is any doubt.
By selecting the correct oils and lubricants, operators have the best opportunity to keep commercial vehicles out of the workshop and earning their keep on the road.
Further information can be found on the commercial vehicle section of the Morris Lubricants website or on the company’s social media channels.
If you are unsure which oil you need, call the Morris Lubricants Technical Services department on 01743 237541 or use the company’s whatoil online oil finder on the website morrislubricants.co.uk. You can now use a truck registration number. Simply enter a registration number for a truck, and the recommended oil is shown for the vehicle.