Good
day,
Since launching its Delo 600 ADF diesel oil in
November 2019, Chevron has been promoting the oil’s capability to improve diesel
particulate filter performance (DPF) and extend the time between DPF cleanings.
At the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting
last month in Atlanta, Chevron showed off its Delo touring truck, which will
travel the country and highlight the benefits of the Delo brand overall, and
the Delo 600 ADF in particular.
James Booth, North American sector manager for Delo, told
FreightWaves that 90% of ash that clogs DPFs comes from the metallic elements
added to lubricants that keep engines running smoothly. Even though drivers may
run regeneration on their DPF, that only burns away soot and not the ash, which
must be removed manually.
Reducing the ash buildup can lead to longer timeframes
between manual DPF cleanings, Booth said, noting that most recommendations call
for DPF cleaning every 435,000 miles for on-highway vehicles.
“What we find in the field is quite different,” he said. “We’re
seeing DPFs needing to be cleaned every 225,000 miles.”
Current heavy-duty engine oils are formulated up to the API
CK-4 limit of 1% sulfated ash, but Chevron said its Delo 600 ADF is formulated
to 0.4% sulfated ash. That reduction can extend DPF service life up to 2.5
times, the company said. A DPF replacement can run $7,000 or more, and a
cleaning alone is $700 or more, Chevron said.
Booth told FreightWaves the reduced ash in the oil also
leads to up to 3% in fuel economy retention due to less clogging of the DPF
filter.
The Chevron Delo touring truck features interactive displays,
including a virtual reality experience that takes the visitor inside the workings
of engines. There is a station that allows users to build their ideal maintenance
shop and then a Chevron consultant can advise on the overall efficiency of that
shop. Users can also formulate their own oil to see how different chemical
configurations affect an oil’s performance and then they can rate their own lubrication
and oil analysis practices.
The Delo 600 ADF line includes 15W-40 and 10W-30 formulations.
The Delo touring truck will be at truck stops, trade shows and dealer and
customer events throughout 2020.
Did you know?
LMC
Automotive has cut its 2020 auto sales forecast by 300,000 because of the
impact from the coronavirus. It now projects 16.5 million vehicles being sold,
the fewest since 2014.
Quotable:
“Major coastal ports are now operating at normal productivity
levels, with truck power coming back on and cargo backlogs quickly clearing
out, thereby returning fluidity to CMA-CGM’s container movements.”
Ocean container line CMA-CGM, in a statement, on operations in China
In other news:
Trump considers business tax cuts
President
Donald Trump has proposed cutting payroll taxes and providing other stimuli to
businesses, including low-cost loans, to minimize the impact of coronavirus on
the economy. (FOX
Business)
Connected vehicles are only as good as regulators allow
Road
safety could be greatly improved with connected vehicle technologies in
development, but only if regulators allow them to progress. (Fortune)
Electric delivery trucks are here (almost)
The
introduction of production-ready electric package delivery trucks is near and
most manufacturers are ready and able to meet expected customer demand. (GreenBiz)
Diesel Brothers are not immune to clean air laws
The
famed Diesel Brothers, who strip down and rebuild diesel trucks, have been
fined $850,000 for violating the Clean Air Act through the bypass of emissions
control devices on the vehicles. (KSL)
CVTA warns of fraudulent drug and alcohol clearinghouse emails
The
Commercial Vehicle Training Association has issued warnings about fake emails
circulating regarding drug and alcohol clearinghouse enrollment. (CCJ)
Final thoughts
The
coronavirus is causing disruption to the trade show calendar. Attendees at events
that actually take place are avoiding physical contact, with facial
acknowledgement replacing the traditional handshake. Several shows have been
cancelled already and there is now an online petition on social media pushing for
cancellation of the Mid-America Trucking Show. As the virus continues to spread,
more conferences are reconsidering whether to hold their events, suppliers are
cancelling customer visits, and businesses are quickly learning new ways to communicate
with customers.
Hammer
down, everyone!
