On the Road Advice

High-Quality Lubricants and Preventive Maintenance Reduce Equipment Downtime and Offer Improved Efficiency

Staying competitive in the construction industry includes meeting deadlines, reducing operational costs, and maximizing equipment availability. Equipment downtime at a construction site can severely compromise project schedules and result in revenue loss, so it’s vital to keep vehicles and equipment operating properly.

One way to keep on track is with a proactive preventative maintenance program, including scheduled engine oil drain intervals, proper greasing intervals, and ensuring coolants are at the proper mixture and freeze point. Regularly checking lubricants is an easy way to provide protection for engines and chassis drivetrains. Regularly scheduled maintenance intervals for lubricants can help reduce equipment ownership costs and improve equipment life and efficiency. Choosing the right lubricants and services related to the needs of your vehicles and equipment can help to make a significant impact on your bottom line.

Engine Oil

Using full synthetic or synthetic-blend heavy-duty diesel engine oils can provide advanced engine protection and performance. These advanced lubricants perform well in heavy-duty diesel engines, especially in extreme hot and cold temperatures, and provide protection that can help save money. They also prevent metal-to-metal contact – caused by low speeds, high loads, cold starts, shock loading, and extended idling – all of which can cause engine damage. Synthetic lubricants can also help increase fuel economy and operational savings, in addition to helping reduce the CO2 footprint.

Daily demands on your equipment require engine oil with critical properties such as Shell Rotella T5 10W-30 synthetic blend, which has adequate viscosity control in extreme conditions to prevent abrasive wear. For on-highway vehicles, full-synthetic and synthetic-blend engine oils can help provide enhanced fuel economy capability without compromising engine protection or durability.

The most common low viscosity diesel engine oils are 10W-30 and 5W-40, which are suitable for many modern diesel engines. They can provide the same level of protection as a 15W-40 with some important benefits. 10W-30 and 5W-40 oils flow through the engine quicker on cold start-ups, causing less friction to be generated in the engine, which will prevent engine wear.

Greases

On-site conditions are often unpredictable – and this can have a significant impact on pins and bushings as well as bearings. To protect components and keep them moving as they should, a high-quality grease that can maintain performance, even in the harshest environment is required. It is important to consider a range of greases that can deliver a reliable level of performance, provide mechanical stability to avoid breakdowns, oxidation stability for system efficiency, and water washout resistance for excellent corrosion protection. Always be sure to use greases that meet the specifications of your equipment.

Hydraulic Fluids

Hydraulic fluids play several important roles in construction equipment, from optimizing production efficiency and operability to reducing noise onsite. They also keep machinery running smoothly in all weather conditions, protecting and lubricating components to support efficient power transmission.

However, uneven terrain and dusty operating conditions expose your oil to particulate contamination, which can accelerate component wear and reduce fluid life. This often leads to reduced component performance and even possible equipment failure. To prevent this, the hydraulic fluid must offer reliable air release, excellent filterability, and improved cleanliness. The Shell Naturelle and Panolin range of biodegradable greases, hydraulic fluids, and gear oils offer reliable equipment protection while helping to reduce the environmental impact of your on-site operations.

Transmission Fluid

Dirt, dust, and water from a job site can break down the oil in equipment, limiting its effectiveness and exposing the transmission to premature wear. A high-quality transmission oil with good oxidation resistance can limit this fluid degradation, reducing downtime by extending oil change frequency. A transmission fluid with good frictional properties and high fluidity, such as Shell Spirax S4 CX, can provide excellent protection for heavy-duty transmission systems and help keep equipment running efficiently for longer, which can improve productivity.

Desiccant Breathers

The moisture accumulation in hydraulic fluid can cause corrosion and premature mechanical wear. Moisture in hydraulic oils can alter viscosity, deplete additives, and instigate sludge formation. Hydraulics utilize air to “breathe” as they operate, and this is a main source of how moisture and contamination can enter lubricant reservoirs. Using high-quality desiccant breathers can reduce particulate and moisture contamination in hydraulic fluids on mobile construction and stationary equipment.

Coolants

Shell Lubricant Solutions typically recommends using a 50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol and water in heavy-duty diesel engines. The ethylene glycol helps prevent freezing and raises the boiling point. Water is necessary because it is more effective at heat transfer than ethylene glycol. The 50/50 mixture gives a combination of good heat transfer and effective freeze protection down to roughly minus 34 degrees F. A slightly higher concentration of ethylene glycol may be considered in extremely cold environments.

A growing segment of vehicles and equipment now require nitrite-free engine antifreeze/coolant formulations to protect aluminum components better. Nitrite-free coolants provide improved protection of aluminum components, including modern brazed aluminum heat exchangers, and meet many of the latest OEM specifications.

Oil Analysis

With long oil drain intervals now common, one of the most important actions you can take to help prevent engine damage and downtime is to conduct regular oil analysis. This will enable you to monitor the condition of the engine oil and detect oil contamination or conditions that need to be corrected to help prevent severe engine issues. A consistent oil analysis program can also assist in optimizing oil drain intervals. Other significant benefits include increased equipment reliability, minimized unscheduled downtime, improved accuracy tracking operational efficiency, and overall maintenance practices. This valuable combination can play an important role in lowering the total cost of ownership for equipment.

Using high-quality lubricants combined with a proper preventive maintenance program can reduce equipment downtime and help keep operations on schedule and on budget. By working closely with a lubricant supplier, you can determine the best lubricants to meet the needs of your equipment, which can ultimately improve your overall operational efficiency.