Keeping high-mileage fleet vehicles in service and on the road

During the recent economic recession, many fleet managers had no choice but to keep their high mileage vehicles in service rather than replace them. Today, many of those operators are still using preventive maintenance to keep their older vehicles on the road.

Switching to an engine oil specially formulated for high-mileage vehicles can be an effective, low-cost tool to protect and increase the performance of older engines.

However, not all high-mileage oils can be used in all vehicles, and service and maintenance schedules for engine fluids will vary, based on the size and type of fleet vehicles. In fact, the term “high mileage” has a different meaning for diesel engines than it does for gasoline engines.

Automotive fleet vehicles

High-mileage engine oils for gasoline engines are designed for vehicles that have logged 80,000 to 150,000 miles. Wear and corrosion are more prevalent in gasoline engines and occur earlier in a vehicle’s lifecycle. Over time, the seals, gaskets and nonmetal parts start to decay as the engine ages. High-mileage oils, such as Cenex Autogold HMO, are formulated with seal swells and conditioners that prevent future leaks and reduce oil consumption.

The additive package also includes ingredients to protect older engines, such as detergents and anti-wear conditioners, and a varnish to clean engine parts for improved performance.

Heavy-duty diesel vehicles

Heavy-duty diesel engines are categorized differently when discussing high mileage. An over-the-road class-8 truck will log 750,000 miles or more before it is considered “high mileage.” It’s not unusual for a truck to achieve more than 1,000,000 miles if it is serviced regularly.

Using lubricants that are specifically designed for heavy-duty diesel vehicles will protect the engine during the long hours of service. Cenex offers a complete line of high-quality engine oils for commercial fleets, including Cenex Superlube TMS, Maxtron DEO or Maxitron Enviro-Edge with Wear Saver Technology. These oils are formulated with special additive packages to protect engines and increase fuel economy through long service intervals.

Oil analysis now to avoid repairs later

Analyzing the oil in your vehicle is like a doctor sending your blood to the lab for tests. An engine oil analysis can provide clues about the health of your engine – without any invasive surgery. The test results can alert you to mechanical engine issues before they become a larger problem for your vehicle. Many Cenex brand dealers and CHS cooperatives sell LubeScan oil kits, which contain everything you need for an oil analysis.

Regardless of the shape or size of your fleet, check out our equipment lookup tool to learn which lubricants are recommended for your vehicles.