When it comes to managing a high-mileage fleet, wear is the ultimate enemy. As an engine operates, key components rub together, causing increased friction and the potential for metal particles to flake off and contaminate the engine oil. That oil contamination reduces your vehicle’s reliability and longevity, leading to costly surprises that can slow your operation and add unexpected maintenance costs.
So what can fleet managers and drivers do to ensure their vehicles run at peak performance?
Here are a few tips to keep your fleet running smoothly and avoid unnecessary downtime.
Commit to a maintenance routine
While you can’t completely prevent wear, you can take action to slow the process and get the most from your vehicle. No matter the size of your fleet or each vehicle’s unique needs, a thorough maintenance schedule can help you stay ahead of any potential issues with your fleet.
At minimum, an effective maintenance routine should include these four steps:
- Track your fleet’s mileage. A complete view of the mileage on each of your fleet vehicles can help you better understand their performance. Tracking mileage can provide an inside look at your operation’s fuel efficiency and driver performance and can highlight room for improvement to best optimize your assets.
- Understand the stress your loads are putting on your fleet vehicles. You can help manage the stress your vehicles are under by aligning with the working load limit and planning your load based on truck size. This helps you avoid overloading your truck and keeps the load to a stress level it can handle.
- Incorporate service reminders into your schedule. When managing multiple vehicles, it can be easy to miss a maintenance check. Setting up service reminders based on each vehicle’s odometer readings in hourly intervals will help you stay on top of maintenance needs and within the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) guidelines.
- Analyze your oil’s true performance. A vehicle oil analysis is like a blood test for your engines.
It can simply help you detect any contamination and wear, providing a full picture of the overall condition of your engines. To access a LubeScan® used oil analysis kit, visit your local Cenex dealer.
Choose a premium lubricant
The type of lubricant that drivers and fleet managers use can have a big impact on the performance of their fleet. Synthetic lubricants can help prevent wear on high-mileage fleets because of two key components:
- Oxidation stability. As oil is exposed to heat and air, it thickens and causes buildup that can impact the overall efficiency and health of your engine. Because the molecules in a synthetic based lubricant are more consistent in their chemical formulation, they’re less likely to thicken, therefore extending the life of the oil and protecting key engine components.
- EnduroVis technology. Premium lubricants are precisely engineered to deliver more predictable performance. The advanced radial polymer technology, EnduroVis, found in Cenex Maxtron heavy-duty diesel engine oils, is designed with a unique star shape to increase shear stability. Unlike traditional linear coil-shaped viscosity modifiers, the unique radial shaped EnduroVis polymer remains intact and unchanged as the oil moves through the engine, ensuring the product performs to its full potential for the entire oil drain interval.
Invest for the long haul
A strong preventive maintenance plan and high-quality premium products like Cenex Maxtron Deo and Cenex Maxtron Evrio-Edge and will keep your fleet on the move for the long haul.
For high-mileage fleet operators looking to maximize their return on vehicle investment, prioritizing these steps can also keep your fleet prepared to perform for years to come. To determine which lubricants are best for your vehicle, contact your local Cenex dealer.
