OPERATOR EXPERIENCE
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A number of operators have been running service trials of synthetic oils before taking the plunge; we were interested to see how their findings comFarecl with ours.
• United Biscuits ran a trial using three Leyland Dal 95 Series 330 6x2 tractive units. One stayed on mineral oils as a control while the other two had their engines filled with 29 litres of Mobil Delvac 1 SHC and their drain periods were extended from 20,000 to 40,000km. Their gearboxes and axles were filled with Mobilube with the drain periods doubled to 24 months. Fuel consumption over the six months prior to the test was compared with that over the six months of the trial and against the control vehicle. The vehicles running on synthetic oils showed a reduction in fuel consumption of 4.5% and 5.9% compared with the previous six months. The control truck, running on mineral oils, showed no difference between the two periods, which eliminated any changes due to weather. The trial was extended for a further six months and the test vehicles were compared against six Hregistered tractive units as the control vehicle was involved in an accident. While these had a slightly higher fuel consumption, the two trucks running on synthetics recorded a further improvement in fuel consumption of 9.5% on the K-reg vehicle and 7.9% on its older stablemate. United Biscuits is still evaluating the oils and plans to extend the trial by putting its entire Ashby fleet on to synthetics in the near future.
United Biscuits: Cut fuel consumption by more than 4.5%.
• Linkman tankers ran trials using Millers synthetic lubricants in 10 tractive units running on contract for Tesco sites throughout the UK. They were all Fodens with Cummins LIO 325 engines, Twin Splitters or ZF 16-speed gearboxes and Rockwell axles. These vehicles were covering 4,600km a week and the trial ran for six months, The engines were filled with Truckmaster XFE 5W/40) oil and the transmissions with Syntran II 75W/90 semi synthetic). Fuel economy improved across the test fleet by between six and 10% depending on many factors. To identify vehicles running on synthetic oils the sump, drain and level plugs were painted yellow. All oils were changed when the analysis dictated—generally between 60,000 and 80,000km for the engine. Transmission lubricants lasted up to 500,000km. Following the initial trial Linkman put the 20 vehicles based at one of its depots on to synthetics, achieving the same fuel saving. Millers says its synthetic lubricants are only 20% more expensive than its top-grade mineral oils, so a relatively small improvement in fuel economy can make the change viable. All Linkman vehicles now run on synthetic oils.
Linkman: Cut fuel consumption by more than 6%.