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Top tips for the top-up
Page 18
Page 19
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Castrol surveyed drivers in the UK and Ireland to find out whether they knew the type of oil their truc
concern. Roanna Avison reports.
Driver knowledge about oil and whose responsibility it is to top up a truck between services is not something any fleet manager should take for granted. Research from oil manufacturer Castrol shows that opinions are mixed and that some driver education may be called for.
Laura Johnson, heavy-duty lubricants marketing manager for the UK and Ireland at Castrol, explai ns: -We spoke to the drivers because we wanted to get the real picture, which will give us the information to start conversations with fleet managers about topping up oil."
She adds that most trucks will consume just over a litre of oil a week and failure to top up will cause damage to the engine and reduce efficiency when the oil is low, what's left in the sump has to work harder.
Johnson says: "Leaving the oil until the light comes on will not only mean that engine damage has already occurred, but that the driver has to get the oil from the depot or a petrol station, or wait for a breakdown service to arrive eating into the time the truck is available for work."
Johnson stresses the importance of using the right type of oil, particularly as Euro-4/5 engines require different oil to older models. However. Castrol's research indicated that most drivers did not even know the Euro standard of their vehicles so would have no chance of choosing the right lubricant.
Vehicle checks
Judging by this survey, 39% of drivers believe checking the engine oil level is a top priority before setting off on a journey, along with checking tyre pressure (36%), tyre tread depth (13%), bulbs (8%), windscreen washer level (2%) and engine coolant level (1%).
However, only 68% of drivers admit to actually making those daily cheeks on engine oil. As for the other checks. 65% of drivers check their bulbs; 60% look at tyre pressure; 60% check engine coolant;58% check the windscreen washer reservoir; and 51% check tyre-tread depth (see graph).
These figures suggest that Vosa's system of roadside checks tend to keep British drivers on their toes in Ireland, which lacks these checks. 28% of drivers check their oil: 23% check the bulbs; 24% check tyre pressure; 19"k check engine coolant; 16% check the windscreen washer reservoir: and 17% check their tyres before setting off.
Johnson says: "In Ireland it's normal for a driver to check his vehicle once a week, whereas most UK drivers will check their truck daily."
Servicing and repair
The research indicates that 42% of UK trucks are serviced inhouse, which is close to the Irish figure of 45%. Johnson says that if an operator is servicing his own vehicles it is easier to get the right lubes: "If the truck goes out to a dealer or independent workshop to be serviced it is more difficult icy the fleet manager to choose the right oil."
In the UK 42% of trucks are serviced by a franchised dealer compared with 20% of Irish trucks; the remainder are looked after by in dependent workshops.
Truck and car oil
About 30% of drivers carry oil in their cabs, but in both the UK and Ireland 20% have car oil. In the UK 54% carry truck oil and 26% don't know, while in Ireland 63% have truck oil and 17% don't know. Johnson warns: "While sonic oil is better than no oil. car oil is not designed to be used in trucks."
Of the 312 UK drivers interviewed,54% had never topped up a truckcompared with 29% of the 150 Irish drivers surveyed.
Despite this, and the fact that most drivers were unsure of their engine's Euro spec, 80% of UK drivers and 96% of Irish drivers claim they would know what engine oil to buy. However. only 6% of drivers in the UK and 33% in Ireland buy oil themselves.
Knowing when to top up is a key task fora driver.Castrol's research shows that 61% of UK drivers and 77% of Irish drivers top up after an oil check but 46% in the UK and 53% in Ireland are willing to wait until the oil light comes on.
Responsibilities
While daily vehicle checks are down to the driver, 41% in the UK and 53% in Ireland believe this is not the case and that the fleet manager should make these checks. Similarly, 43 % of drivers in the UK and 50% in Ireland believe it is the company's responsibility to top up the vehicle with oil rather than the driver's. •