Added value from Lucas Oil fuel additives
Lubricant provider Lucas Oil has outlined some of the ways in which additive technology is being used to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy by fleets.
As well as being responsible for inspecting vehicles, servicing them according to an appropriate maintenance schedule and carrying out running repairs, commercial vehicle workshop managers are a first call when operators want to know more about improving fuel economy and vehicle emissions control, says the firm.
Thanks to a local workshop engineer, Lucas Oil reports that its Upper Cylinder Lubricant (UCL) is now on test with a tipper operator in Kent. The aim is to reduce emissions, improve overall fuel economy and restore lost engine power across the fleet.
The operator is a member of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS), the voluntary accreditation scheme that aims to raise quality levels in fleet operations. The scheme flags up operators that are achieving exemplary levels of best practice in safety, efficiency, and environmental protection.
The challenge for UCL is to improve fuel economy and reduce keep emissions among a mixed fleet of 45 vehicles. Most of these are tippers. All of them are equipped with telematics equipment to monitor performance on routes in and around London.
UCL flushes away the tars and lacquers that build up inside the engine, says Lucas Oil; unchecked, these will eventually clog the injectors. The UCL additive is said to improve the burn and help keep engines cleaner, while also lubricating the lift pump at the same time.
These benefits enable diesel engines to deliver the power they are capable of achieving but at a lower emissions level, says the company. More commonly used by workshops ahead of an emissions test, UCL is also proving adept at improving fuel economy and exerting long term emissions control, it adds.
Based on local bulk fuel prices, minus the cost of the additive, initial trials of UCL across the fleet have so far produced average savings of 0.8 miles per gallon, reports Lucas Oil, representing actual savings of £29.49 per tank.
Before UCL was added to the depot’s 30,000 litre diesel fuel storage tank, the fleet’s average fuel consumption was 6.8 miles per gallon, reports the firm; with UCL added, initial mpg increased on average by between 0.4 and 0.5 mpg.
Using those same bulk prices, an average gain of 0.4 mpg across the 45 vehicle fleet equates to a cost saving of £1,472 from the 30,000 litre tank. At 0.5 mpg, the cost saving is £1,840.
Dan Morgan, director of sales and operations at Lucas Oil Products (UK), said average mpg is monitored and the initial results look good for the operator.
“For the engineers, the trick is knowing when to add further UCL to the bulk tank before fuel efficiency levels across the fleet begin to dip,” he said.
Controlling emissions with additives such as UCL is a typical starting point in the additive preventive maintenance regime of a fleet operator, he adds.
“Convinced by the success of UCL, operators usually move on to our Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer product, which prevents engine damage through dry starts and reduces operating temperatures.
“This helps to increase the operational life of the engine oil and extends engine life into the bargain.”
