Here's Help for Fleet Owners to Get a Better Understanding of FA-4

"FA-4 oil specifications were released back in 2016 and have been produced to enhance fuel efficiency. However, slower OEM adoption rates and engine protection concerns have kept some fleets from moving forward with adopting the new oil category."

So begins a story by Cristina Commendatore that appeared in the October issue of Fleet Owner magazine, How fleets can determine if FA-4 engine oil is right for them.

When API released FA-4 oil specs in 2016, there was a measure of confusion, as often happens with new lubricant categories. Four years down the highway, and it's apparent that there's either confusion or a lack of confidence regarding the issue of engine protection in these lower viscosity oils. Some fleets are still debating whether to make the switch.

The backward compatible CK-4 spec replaced CJ-4 as the most current for apps in which a CJ-4 oil is recommended. The benefits include better shear stability, oxidation resistance and aeration control. The thinner FA-4 oils offer improved fuel economy. They were designed to help meet more stringent demand to meet environmental aims.

Hence, the use of the letter F in the spec. F stands for Fuel economy. The A indicates that this is the first generation of oil specific to this objective.

Commendatore focuses on the misperception that FA-4 and CK-4 oils have different qualification standards. That is, some people think that FA-4 was more concerned with fuel economy at the expense of engine protection. This is not the case at all. FA-4 oils are absolutely required to pass the same engine protection tests.  

She asks: So, how can fleets determine whether the new FA-4 category is right for them? 

The answer is this: Fleets with model year equipment from 2014 and newer, or Detroit Diesel engines as far back as 2010, are the recommended candidates.

Engine manufacturers and lube makers only work when they work together. Oil and water may not mix, but oil formulators and engine builders absolutely must. 

The rest of the article details some of the issues created during this period in which government has applied pressure to also reduce emissions. For fleet owners, another challenge is that many truck fleets have both older and newer vehicles. This means inventorying two different oils and making sure the correct oil gets in the correct trucks during oil changes. 

If you're a fleet owner or do fleet maintenance, read the rest of this article here.

Photo by Brian Wangenheim from Unsplash  

Champion Brands Offers Free Oil Sampling Kits for Diesel Engines

10 days ago I wrote about the value of oil analysis and things you can learn regarding what is happening inside your engine. With oil analysis you don't need to guess. Or at least, you have more clues to make a hunch on. 

As we begin SEMA Week Champion Brands has announced that they wae offering WDs and MWDs two free oil analysis kits with every 10 cases of diesel engine oil purchased during the month of November. 

According to the announcement "the Champion promotion is limited to Champion’s Blue Flame, All Fleet-T Diesel, Premium Heavy-Duty, and Ultra-Fleet Diesel Engine Oils. Every 10 cases of quarts, gallons or pails purchased, is eligible for two premium Oil Analysis Kits - Part # BABX10 ($30 value each). The American Laboratory Service (ALS) Tribology Kits includes a pre-paid mailer, the laboratory processing of the used oil and internet access for personalized results."

According to Champion Brands Director of Racing and Performance, Karl Dedolph, “Your diesel pick-up, or diesel big rig can each benefit from oil analysis to know when to change the oil or to prevent catastrophic failure down the road."

As noted earlier, oil analysis measures engine wear without having to disassemble the engine. "Utilizing atomic emission spectroscopy, oil analysis reveals the amount of wear occurring within an engine and reports it in parts per million for each element,” added Dedolph. “For example, increasing levels of tin and lead indicate bearing wear and analysis can also reveal depleted additives, as well as contaminants such as water, coolant, fuel dilution and airborne dirt or sand.” 

You can read the full press release here.

Diesel enthusiasts and fleet managers use oil analysis for a short- and long-term analysis of the engine. When should the engine be rebuilt?  Can the engine go another 10,000 miles over-the-road without an oil change?  

_________

 

Additional Technical Information:

https://www.championbrands.com/technical-bulletins/

  

For more than 40 years, ALS tribology laboratory services have been providing oil analysis to clients around the world, helping them make better and more informed decisions. At the heart of their services is testing, but they also do much more than that, providing state of the art technical solutions, tailored to the modern needs of race teams, consumers, businesses, governments and fleets. https://www.alsglobal.com/en-us/services-and-products/oil-fuel-and-coolant-analysis/oil-analysis-and-testing

 

Become a Champion Warehouse Distributor (WD) or Master Warehouse Distributor (MWD)  https://www.championbrands.com/contacts/

For more information about Champion contact your nearest Champion Distributor or call Champion at 660-890-6231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, 64735 or go to http://www.championbrands.com

3 Life Tips for Diesel Builders

1. We don't know what we don't know 

I'm not sure what the trigger was, but when I woke this morning I was reminded of the saying, "We don't know what we don't know."  It applies to so many things. From home front issues like marriage and parenting, to career matters and office politics and, finally, to getting familiar with a new vehicle. 

Learning the difference between what is and is not something worth losing sleep about often boils down to experience. But then there's that niggling thought. "What if I'm wrong?" And the more that's at stake, the more it keeps us awake at night because all too often, we don't know what we don't know. That's why it's nice to have friends who are smarter than we are.

This is why tens of thousands of diesel owners belong to diesel forums. When we own a Ford, Chevy or Dodge, we become part of a large family where everybody is your neighbor. This is why I've included links to all the diesel forums (that I was aware of) over on the right hand column down below the Crude Prices chart.

2. Where there's a will there's a way

I once read a book called Real Power which talked about the levels of personal power and empowerment. The very lowest level was Helplessness. They used a symbol for each level and the symbol for this first was a person seated in a chair with their hands tied behind their back, a gag in their mouths.

This is how many people feel about themselves. They can't do anything and won't even try.

The diesel enthusiasts I've met are cut from a different piece of cloth. Like "the little engine that could" they're convinced that nothing will hold them back. They have internalized this saying, "Where there's a will there's a way." And to my way of thinking, that's Real Power.

3. "I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."--Jonathan Winters

I'm showing my age by quoting Jonathan Winters, the Hollywood funnyman who inspired Robin Williams. A master of improv, Winters was an ex-marine who starred on the silver screen and even garnered his own television show. 

This quote makes me think of Nike's "Just Do It" slogan. People like this are inspirational because they know it's better to try and fail then to have never tried at all.

I remember a tractor pull at a county fair in Ohio when I was visiting my cousin decades ago. There were all these veteran pullers and tricked out machines, and one clean cut teen who just didn't seem like the rest, but his eyes were beaming with joy as he commandeered all that horsepower, and beat them all. 

It made an impression on me. He couldn't wait for success and went ahead without it. He was the Little Engine That Could, and he did.

* * * *

Just a weekend ramble here. Maybe someone who reads this will get inspired. These are the kinds of thoughts that inspire me.

P.S.--If you have a truck you'd like to showcase here on the Blue Flame Blogger pages, send an email to: blueflame1952 AT gmail.com
ATTN: Frank Owens

Train photo by Denis Chick on Unsplash

PaxPower Converts F150 to Diesel Raptor

Modifications can be fun.  If you have the time, money and skill, you can do almost anything. Here's a company that takes Ford F150s and converts them into Raptors. Not the birds of prey that feed on carrion, but the classic Ford Raptors that scads of enthusiasts have enjoyed. 

What's intriguing here is the diesel capability. The company is PaxPower. Located in Houston, they were the first company to bring a V8 Raptor to market in 2018. They've since shipped V8 and Diesel Raptors around the world. 

Their specialty is 2015-2020 Ford F150s but their broadening their scope to include Ford Rangers, Chv Silverados and GMC Sierras.

They recently revealed that the 2021 model has a new body configuration, so it will take six months to build new fenders, hood, grill, etc. For what it's worth, the 2020 F150 Diesels have been getting hard to find. If you are looking for a Ford Raptor with a Diesel, these are the guys to talk to. Or so it seems.

Here's the website: https://v8raptor.com/

• Full OEM Raptor Body and Suspension Conversion – $25,950
• Raptor Front Fenders, Hood, and Front Fascia
• Raptor HID Headlights
• Raptor Front Grille and Fender Flares
• Raptor Inner and Outer Aluminum Bedsides
• Color-Match Paint with Blend
• Raptor Front and Rear Bumpers
• Raptor Fender Liners and Skid Plates
• Fox Raptor Internal Bypass Shocks
• Raptor Upper and Lower Control Arms
• Raptor Axles, Steering Links and Brake Lines
• Raptor Rear Leaf Springs, Bump Stops, Perches and U-Bolts

Plus Choice is wheels and tires (aprox $3000)

 

Here's they say about the Diesel pictured at the top of the page:

In our continuing effort to bring unique and powerful engine options to Ford’s Raptor chassis, PaxPower introduces its latest creation: the Diesel Raptor! Featuring Ford’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke Diesel, the PaxPower Diesel Raptor boasts 550 ft/lb of pavement or dirt punishing torque! The Diesel Raptor starts life as a 2018-2019 F150 PowerStroke, and then receives PaxPower’s OEM Ford Raptor body, suspension, and chassis conversion. 

Read "the rest of the story" here:

https://v8raptor.com/2018/10/10/diesel-ford-raptor-by-paxpower/

Have a great weekend. And look for lots of car news next week. It's SEMA360. 

Thin Is In: Heavy Duty Oils Getting Lighter

It seems like forever that 15W-40 oils were "the choice" for heavy duty diesel engines. Or at least for centuries. No, I s'pose that would be decades. 

All this has been changing though, and in ways we couldn't imagine at one time. 

I do remember when I first noticed passenger car oils getting thinner. When I saw the first 0W-30 I thought it interesting. Even more interesting, though, was when I looked at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) registry for upcoming oils, there were actually 16 companies with a 0W oil registered, even though they were not yet in production. 

I later saw an article in Lubes N Greases (LNG) about SAE 0W-16 and 0W-12 and 0W-8 oils that were coming and more recently the 0W-0 oils being tried in Japan. 

This week, George Gill wrote an LNG feature on thinning oil viscosities in the diesel market. The story is titled Heavy-duty Shifts to Lighter Oils. In recent years, 15W-40 diesel oils began yielding market share to lower viscosity SAE 10W-30 oils. 

Part of the reason is the fuel economy benefit that lighter oils offer. For over-the-road truckers, the cost of fuel alone is 30 to 40% of a trucking firm's overall costs. (I bet you didn't know that.) Another reason, according to the article, has to do with the new engine architecture with its tighter clearances, thus requiring thinner lubes that can flow more readily to engine components.

There's a third reason for the thinner oils. In colder temps these lower viscosity oils will decrease warm up times and provide better protection in colder climates.

You may be wondering, though, "Is my engine still protected?" The answer to that is that this has been going on for years now with millions of miles of data to support this move to lighter oils. 

CK-4 and FA-4 
The article turns to address the newer API categories of CK-4 and FA-4. CK-4 was designed to have backward compatibility built into it. This has resulted in wider acceptance of the new designation. FA-4 oils are not so versatile. FA-4 oils in modern contemporary engines, however, do offer a 1% fuel economy improvement, the article states.

Despite the benefits outlined for thinner oils, 15W-40 remains the category leader for heavy duty diesel engines, but 10W-30 is the fastest growing segment during these past 10 years.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE:
https://www.lubesngreases.com/lubereport-americas/heavy-duty-shifts-to-lighter-oils/

RELATED LINK
CK-4, FA-4? Still Confused About Diesel Engine Oil Specs? 

Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

The Impact of the Pandemic on Oil and Gas

This summer I was talking with a friend from Texas about the situation there with regard to oil and gas. When the market price of oil goes below a certain point, he said, they just shut everything down and leave it in the ground. That's because it costs more to bring it to market than they will get when they sell it. The oil rigs are thus left idle.

It's been a tough year for the oil industry. The Covid pandemic has dealt a lot of people a bad hand, but we have to play the cards we're dealt. 

I remember a number of years back when the six top companies in the Fortune 50 were automakers and energy companies. Mobil and Shell were slugging it out for the top slot for a while back then. Remarkable as it seems, Mobil was dropped from the Dow Jones Industrial Average this summer. Today the five biggest companies are technology giants. According to the Washington Post, any one of the top five--Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft--is larger than all 76 companies in the energy sector combined.

Yes, you read that right. 

Part of this is due the long term trend toward renewable energy. Nevertheless, the pandemic has done more than make a dent. When people stop flying, and people stop driving to work every day--in other words, when people stay home they consume less fuel. Combine this with an oil glut due to other factors and you have additional hurdles for the energy companies.  

It's not all bleak news for oil companies. With people in larger cities avoiding public transportation, many are buying cars again. In addition, large numbers of city dwellers are considering leaving city life altogether. Moving to the burbs means more driving as well.

The author also points out that with people shopping less, there are more deliveries being made by Fedex, UPS and other providers. Those engines need to be taken care of as well.

_______

I began by mentioning that conversation with my friend in Texas. I'd been thinking a lot about the relationship between prices of crude and prices at the pump for diesel owners. As it turns out, there happens to be a Technical Bulletin at the Champion tech bulletins page titled Why Lubricant Prices Don't Mirror Crude Prices. In this case it's information from the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA). 

The article begins, "Changes in the prices of lubricants, and the base oils that are their foundation, do not mirror either those of crude oil or gasoline. Supply and demand over time is the fundamental price-setting mechanism for lubricants and base oils." You can read the full story here.

You can find that and other useful information by clicking on the Diesel Technical Bulletins button in the right hand column above. And if you can't find what you're looking for you can always Ask Jake.

The rest of the information here is from an article titled How the pandemic is harming the oil and gas industry. 

Navajo Refinery photo by Robin Sommer on Unsplash

Return of the Ford Bronco and a Diesel Surprise

No question about it. The Ford Bronco has a storied history. Introduced in 1965 for the upcoming '66 model year, the Bronco experienced three decades of continuous production, then was gone. Evidently, Ford felt it had had a good run, and trying to redesign the vehicle to meet emission standards seemed more effort than it was worth. Or so they must have thought in the board room.

Now, the Ford Bronco is back. According to Sam Berube at Hotcars.com, it is "the first off-road machine in a long time to present a serious threat to the Wrangler." Berube goes on to declare it the most hyped new vehicle since the A90 Toyota Supra. (The article itself is a detailed comparison between the new Ford Bronco and its target rival, the Jeep Wrangler.)

Though not noted in this article, one of the most memorable car chase scenes in history involved a Bronco. Hollywood is famous for its car chase scenes. Bullitt (Steve McQueen) and The French Connection (Gene Hackman) set the standard for high speed thrills on the silver screen. The Bronco conveying O.J. Simpson about the L.A. freeways was not famous for being a high speed nail-biter, but rather for the number of people who were watching around the country wondering what will happen next. That event took place on June 17, 1994 and two-thirds of all households in America were tuned in. 

* * * *

Ford Bronco fans are happy to see the return of the Bronco. A unique feature of this sixth-generation machine is that buyers have a choice of two engine options. According to Berube, "The first is a 2.7l twin-turbo V6 that makes 310 horsepower and 400 lb/ft of torque, which is a higher torque figure than anything you can get in a Jeep that doesn't burn diesel. The second, and likely to be the volume seller is a 2.3l turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that most Ford fans are already quite familiar with."

What we want to know is where's the Diesel option? The Bronco's chief competitor, Jeep Wrangler, offers a 3.0-liter diesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. "Diesel engines are great for aggressive rock crawling power, better fuel economy and have a huge following," Berube adds.

Also, the Ford Bronco is supposed to be a muscle SUV, so where is the V8 engine option? The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is getting a powerful V8 Hemi engine with 450 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque that will accelerate from 0 to 60 in under five seconds. The Ford Bronco doesn’t have a hybrid engine option.

There are many more details--both mechanical and electrical--in the original article which you can find here: https://www.hotcars.com/why-ford-bronco-could-last-longer-than-jeep/

Diesel or not, whatever powertrain you get for your new Bronco, be sure to take the #91 West, the #110 South, the #405 North, and the Sunset Blvd Exit.