Trends in
HEAVY DUTY TRUCK FILTRATION
July 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 13
Filters that directly and indirectly protect the engine
require closer monitoring and replacement.
By Erica Schueller, Editor-in-chief
vehicle fi lter, regardless of the system it’s protecting, is designed
to capture particles and debris before those contaminants make
their way into the system.
Filtration management and replacement is an integral part of
any fl eet’s preventative maintenance (PM) program. While change
intervals may seem straightforward, updates to proper maintenance
processes have been dictated by advancements in fl uid and fi lter
technology.
Diff erent fi lters found on a heavy duty truck protect the following
systems: engine oil, fuel (both on-vehicle and bulk storage), engine
air intake, crankcase ventilation, emissions, cabin air, hydraulic
systems, transmissions, coolant systems and more.
Combined overall, there may be dozens of fi lters for these
diff erent systems on any given truck. While all are vital to proper
fi ltration throughout various vehicle systems, some are monitored
and replaced more frequently.
In particular, when it comes to any type of fi ltration directly or
indirectly protecting the engine, these fi lters require added monitoring
and more frequent changes. Specifi cally, engine oil, fuel system
and air intake system fi ltration all require the most frequent and
extensive monitoring.
ENGINE OIL FILTERS
“Th e (engine oil) fi lter has one function, and that is to fi lter contaminants
from the oil,” says Zafar Hussain, senior product engineer
for Luber-fi ner, a fi lter supplier for Class 5 through 8 vehicles. Th e
removal of these contaminants helps fl eets avoid unnecessary wear
on the heavy duty engine.
Th ere have been a number of updates to engine
oil maintenance practices in recent years, especially
due to the changes with the U.S. EPA’s greenhouse
gas emission requirements.
Trends in engine oil filtration
Heavy duty truck engine performance and fuel
effi ciency have been improved with the December
2016 introduction of API category CK-4 and FA-4 engine oil standards.
Th ese lower viscosity synthetic engine oils were designed
to meet 2017 model year on-highway greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
standards, and help improve exhaust aft ertreatment system
durability. Th ese updated engine oil specs are formulated to work
with engines using low-sulfur diesel fuels.
It is important to note, CK-4 is backwards compatible with
older engine systems, and is suitable for diesel fuel systems with
sulfur content ranging from 15 ppm to 500 ppm. FA-4 engine oil
should only be used for engines operating with diesel fuel with
a sulfur content at or below 15 ppm.
FILTERS
A
» (Left) A visual inspection
does not always give the best
representation of air filter
performance. Using an air filter
restriction gauge is an excellent
way to accurately measure how
well air is flowing into an engine.
Photo courtesy of Luber-finer
» An oil analysis is a fast and accurate way to assess what’s
happening in a vehicle’s engine, and can provide data to help
improve preventive maintenance and reduce downtime.
Photo courtesy of Donaldson Filtration Solutions
/VehicleServicePros.com