Other lube-related products to drive efficiency
34 Fleet Maintenance | July 2018
Hose reels are a necessity
that helps to improve
both efficiency and
safety. Durability is a key
consideration. Reelcraft
reels, for example, are
made of stamped steel
components designed for
the rigors expected in a
work truck application.
“FEA (finite element analysis)
is used to identify all areas
where extra strength is
required via analysis under
various loading conditions,”
says Ed Walter, director of
engineering at Reelcraft
Industries, a manufacturer
of hose reels, cord reels and
cable reels for professional
applications. “Our reels
must then pass cycle testing
for drive springs, swivel
assemblies, hubs, bearings
and roller assemblies.
Additionally, retraction testing
is performed from various
heights, mounting positions
and working pressures
to qualify spring designs.”
Used oil removal is another
necessity. JohnDow
Industries offers two
low-profile drains designed
to slide underneath
vehicles. Brian Morgan,
JohnDow national sales
manager, says the 25-gal-capacity
model is popular
due to its extra capacity.
However, the 17-gal model
is also popular with fleets
because it can accommodate
a self-evacuation kit.
“You can hook up to the
shop air to blow the waste
oil into a drum or tank,”
Morgan says. “It’s hard to
get to the electrical outlets
in some shops, which you
need in order to power our
25-gal model that uses an
electric pump to suck the
fluid out of the drain. Plus,
if the oil is a bit older and
sludgier, it’s much easier to
evacuate it with forced air.”
JohnDow is a manufacturer
of oil and fluid-handling
equipment, DEF service
equipment, interior protection
products and exhaust
extraction systems.
JohnDow also offers upright
oil drains as well as fluid
evacuators. And, a product
gaining in popularity
is its oil filter crusher.
“This is coming into play in
California where they are
more aggressively enforcing
regulations surrounding
used oil filter disposal,”
Morgan says. “Our crusher
removes 95 percent of the
residual oil. Another factor
is some disposal companies
are charging by the barrel.
You’ll get considerably
more filters in a barrel if
you crush them, which
results in fewer calls to
the disposal company and
lower costs for the fleet.”
shop, we want to see a minimum 1-gpm
gallons per minute fl ow rate. An average
car takes 5 quarts of oil, so you could
fi ll the crankcase in just over a minute.
But when you have a large vehicle that
may take 30 to 50 gallons. Flow rates
need to be more like 5 to 8 gpm.”
Something else to consider is the
number of simultaneous dispense
points for each fl uid.
“Overall fl ow requirements equate
to pump selection and sizing,” Youman
says. “Also, pumping distance per
fl uid tells us the required pipe/tubing
requirement to achieve the fl ow and
pressure needed to achieve the desired
fi ll time. Th en, pump sizing not only
determines system performance, but
also long-term reliability and dependability
of the system.”
Th e underlying objective is to install
an effi cient, clutter-free way to dispense
fl uids and manage dispense points.
Youman says fl eets should consider
the following:
Hose reel design suited for the
demands of the shop
Hose reel mounting and location to
ensure optimum effi ciencies
Hose size matched to flow rate
requirements
Control handle fl ow rates and features
“Hose and piping cause restrictions
– and the smaller the diameter, the
greater the restriction,” Youman says.
“We use a pressure drop calculator that
uses fl uid viscosity and required fl ow
rates. Th en we can dial in the appropriate
pipe and hose sizing to achieve the
fl ow rates required. It is always best to
get us involved in applications where the
required fl ow rates are high and pumping
distances are very long. In these applications,
pipe diameter can be critical to the
system functioning properly.”
Maintaining quality
An often forgotten consideration
when devising a lubrication system
plan is maintaining product quality.
Lubrication Engineers’ Jones says it
requires vigilance from cradle to grave.
It’s a good idea to sample a fl uid at the
time of delivery.
“Th en you know exactly what you’re
getting,” Jones says.
It is possible that the wrong fl uid
grade could be delivered, which could
lead to cross-contamination.
“Fleets need to maintain control of their
fl uid supply,” Jones continues. “Th is is
important because you’re moving a fl uid
from the delivery truck to the bulk storage
container to the dispensing device.
Th e fl uid is naturally going to get dirtier
along the way. Th is is why I also recommend
an oil analysis every few months.”
Elite Lubrication Specialties’ data
shows that 50 to 70 percent of lubricant
contamination comes from outside
of the equipment. Kukulski says that
whenever he walks into a shop, one of
the fi rst things he does is wipe the fl oor
with his fi nger to show the fl eet manager
how much dirt is present.
“Th e vent going into the storage tank is
breathing that same air,” Kukulski says.
Desiccant breathers on storage tanks
can stop particulates – as well as moisture
– from contaminating your fl uid supply.
“Too many fl eets leave their storage
tanks wide open to the atmosphere,”
Kukulski says. “Th ey burn through
pumps, motors and engines and don’t
understand why. Breathers are very
important, especially if you’re operating
in an especially dusty and/or humid
environment.”
Desiccant breathers are designed to
be easy to install. Th ey replace the standard
dust cap or OEM breather cap on
top of a storage container.
Kukulski reminds fl eets to also guard
against what could be happening inside
of the storage tank. Engine oils have a
lot of Moly (Molybdenum Disulfi de) in
them. Moly tends to settle out, especially
if the oil has been sitting for a long time.
Soon there’s a sludge in the bottom of
the tank. “Th at’s why inline fi ltering is
so important,” Kukulski says.
Tanks and pumps rightfully deserve considerable attention when configuring a
fleet’s lubrication system. But when it comes to the dispensing and disposing of lubricants,
there are other tools and shop equipment that can also help improve productivity.
» JohnDow’s JDI-LP4 is a 17-gal oil drain designed
for use with low-profile, heavy duty vehicles.
Photo courtesy of JohnDow Industries
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