July 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 35
Preventing cross-contamination
Th e typical fl eet could have upwards of 10 diff erent
types of fl uids in its shop: diff erent grades of
engine oil, hydraulic oil and gear oil, as well as
DEF and coolant, etc. Th e more fl uids a fl eet has,
the more susceptible it is to cross-contamination.
Fleets should identify every vehicle and
what fl uids they need, and write it all down.
Th is is especially important when operating a
diverse fl eet. For vehicles still
under warranty, stick with
OEM-recommended fluids.
When out of warranty, look for
the opportunity to consolidate,
perhaps moving up to a more
premium grade of fl uid that
can be used across numerous
vehicles within the fl eet.
Whatever a fleet does,
technicians have to keep it all
straight.
“Mixing engine oils is
bad enough,” Lubrication
Engineers’ Jones says. “But if
you get some coolant mixed
with an oil, you might as well
call a tow truck right now. Th e
same is true with hydraulic
oils. Th ere are diff erent additives
for diff erent oils. Using
the wrong one could contaminate
the system and cause a
pump or servo to go out.”
Th is is why Jones is such
a believer in color-coding.
Lubrication Engineers has
identified nine common
oils and seven greases. Each
is given its own color with
respect to storage tanks and
dispensers. For example,
blue with a star would be on
the storage tank, dispensing
container, mobile tank and/
or hose reel for that lubricant.
“Training is very important,”
Jones says. “Make sure all of
your technicians understand
what contamination can do
and why this color-coding is
so important.”
Consumption and
profitability
Since effi ciency and profi tability
is the ultimate goal,
it’s important for fl eets to
ensure that every drop of oil
is accounted for.
“We see oil shrinkage rates
of up to 10 percent,” Balcrank’s
Youman says of both the
automotive and heavy duty
trucking industries. “Th is is a
staggering loss of revenue, but
can be recouped by installing
the proper FIC (fl uid inventory
control) system, which will
pinpoint shrinkage issues, help reconcile deliveries
and ensure that every dispensed drop is billed
accurately to a specifi c work order.”
Today’s comprehensive FIC systems can track
a variety of essential fl eet management data,
Youman points out, as well as assist with overall
sound management. Areas fl eets can track include
bulk oil inventory, dispense tracking, used fl uids
and billing.
“Measured meters on hose reels allow technicians
to set the desired amount of oil and then
dispense that amount without fear of overfi lling,”
Lubrication Engineers’ Jones adds.
It’s all about reducing the opportunity for human
error and making things easier on the technicians.
When fl eets strike that balance between effi ciency
and quality, they can achieve maximum ROI on
their lubrication storage and dispensing systems.
VehicleServicePros.com/20977932
/VehicleServicePros.com
/bulletproofdiesel.com
/20977932