The need to comply with increasingly stringent environmental standards is too often portrayed as an arduous and expensive effort, and one that pits idealistic environmentalists against corporate titans. It’s a story that’s easy to tell, but it’s inaccurate and belongs to an earlier time and place.
In today’s world, engineers and technicians charged with keeping rigs on the road understand that being green doesn’t need mean wasting money to placate environmental groups. In fact, if implemented correctly, the process can be an excellent way to save money, and will pay for itself in very short order.
Waste Oil
It’s an undisputed fact that waste oil is a natural byproduct of any combustion engine. Waste oil is currently disposed of by any number of means, depending upon the type of facility, business practice and classification.
According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), just one gallon of used oil can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water.
The surge in environmental awareness and attendant laws make it imperative that companies try and cut down on waste oil.
Recycled and Re-refined
In high-volume usage, used lubricating oil can be transferred to a certified recycling facility by a used oil hauler. This waste oil can be recycled and re-refined to have a second life as heating oil, asphalt and heavy lubricant – a solution that has produced good results as it can be resold as a less expensive fuel material and reduces the amounts designated for disposal.
However, substantial amounts of heavy metals and organic minerals such as carbon, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, aluminum, lead, nickel and cobalt – all of which come from engine parts as a result of wear – can be found in recycled oil.
Bypass Oil Filtration
Another solution to reducing waste oil generation is bypass oil filtration. This works like a dialysis machine for large diesel engines, keeping oil cleaner, longer. It allows engine and hydraulic lubricating oil to remain viable for an extended period, avoiding oil drains and thereby reducing the quantity of used oil by as much as 90 percent.
By keeping the oil continuously clean of contaminants and base additives intact, oil can be used indefinitely. Use of a simple oil analysis will confirm if the oil is “good for continued use,” as well as measure TBN (total base number – a measure of a reserve alkalinity of a lubricant) and viscosity.
In addition to bypass oil engine filtration and oil analysis, some companies include an onboard oil condition sensor that enables engineers to monitor oil condition in real time, all the time, while the engine is operating.
Not only does bypass filtration technology extend the life of the oil, it extends the life of the engine, subsequently reducing additional pollution contributors of these components as well.
In analyzing the root cause of each contributing component of the engine, equipment, etc., further steps to reduce systemic pollution can be achieved. In many cases, one will find out that the steps taken to reduce these pollution contributors will ultimately help reduce operating costs, a significant double benefit.
From the Field
Fleets could take a lesson from one Central Florida county fleet which is showing that you can go green and save money – almost immediately.
The county uses an oil filtration device on approximately 110 trucks, including solid waste transfer trucks, fire apparatus and ambulances. It achieved a savings of more than $1.5 million over the life cycle of this equipment. There were much fewer oil changes, saving the county money and reducing the amount of waste oil.
A motor carrier in Texas uses bypass oil filtration on approximately 150 trucks powered by Detroit Diesel Series 60 Engines. At the time of purchase, Puradyn systems were installed, and oil and filters are changed every 60,000 miles.
This fleet’s trucks are sold, having amassed 1.5 to 1.7 million miles during the course of ownership, without ever performing any overhauls because, the fleet says, the condition of the engine remains clean due to running on contaminant-free oil.
Downstream
Installed downstream of the existing full-flow filter, a bypass oil filtration system works by filtering the oil through a disposable element with time-release additives to replenish depleted levels. The patented process filters solid contaminants down to below one micron.
There are a couple of options when removing liquid contaminant from engine oil. Puradyn products use a heated chamber within the system which evaporates water, fuel and other harmful gaseous vapors trapped in the oil before reintroducing the now “clean” oil back into the engine.
The system does not, and should not, affect an engine’s oil flow or pressure and does not replace the conventional full-flow filtration system. It only enhances and works in conjunction with it.
The evidence is clear. Saving money and being “green” are no longer mutually exclusive. In fact, taking advantage of both will bring any fleet tangible and intangible benefits to their and their customers’ bottom line.
