Problem or Opportunity? It's Both
Our Situation
Everyone wants to reduce fleet costs. Determining how to maximize savings is not easy... even for the largest companies and smartest people.
To understand WHY (the real reasons) requires an understanding of all the companies involved.
- Engine And Other Component Manufacturers
- Fuel And Lubrication Industry
- The Government (EPA And Others)
- Additives Industry
- Fleet And Service Managers
We are indebted to the multinational corporations who invest hundreds of millions to give us outstanding engines, transmissions, gear boxes, differentials and more. Their investments are huge. Today's engines are a marvel of engineering and very effective.
The fuel and lubricant Industry also includes many multinational corporations. These companies work hand in hand with the engine manufacturers to insure any new engine (or other components) has been thoroughly tested with fuels and fluids which meet industry standards. It is a coordinated process that serves us all.
- Our fuels are very good... yet... most of the time their full energy potential is not fully released when burned in ICB (Internal combustion engines). This is true even in the newest, most efficient engines. This applies to diesel, gas, biodiesel fuels.
- Today's lubricants, fluids and filters are very good and continue to improve. However the manufacturer's recommendations do not represent the highest standards of performance possible nor the greatest savings possible. Fluid analysis combined with other data and analysis confirms these savings. Large, sophisticated fleets have proven this.
The US Government (EPA and SmartWay program) sets policy and helps make laws to move us toward
better performing equipment which also runs more cleanly.
The EPA cannot show favoritism toward any one company or product line. Hence, their suggestions must be fairly generic in scope. Unfortunately that requirement naturally eliminates some good products from being recommended to the public. That policy is good and obviously necessary but... it puts the burden back on the fleet / service manager themselves to seek out those products which the EPA clearly cannot recommend.
The additive industry is viewed with a healthy, skeptical eye. With over a reported 50,000 additives... keeping on top of this quickly changing line of products is daunting at best. The labeling on bottling or even a review of the MSDS sheets tells the vast majority of fleet and service managers very little. Understandably and unfortunately... many professionals have come to 'group' all additive products in the same pile. This overgeneralization hurts us all. The truth is....there are some truly beneficial products which reduce costs substantially. But, caution is still key. Many products are not effective and best avoided. Read below; we will tell you how to get started.
Full Circle
That leaves us where we started... how does the savvy fleet or service manager find products that are safe and truly beneficial in such a large sea of traditionally poorly performing or even unsafe products? Finally, there is a way. Keep reading.
In the end... we all suffer. Fleets, companies, the general public and our future. Here's why.
Big Picture
The US spends roughly $600 billion annually for fuel burned in internal combustion engines (at current fuel prices)
Add the other costs of: replacing worn out equipment, repairs costs, equipment down time, fluid changes, unnecessary pollution. It is easy to speculate the US is spending a figure approaching 1 TRILLION dollars annually. It is a lot of OUR money and our GNP.
Bigger Picture and Long Term:
The savings potential is actually much broader than fleet cost savings alone. When we reduce our costs we also increase our global competitiveness. David Gonnerman, DWG President, has direct experience in this. Whether a company is small or large, it is important we each use proven technology exists to reduce costs.
Serious Questions Demand Serious Answers
Only the facts serve us.
- Our FAQ section is insightful and will answer many of your questions.
The Facts
We have irrefutable data from extensive testing (SAE J1321 Fuel Consumption Test and Stationary Fuel Consumption Test) at independent labs including SouthWest Research, Battelle, Herguth and others. The laboratory results are corroborated by large, sophisticated users' own quality, long term data. Yes, there is money to be saved. Lots of it.
There are measured improvements and attractive ROI.... from even newer, more efficient equipment.
Get The Data You Need - Quickly, Easily
We can help you get the comparative data (true apples to apples) you need....quickly, inexpensively.
We know the sooner you implement money savings strategies the more quickly you will save. This template is based on the "Type IV Fuel Economy Test Procedure" from the Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Association. This test is specifically designed to be quick, inexpensive and accurate.
However...We can help you obtain the quality, comparative data you need, whatever your business and equipment type.
Valuable Gift For You
We will share which tests (ASTM and SAE) we feel any product should have passed to be considered by the savvy fleet or service manager. These tests conducted at credible labs are proof the product is safe and cannot hurt your equipment.
We look forward to sharing that valuable tool with you.
That 'tool' can save the fleet and service manager a lot of time. It points you to only products which have passed the important industry tests which verify safety and performance.
