Do your fleet vehicles idle?
How long do they idle? Do you track the engine hours?
Did you know: On average, one hour of idle time is equal to 30 miles of driving.
Services should occur every 200 hours of engine run time unless the application is considered severe or extreme; includingtowing more than 50% of the time, extreme temperatures, and off-road use (see owner’s manual specific vehicle requirements).
If a vehicle is in the shop and has 35,694 miles on the odometer and the engine hour meter reads 2,291, this indicates the vehicleeither idles for extended periods of time or operates at very low speeds and requires servicing as if the vehicle has 68,730 miles.
A diesel engine is NOT a good choice if the vehicle will be idling.
Why?
This is due to emission components that require a certain amount of heat to function properly.
Over the last 10 years, diesel emission requirements have become stricter. Diesel engines must go through a regenerationprocess that virtually eliminates emissions from being dispersed into the air.
This regeneration process usually takes place when the vehicle is driven on a highway and is not near as efficient when idling (some diesel engines will force a manual regeneration, which increases idle speed and if ignored will depower).
NATIONAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT | TIPS & TRICKS
Having built a fleet and fleet management system with Enterprise Fleet Management has undoubtedly created a culture of safety for our organization.
Brendan Phillips, President and CEO, Smart Carpets
New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania