Living in Florida we are no strangers to the extreme fluctuations in weather, high temperatures, bouts of heavy rain, muggy conditions and consistently high levels of humidity; all of which greatly increase the chance of water contamination of fuel in both transportation and storage. Once you have water in the system, you are set for an invasion of microorganisms.

Monitoring and treatment of water contamination is important to safeguard your business and maintain good customer relationships. Without a comprehensive maintenance plan your storage system is vulnerable to degradation of fuel, damage to vehicle performance, equipment breakdowns and damage to the entire storage system. Your tank, being the most common collection site where chemical reactions take place, provides an easy controlled environment for monitoring, maintenance and treatment.

How exactly does enter your trusty storage system you ask?

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There is the possibility water was in the product delivered. This situation rarely happens, so let’s look at more common ways water can end up in a storage tank:

• Damaged fill boxes or fill cap gaskets
• Loose fittings or plugs
• Poor practices with fill buckets
• Rainwater accumulation in tank sumps (from the sump water can enter through any hole in tank that is not water tight or sealed)
• Condensation by fuel temperature swings
• Air enter via vents

Let’s take a look at one particular example: contamination through ventilation.

All tanks stored above ground need to be properly vented to handle the pressure changes that occur as a result of pumping fuel in and pumping fuel out. Filling a tank results in displacement of air out, also known as out-breathing. Emptying a tank results in the atmospheric air being drawn in, also known as in-breathing. You can see how ventilation is important: excessive vacuuming and/or increased pressure could distort and rupture the tank’s structure.

So we now understand the IMPORTANCE and NECESSITY of proper tank ventilation; no one wants to ever have a situation like the one above on their hands.

How do tank ventilation and contamination tie together? The vents pull in outside air that may contain humidity, dust, mold spores, bacteria and other contaminants. This creates a possible environment for water contamination.

Getting back to the bigger picture….

The possible problems that can occur due to water contamination are as follows:

• Formation of sludge that will cause clogs in fuel lines, nozzles, filters and screens (pretty much suffocate your whole storage system with ‘water snot’)
• Degradation in fuel quality which results in poor vehicle performance, equipment failure failed exhaust emissions and possible major engine damage.
• Excessive maintenance cost
• Fuel leaks that lead to environmental damage with costly clean-up and facility downtime/lost business.

Signs of microbial growth:

The most common sigh of microbial growth is clogged fuel filters caused by the slime created by the microorganism colony blocking small filter openings. You will notice the total life of your filter cut in half and very slow fuel flow when pumping. Other signs to look out for:

• Plugged fuel lines
• Erratic gauge readings
• A rotten egg smell
• Unusual replacement of valves, rubber seals and hoses in equipment
• Unusual exhaust smoke.

LUCKY FOR YOU LYNCH OIL IS HERE TO THE RESCUE!       

The staff at Lynch Oil Company are trained to contamination experts. We are given the knowledge and tools to:

• Be aware of storage tank situations that are in high risk of contamination
• Positively identify a contaminated storage system
• Treat and eliminate the situation
• Train and educate our customers to be aware and preventative.

Here at Lynch Oil we offer biocide tank treatments (H.U.M OUT) that control bacteria and fungi growth in your storage tanks. In addition to biocide as a tool to fight contamination we also use high quality fuel filters, CIM-TEK Hydrosorb Particulate & Water Removal, combining these tools will protect your tank & fleet!!.

Bacteria is not completely eliminated by biocide treatments. The dead bacteria will continue to cycle through your system, which does not completely rid your fuel of the contamination. These dead microbes will wax and clog filters leading to more issues in work efficiency and excess maintenance costs. The best way to handle bacteria is to treat the fuel and replace the filter. Lynch Oil offers a filter replacement program and reoccurring tank treatments. We calculate our treatment plans on intervals based on monthly fuel usage and adjust to your schedule.

Call us for a free tank assessment! As we said in the beginning: “Fuel and water DO MIX.” But as we have learned: “Fuel, water and business efficiency DO NOT mix.” And those are wise words that we can all agree on.

The post Tank Contamination: Why Fuel Goes Bad and the Importance of Tank Maintenance appeared first on Lynch Oil.

For smaller portable home generators this process is relatively simple and should be done prior to storm season.
Check the level of your oil – check your owner’s manual for recommended product Rotella Ttriple Protection 15w40 – an outstanding heavy-duty multigrade oil for all-season use in diesel-powered engines

Inspect and Replace the oil filter – once a year is a good general practice

Check the belts look for signs of wear; dry or cracking belts can be the cause of inefficiency in your generators performance, replace them as necessary to prevent overheating the motor.

If your generator requires antifreeze; drain it and replace with new product at the beginning of hurricane season.  Old fluids can lead to corrosion of the radiator.

When in doubt – review your Owner’s Manuel for the maintenance schedule. With a little preventative care – you can greatly increase your generators lifespan!

documented, logging any actions taken and readings for future comparison.  These schedules are provided by the manufacturer and can be performed in-house by your engineer or can be provided through a contract with an electrical contractor or the Manufacturers distributor.

The best way to extend the life of your generator is through preventive maintenance. 

Your provider should check the following systems to insure there are no mechanical issues that can lead to safety problems:

Electrical System – Check the battery terminals and clean as necessary to maintain a strong connection.  Ineffective Batteries are the number one cause of standby failures.  Batteries that have been maintained to the highest level weaken in time and must be replaced so a strong charge is maintained.  The only way to prevent a failure is proper testing and inspections.  To precisely measure voltage, a manual battery load tester must be used on each starting battery.  If the voltage is insufficient, replace immediately.  Check for specific gravity using a hydrometer to determine that the specific gravity is 1.260 – battery must be charged if reading under 1.215.   Ascertain the electrolyte level, battery cells should have distilled water maintained to the level of the filler neck

Air Intake System – If your system has a turbocharger – replace Air Cleaner Filter elements as recommended by the Manufacturer, Inspection should include the charge-air cooler for any detritus which can damage or block the fins.  The schedule for cleaning this system is determined by the operation schedule of the generator.

Fuel System – Inspected during operation, all lines, and filters should be checked for any splits or thinning.  Adjust any lines that show slight signs of wear due to abrasion to prevent eventual breaking.  Repair any leaking lines immediately. Diesel fuel should be drained periodically as recommended by the manufacturer. Water can accumulate as it condenses in the tank.  A fuel conditioning product such as Petrolabs Diesel Power, http://www.petrolabs.net/dieselEN.htmare available to increase fuel lubricity and disperse water while acting as a corrosion inhibitor & fuel stabilizer.  These can be added to the fuel system after draining & prior to fueling to increase the storage life of the diesel.

Exhaust System – Inspected during operation, the entire system must be tested for connection problems, any leaks must be detected and repaired.

Engine – Check all fluid levels – Oil level is checked after engine is cooled down, allow at least 10 minutes for the oil in the engine to drain to the crankcase.  Refer to the specifications provided by the Manufacturer for appropriate Oil requirements to maintain warranty and increase generator lifespan.  Level should be close to full mark – Protect our Earth – Always dispose of used Oil & Filters properly!

Coolant Systems – Check level on cool engine.  If level is low add to approximately three-quarter inch below the cap lower seal.  To protect your warranty always use the product the Manufacturer recommends, following all mixing and additive requirements.

Confirm all Control Panel indicators are in working order and readings are accurate

Standby Generators are required to operate from a cold start in an emergency – which can cause harsh burdens to engine parts.  Regular use can improve the life of an engine by maintaining lubrication prohibiting oxidation of electrical contacts, and prevents fuel issues by lessening the storage time.  Generators should be cycled at a minimum of 30 minutes on a monthly basis at full load if allowable.  This test should be done with records noting any performance issues with appropriate measures taken to correct any problems.

With a little TLC your generator can provide years of service!

Lynch Oil Company can provide the lubrication tools you need to service your equipment – call us today for a quote 1-800-874-4161

The post Effective Practices for Maintaining Your Diesel Generator appeared first on Lynch Oil.

Now in 2014, Tier 4 Final and EU Stage IV is calling for even lower emissions and is going to include Off Road Equipment. We are going to focus on news from industry leaders Volvo, CAT, and John Deere in respect to heavy equipment changes. Hope you are ready for the changes- but if you aren’t, no worries, Lynch Oil has plenty of drums and totes full of DEF available for you, whenever and wherever you need them! Just ask your sales rep!

So, What Do You Have to Look Forward To?

Throughout 2014 and 2015 all new off road equipment that is diesel powered will need to be compliant with the Tier 4 Final requirements. Engines will be equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction System (SCR). SCR is a system where DEF reacts with NOx converting the NOx emissions into nitrogen, water, and small amounts of carbon dioxide.

Back in 2011, Volvo, CAT, and John Deere, used Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) to lower NOx emissions. This method recirculated exhaust gases back into combustion chamber to be burned again, eliminating a good amount of emissions, but not all. These three big players will all adopt the SCR system which will eliminate almost all emissions from now on. Say hello to the Final Stage of Tier 4 Engines- at least until they think of something new!

Moving Forward with an Engine Adopting the SCR System?

Exhaust Fluid is going to become your new best friend when moving forward with an SCR System. The DEF tanks will be located next to the diesel tank on equipment. Tank sizes will vary based on manufacturer and type of equipment you are operating. Manufacturers have designed them so that for every tank of diesel you use, you will use one tank of DEF. If the operator forgets the DEF or uses defective DEF, the equipment will first signal warnings letting operator know. Shortly after this, engine will slow down, and eventually if no DEF is added, engine will shut down completely until fluid is added. Don’t let this happen to you- Sign up TODAY for Equipment Fills on your jobsite for both diesel and DEF!

What is Diesel Exhaust Fluid; and How Do You Keep it Fresh?

Diesel Exhaust Fluid, you probably know of it by its acronym DEF, is a mix of 32.5% urea (a nitrogen containing compound) and 67.5% de-ionized water. Why 32.5% urea? This percentage provides the lowest freeze point and provides the best protection in cold temperatures- As if any of us Floridians need to worry about that! But don’t go thinking you can water yours down, your engine is specifically configured for this mixture no matter how warm your winters may be. DEF should be a crystal clear liquid- if it’s not you might be dealing with contaminated fluid. When buying DEF, make sure it meets the ISO 22241-1 requirements; if you don’t, you could be damaging your engine.

Some simple rules for transporting your Diesel Exhaust Fluid. DEF should always be transported in a clean, appropriate DEF container. Never transport it in a used oil jug or coolant jug. Think that old gallon jug is clean? Probably not. Non-visible contaminants with potential to damage the SCR system are probably in there. You might not notice any problems right away if using a contaminated container, but we can almost guarantee that problems will arise down the road.

Storing your Diesel Exhaust Fluid is pretty simple. Keep it in a clean, dry, well-ventilated area. Storage temperatures should be between 12 Degrees Fahrenheit to 86 Degrees Fahrenheit. Do this and your DEF will have a shelf life of one year. Can’t keep with the storage requirements? No worries- you’ll just lose efficiency and shelf life will decrease. If your DEF loses potency due to improper storage use (mainly caused by direct sunlight), the Selective Catalytic Reduction System (SCR) will pick up on this and dispense DEF at a higher rate. This will cause you to use more product, but at least you won’t have to throw it out!

Love it or Hate it, this is the future. Call your Lynch Oil Sales Representative for more information on DEF drums, totes, and bulk deliveries. We also now offer fleet fueling/equipment fills of diesel exhaust fluid in conjunction with our diesel fleet fueling/equipment fills. Let us help you get on board!

The post Off Road Equipment Users – Are you ready for the 2014/2015 changes? appeared first on Lynch Oil.

There are many differences in hydraulic oil: Biodegradable, Dielectric, Ashless, 2000 Hour, and 5000 Hour oil. The AVERAGE oil and the GREAT oil can be measured by the price to buy and the cost to use the oil given the severity of the application.

The gauge used to measure the quality of Hydraulic Oil is the Viscosity Index Improver or “VI Improver”. The higher the number, the better the oil. Average oil has a VI between 70 and 80. A better oil has a VI between 95 and 105. The BEST will have a VI of 140 plus. The higher the VI number the higher the ‘TOST,” Turbine Oxidation Stability Test, value will be reported. The TOST number indicates the oil has been tested and qualified as a 2000 hour or 5000 hour oil. DISCLAIMER: The environment the oil operates and is maintained effects the longevity of the oil.

What can you find hydraulic oil on? Garbage trucks, earth moving equipment, airplanes, or cranes, for example.

CLEANLINESS! You’re probably thinking, “My oil looks clean”. But particles smaller than what’s visible to the human eye could be in there causing major problems. Premium hydraulic oils are superior in water separation, air release, produce less foam, and filterability. All of which are incredibly important when it comes to maintaining the life of your system.

Most importantly (in our opinion) is the filterability of your hydraulic oil. Filterability plays a vital role in the efficiency and life of your oil. But what does this mean?? Filterability is a measurement of clean fluid passing through a filter without clogging it. Filterability is all about the additives in your fluid, better additives equals more money. You also need a good filter on your system. You’ll spend $100 to protect a piece of equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Filter SIZE STANDARD??? Filter micron size, reservoir filters, and beta ratio (formula to calculate filtration efficiency) of each filter application plays a crucial part in lubricant life.

Think about Nemo…. There’s been a big push lately for biodegradable hydraulic oils, especially in Europe. If you’re working around water, most likely, you’ll be needing some of this. Just the other day I was talking to a customer who asked about this type of oil… guess the application. Garbage Trucks! Why you ask? When a hydraulic line breaks in a neighborhood the company doesn’t have to worry about the clean-up of the spill. Where with other hydraulic oils, they need to react immediately causing routes to be delayed and costly clean ups. Currently there are two types of biodegradable hydraulic fluids, vegetable oil based and synthetic. After 28 days, our biodegradable oil (Shell Naturelle) has biodegraded 60%. Call your LYNCH OIL REPRESENTATIVE TO LEARN MORE. Before making a switch to biodegradable, check with your filter company to make sure they are compatible.

At the end of the day, it might be cheaper to buy the average hydraulic oil, but is it really costing you less? If you’re noticing hydraulic leaks and system failures, it’s time to make the switch. Let Lynch Oil walk you through the process. We offer the best hydraulic oil out there for your system, biodegradable oils, and hydraulic system oil analysis. Let us help you make the most of your equipment and money.

The post It Costs More to be Average than Great appeared first on Lynch Oil.

Shell Caprinus XR oils use the latest, low-chlorine additive technology which offers both environmental benefits and improved performance. Shell Caprinus XR oils do not contain Zinc and are approved for use by GM-EMD for their engine fitted with silver piston-pin bearings and by GE for their latest locomotives. The performance of Shell Caprinus XR has been demonstrated in highly rated North American railroad operations subject to the most severe operating conditions.

   Shell Caprinus XR oils have excellent detergency and properties. They have a carefully balanced combination of detergency and dispersancy ensuring outstanding engine cleanliness. They also have a good protection against corrosion caused by the acidic products of combustion. Caprinus XR oils maintain a protective oil film between pistons and their rings and cylinder walls, even under high operating temperatures and pressures. With the use of low-chlorine anti-wear additives it ensures protection of valve trains and other parts.

Shell Testimonial of Caprinus XR Oil

Arcelor Mittal Steel Indiana Harbor West

Background -Oil Condition Monitoring is performed on critical equipment at the Arcelor Mittal Steel Indiana Harbor (East & West) facility in order to reduce / eliminate failures and costly secondary damages that can occur. The Shell Lube Analyst service further assists in reducing unscheduled downtime and costly overtime associated with sudden failures. For mobile fleet, scheduled sampling of engine oil and coolant is critical to ensure availability of equipment. Locomotives at Indiana Harbor West are included in the program.

Findings– Locomotive 1013 is powered by a EMD Engine lubricated with Shell Caprinus XR-40 and is tested on a hourly (250 hours) basis for viscosity, fuel dilution, additive and wear elements, TBN, fuel dilution and coolant contamination. The full tests results for the sample (our reference 3426) are given in the Appendix. The results showed high levels of Fe, Cu and Pb, all indicative of bearing wear, together with excessive levels of Na, K, indicative of contamination of the engine oil by glycol antifreeze. On the basis of this data, it was recommended to bring the engine into the shop for inspection at which time the engine was found to have a coolant leak into the engine. By addressing this issue, site avoided the catastrophic engine failure ($150,000) and need for the engine rebuild, which including labor (at a rate of $90/hr for 300 hrs) was agreed to a total cost avoidance of $150,000. Locomotive 1006 is powered by a EMD Engine lubricated with Shell Caprinus XR-40 and is tested on a hourly (250 hours)basis for viscosity, fuel dilution, additive and wear elements, TBN, fuel dilution and coolant contamination. The full tests results for the sample, our reference 2775 are given in the Appendix. The results showed high levels of Fe, Cu and Pb, Cr, all indicative of engine wear, together with a fuel dilution of 7.2%. On the basis of this data, it was recommended to bring the engine into the shop for inspection at which time the engine was found to have two fuel leaks into the engine. By addressing this issue, site avoided the catastrophic engine failure ($160,000) and need for the engine rebuild, which including labor (at a rate of $90/hr for 300 hrs) was agreed to a total cost avoidance of $160,000.

Conclusions/Recommendations

The predictive use of oil condition monitoring has resulted in cost avoidance and catastrophic equipment failure Locomotives 1013 & 1006. In total over $310,000.00 in cost savings have been achieved. Cost savings were presented at quarterly review meetings and agreed to by Arcelor Mittal Corporate Purchasing personnel. At these meeting, costs savings were reviewed by Senior Division Manager and were agreed to. In addition, training will be scheduled for the maintenance staff at Indiana Harbor East Mobile Equipment Shop. The training will include the importance and functions of antifreeze and supplemental coolant additives.

“Fueling Your Success”

The post Shell Caprinus XR 40 appeared first on Lynch Oil.

A medium-sized for-hire fleet interested in lower viscosity HDEOs sought Shell expertise in recommending an energy-efficient engine oil that would complement its operational goals.

With the use of Shell Rotella® T5 10W-30 semi-synthetic heavy duty motor oil, this Shell customer was able to provide documentation showing a conservatively estimated $554,000 in fuel savings.

1. Challenge

Lowering operational costs though increased fuel economy across a fleet of 410 power units

2. Solution

Upgrading from a conventional 15W-40 to a Shell Rotella® T5 10W-30 semi-synthetic heavy duty engine oil

3. Outcome

• Improved fuel economy by 2.20%
• Was able to increase ODI as well by 10,000 miles with the use of a semisynthetic and the use of Shell LubeAnalyst oil condition monitoring to verify there was no increase to wear metals while using a lower viscosity engine oil.

4. Value

The Fleet conservatively estimates an annual savings of $554,000 amongst 410 power units (diesel in 2011)

• Average savings of $1,351 per unit

The post Shell consistently delivers technical expertise around product application with a focus on Total Cost of Ownership, reducing total operational costs. appeared first on Lynch Oil.

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Why? The Clean Air Act. Since 1963 the government has been working to control the levels of air pollution in our country. In 1997 the EPA decided even more needed to be done to clean up the air and lower the emissions. Fast forward to the early 2000’s, a goal was set to reduce emission levels in the air
by half between 2005-2014.

To lower emissions truck manufacturers had to get creative in ways to reduce fuel usage. They put in Selective Catalytic Reduction systems (Diesel Exhaust Fluid), lowered viscosities of oils, and started using more aluminum parts to reduce the weight of vehicles.

Here’s where the nitrites come out to play.

Nitrites and Aluminum parts are a no go. The nitrites react with the brazed aluminum heat exchangers causing a film, deposits to form, and hot spots. Remove the nitrites and you get a coolant superior in protecting your aluminum parts.

That’s not all! When removing the nitrites, they added some other benefits and truly made a superior coolant. Now Rotella ELC Nitrite Free is a TRUE “Fill for Life” Coolant requiring no Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCA) and can go 600,000 miles/12,000 hours. It’s compatible with other ELC coolants. It’s good for all climates, I’m talking to you Long Haul Companies! Traveling in Alaska or in Florida? Paving roads in the hot summer? We got your back. Shell Rotella ELC NF has a freeze protection of -34 degrees Fahrenheit and boil over protection up to 265 degrees Fahrenheit! Now that’s hot!

What else is missing?

All the bad stuff! Shell Rotella ELC NF is free of nitrites, amine, nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals, and silicate.

Have a Mixed Fleet?

No worries my friend! Shell Rotella ELC Nitrite Free Coolant meets a long list of OEM specifications and is good in diesel, natural gas, gasoline, propane, and LNG vehicles. Carry one coolant and eliminate confusion and possible contamination in your equipment and vehicles! One less thing to worry about!

Make the Change Today!

And like the saying goes, all that shimmers is sure to fade, nitrites are out. Call your Lynch Oil Sales Representative to get the latest and greatest coolant meeting your OEM specifications. We now carry it in gallon containers, drums, and totes. A size to meet everyone’s needs.

The post All That Shimmers Is Sure to Fade appeared first on Lynch Oil.

The post Shell Tellus S2 VX 46 to handle the needs of your mobile fleet appeared first on Lynch Oil.

Shell LubeChat brings you Shell expertise 24/7, equipping you with faster, better-informed decisions that can ultimately help you run your business more efficiently and help to bring down your total cost of ownership.

Whether in the field or at the office, you can access an easy to use online chat room and get the answers that you are looking for. Shell LubeChat is accessible on your mobile device as well as your desktop.

Get the recommended Shell alternative if you are having issues with your current product or products. Shell LubeChat offers flexibility to get the answers you need.

Find the products that are right for your equipment and access technical data sheets and safety data sheets on all Shell products. Read testimonies on how other customers have improved their operations.

No matter where your business takes you, Shell LubeChat is there to help!

Check it out today by clicking on the link below, then click on the chat box on the bottom left of your screen.

The post Expertise at your Fingertips appeared first on Lynch Oil.