Peterbilt, Kenworth say new axle lube could save 1 percent on fuel
The Trucker News Services
8/21/2008
DALLAS — Peterbilt Motors Co. and Kenworth truck Co. said today that their customers would receive up to an estimated 1 percent fuel economy savings when PACCAR becomes the first company to make a new, full synthetic axle lube standard on is Class 5-8 models in the U.S. and Canada starting this summer.
PACCAR is the parent company for both Peterbilt and Kenworth.
The announcement from Peterbilt headquarters in Denton, Texas, and Kenworth headquarters in Kirkland, Wash., came during the annual Great American Trucking Show under way here.
Peterbilt will introduce Cognis EMGARD FE 75W-90 into production at its plants in Denton, Texas, Nashville, Tenn., and Ste. Therese, Quebec, Canada. Kenworth will introduce the new product at plants in Chillicothe, Ohio, Renton, Wash., and St. Therese.
The unique lubricant technology has been tested utilizing industry standards and “real world” fleet methodology, with results indicating up to a 1 percent fuel economy improvement, according to Larry Reding, Peterbilt assistant general manager of sales and marketing.
The two companies said that is equivalent to about $900 annually based on 120,000 miles, 6.0 mpg baseline, $4.75 a gallon.
Peterbilt and Kenworth said FE 75W-90 provides customers performance advantages over current synthetic lubricants with reduced gear wear and extended maintenance intervals, resulting in increased uptime. In addition, the company said the lubricant provides improved fluid flow to protect gears in extreme cold conditions and withstand the stress from high temperatures, extending component life.
“Providing customers technological solutions that improve their business’ operating performance is essential in today’s economic climate, with managing fuel costs playing a critical role in the overall success of trucking companies,” Reding said. “Peterbilt strives to provide the latest technologies to optimize fuel economy, and the Cognis synthetic lube helps customers offset rising and unstable fuel cost by providing end-users significant and quantifiable fuel savings.”
Gary Moore, assistant general manager of sales and marketing at Kenworth, said both the synthetic axle lube and snythetic transmission fluid are available at Kenworth dealers.
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals. The company’s North American headquarters is located in Cincinnati.
