Best Practices for Engine Oil Maintenance in Fleet Vehicles
Best Practices for Engine Oil Maintenance in Fleet Vehicles
Oil changes have always been a key focus of fleet maintenance; but over the years, engine, and fuel system technology, and even the oil itself, has evolved. Many modern gasoline and diesel engine designs are now more sensitive to a lack of engine oil maintenance, creating a greater risk of costly repairs for a fleet. The good news, most of the risk can be avoided with the following best practices.
Conduct On-Time Oil Changes
Enterprise Fleet Management’s guideline is to change the oil every 7,500 miles or 200 engine hours, whichever occurs first. Severe use requires more frequent oil change intervals. Severe use conditions include but are not limited to, high idling, towing, and driving in dusty conditions. A best practice is to check and follow the specific recommendations in the vehicle owner’s manual.
For convenience, Enterprise Fleet Management provides oil change alerts on the client website and driver app to help clients and their drivers stay current with oil changes. Please follow up with drivers if the oil change alert is flagged for their vehicle to ensure they have it serviced at the next opportunity.
Consistently Check Oil Levels
In addition to following the mileage and engine hour recommendations, Enterprise Fleet Management recommends checking the oil level during fuel fill-ups. Checking the oil level during fuel fill-ups is a great way to be consistent and put a few minutes of idle time to work. This proactive task can easily catch a low oil level before it becomes a major problem.
Understand Oil Viscosity and Type
It is best to check the owner’s manual for oil viscosity and type requirements and please keep the following top of mind:
- Only use oil that meets the manufacturer's requirements.
- Some vehicle manufacturers require Dexos certification.
- Using oil products that allow for extended oil change intervals is generally not recommended by Enterprise Fleet Management and most manufacturers.
Here are some additional tips to help ensure the continued health and maintenance of your fleet:
Use Top Tier Fuel Whenever Possible
Top Tier Fuel, recommended by General Motors, BMW, Toyota, Honda, Audi, Daimler Truck, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Navistar, Stellantis, Subaru, and Volkswagen, is high-quality fuel that contains superior detergent levels to keep an engine running clean. Top Tier Fuel helps prevent the buildup of carbon deposits, which can break loose and damage the sensitive areas inside the engine that control oil consumption. For quick reference, click here to easily locate a Top Tier Fuel station.
What To Do If You Suspect High Oil Consumption
If one of your fleet vehicles is consuming too much oil, take it to a local dealership service department for an oil consumption test and follow their recommendations.
The Importance of Oil Pressure and Oil Level Warning Lights
If the warning lights for oil pressure or oil level illuminate while driving, immediately find a safe location to pull over and turn off the engine to avoid causing permanent damage.
The Value of a Strong Cycling Strategy
The strategy of following optimal cycling (replacing), rather than holding vehicles as long as possible, is more important than ever for fleets operating under severe conditions. If the oil change history is less than ideal, cycling instead of holding can prevent a costly engine replacement among other pricey repairs.