ExxonMobil, and Centlube (ExxonMobil’s authorised distributor of Mobil lubricants for South Africa), recently successfully completed an optimum oil drain interval (ODI) study for Stefanutti Stocks construction company. The objective was to increase the oil drain intervals on Stefanutti Stocks’ fleet of Komatsu HD 465 rigid dump trucks, and therefore decrease operational costs, reduce their environmental footprint and expand their productivity on sites.
The key approach to the Stefanutti business was to identify key suffering points in their operations. This was achieved through a comprehensive lubricants survey performed across key areas. The aim of the assessment was to identify the critical areas in their business where lubricant products and services support would improve the operational efficiencies where it really mattered in the Stefanutti Stocks business.
The ODI study was conducted over three months, and followed a performance-monitoring protocol, provided by ExxonMobil. A key focus was to assess the performance of Mobil Delvac MX 15W-40 as a preferred engine oil for Stefanutti Stocks’ mixed fleet, in place of the competitor engine oil.
“We conducted regular used-oil analyses, and carefully monitored the test vehicles’ performance during the ODI study, and were able to increase the oil drainage intervals from 250 to 1000 operating hours,” says Colin Henneberry, Lubrication Field Engineer for ExxonMobil South Africa. “We are confident in recommending the oil used in the study, Mobil Delvac MX 15W-40, to Stefanutti Stocks. It provides high thermal and oxidation stability, which results in reduced sludge buildup and deposit formation, as well as increased viscosity.”
Sixteen of Stefanutti Stocks’ HD465 fleet are now using the new Mobil lubricant. “Based on our assessments during the field test, our conservative estimate is that this particular fleet will work an additional 5.95 per cent (or 44 hours) on the Mobil Delvac MX 15W-40,” says Jerome Christian, Stefanutti Stocks construction & mining business unit’s engineering manager.
In numbers, this translates to the following improvements per annum:
Safety: 608 hours (the overall hours of exposure reduced)
Environmental care: 17,328 litres (the decrease in litres used)
Productivity: R4 749 591 (revenue saving, direct and indirect)
“Through the ODI project we achieved our goal of reducing downtime, increasing equipment availability and improving safety risk for Stefanutti,” says Henneberry. “Stefanutti has been identified as a Planned Engineering Service account by ExxonMobil, through which we will implement a strong engineering business approach that includes mutual planning, objective execution, Benefit Documentation and an annual business to discuss engineering progress against planned targets. We are excited to drive our value approach to businesses, and contribute to industry.”
Christian concludes: “We are extremely proud to have been part of this first of its kind in South Africa, and are looking forward to exploring new solutions with the teams at ExxonMobil.”
