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MAINTENANCE MATTERS For months, we have been preparing you for the day that MCI goes green. The day has come, but there's no need to panic. For those who remember the introduction of unleaded gasoline in the early 1970s, the uncertainty may feel familiar. Yet when all was said and done, the switch to unleaded was fairly painless, and the world was a better place for the effort. Just as in the 1970s, the new fuel change brings with it some changes. For motor coach owners, that means some necessary adjustments in even some of the most basic routine maintenance. The good news is that some of these changes can be made across the entire spectrum of your preventative maintenance program. For instance: By upgrading your entire fleet to newer grades of oil and diesel, you won't have to bother with stocking an additional line of oil, buying a new set of fuel storage tanks, or worry about adding the wrong lubricant to your new fleet. The new ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) fuel is mandatory for use in the engines equipped with DPFs (Diesel Particulate Filters), as is the higher-quality API rating "CJ-4" engine oil. As with all other API rating changes, the newer oil is better than the previous "CG" or "CH" oils you are already using, so you can make the changeover with no problems. ULSD has so far proven itself to be trouble free, with no appreciable loss of power, as many feared at first. It has been available in the market since late 2006, and availability is spreading. So having your entire fleet use it will simplify re-fueling, and help the environment as well. There are a few new dash lights for your drivers and maintenance personnel to become familiar with, depending on the exact engine package you are running.
M.I.L.: Malfunction Indicator Lamp (DDEC only) lights to alert the driver that attention to the emission control components of the system is required. Controlled by the onboard engine computer, it refers ONLY to the emission related parts of the system. And two new pictures:
HIGH EXHAUST TEMPERATURE: The HET light alerts the driver to a high-temperature condition of the exhaust system, and generally below approximately 5 MPH. Find more detailed explanations of the system operations in the recently released service bulletins for the 2007 EPA engines. These should be added to your Maintenance Manuals:
When it comes to emissions technology, MCI strives to remain ahead of the curve and to ensure that your driving experiences are as carefree as ever. Already, DPFs are a successful part of many fleets — and many fleets have been using them for a couple of years now with great satisfaction. It's further proof that when you go green with MCI, your world is a better place. The FYI from MCI editorial staff values your feedback. Please e-mail any suggestions, comments, or ideas for future articles to fyi@mcicoach.com. |
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REGENERATION: Alerts the driver that DPF regeneration is required. Regeneration is a new required periodic maintenance that will have to be added into your scheduled maintenance. For heavy-duty applications, the average mileage service interval is estimated to be 150,000 miles; driving conditions and related factors will determine the actual interval.