As a fuel supplier, we know how big of an investment heavy-duty equipment can be. We have a fleet, and we work hard to take care of our rigs so they will last for years. But as every business owner knows, there comes a time when you have to upgrade your equipment. These rigs cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and represent a significant investment for most businesses. That’s why you want to make sure that you get the most of your equipment.

One of the best ways to get a great return on investment on a new piece of heavy-duty equipment is to pay attention to the fuel economy. Newer heavy-duty trucks and diesel equipment are designed to increase fuel economy. For example, in 2011, the US introduced new heavy-duty truck standards to improve fuel economy and lower emissions. Research shows that these new fuel standards and technologies introduced in 2011 led to a 24% fuel efficiency gain from 2011 to 2017.

All of these changes aren’t cheap. If you’ve bought new equipment in the last few years, you know that prices are rising. From 2008 to 2011, the average annual price increase averaged $2,011 a year. After 2011, that average rose to $2,500 a year from 2011 to 2017. The good news is that even though a new truck or piece of heavy-duty equipment will cost more upfront, the fuel economy technology this equipment has may save you money in the long run if you take care of your equipment correctly. For example, new trucks purchased after 2017 save owners nearly $8,200 a year, compared to models bought before 2011.

Diesel engine fuel efficiency drops over time

The more stringent EPA standards mean that new diesel trucks and heavy-duty equipment fresh off the assembly line are more fuel-efficient than ever. That’s great news for you, as long as things stay that way. But, unfortunately, over time, diesel engines slow down and become less fuel-efficient. One of the main reasons for this is the technology meant to reduce emissions, the Exhaust Aftertreatment System (EATS), and the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

Newer engines run faster and hotter than ever before, which means that your oil burns quicker and at higher temperatures. Over time, ash from your fuel and oils begin to accumulate in your EATS system, particularly in the DPF filter. That’s what it’s designed to do, collect these particulates before they are released into the air. The problem is that the ash begins to clog the filter and stops working as efficiently. As a result, your fuel will not burn properly, and you end up using more power to burn up the ash and debris in the DPF filter. To stop this from happening, you have to regularly service your DPF filter by removing and cleaning it. Unfortunately, this process can be costly and time-consuming.

DPF Back Pressure and Regeneration reduce fuel efficiency

When your DPF filter begins to clog up, two things happen –– increased backpressure and DPF regeneration. Let’s explore these processes.

Increased back pressure occurs when the ash blocks the flow of exhaust through the DPF filter. The exhaust gas then builds up in the filter, which causes engine stress. Your engine has to work harder to push out the exhaust, leading to increased fuel consumption.

Regeneration or ‘regen’ is how the DPF filter burns off the ash and soot that accumulates. Regen is when the engine runs at high temperatures to burn the excess particulates. Passive regen occurs during everyday highway driving. Faster highway speeds increase the burn, but sometimes passive regen isn’t enough. In that case, you may have to trigger an ‘active’ regen. This process involves injecting fuel into the DPF filter while the vehicle is running and sitting idle. The engine has to run at high speeds to trigger high RPMs to burn off the particulates in the filter. It’s a costly way to waste fuel and time as the vehicle isn’t moving anywhere.

The right oil can save your DPF filter

No matter what you do, your DPF filter will begin to clog up, and you will eventually have to remove it for cleaning and service. The trick that will save you time, money, and fuel is to reduce how often you need to service your DPF filter and keep your rig fuel efficient by reducing back pressure and regen cycles. The best way to keep your equipment fuel-efficient is to reduce the build-up of ash. Even if your DPF filter is only at 25% capacity because of ash build-up, your fuel economy can drop by 3-6% percent. That’s going to add up over time.

Choose an oil that helps reduce ash build-up. Chevron’s Delo brand of lubricants are all excellent choices. These oils increase fuel efficiency and equipment protection because of Chevron’s patented ISOSYN technology, producing superior oils from higher quality base minerals and materials. Chevron ISOSYN certified oils are designed to increase fuel efficiency, protect your engine from deposits and soot, and increase the time between service intervals.

Ask lubricant experts like us

As a fuel and lubricants supplier for more than sixty years, we’ve seen every kind of technological improvement. Our team knows what works and can recommend high-quality products, like Chevron’s Delo brand, to help keep your equipment in good working order. As a business owner, you’ve put a lot of money into building your fleet, and we believe you should reap the benefits of increased fuel economy. We know which products can help save your business money and help reduce your maintenance costs. Talk to our team today, and we’ll find the products for your equipment and service needs.

As a Southern California fuel and lubricant supplier, we are experts on the lubrication needs of our customers. One of the top concerns our customers often have is about drain intervals. Extending the time between drain intervals can save your business time and money because you can keep your equipment running longer. Many of our customers have a busy work season, and if they can hold off on equipment maintenance during these busy times, it can help them increase productivity and profits.

We’ve been sharing detailed information on some of the tools and practices we recommend for extending drain intervals on our blog. There’s a lot of good stuff to find there, and we highly recommend you give it a read. But if you’re looking for a quick breakdown of all our recommendations, we’ve compiled our definitive guide here. These are some of our top recommendations for extending drain intervals.

First, we have to say a word about Chevron products. We are a proud supplier of Chevron fuel and lubricants to our customers. We’ve seen the difference their products can make, and many of our customers do when they make the switch. These are two of our favorite Chevron products.

• DELO 600 ADF 15W-40: This product is a fantastic lubricant for Tier IV final and 2017 greenhouse gas compliant four-stroke diesel engines. Vehicles with these engines run hot and often have deposit and soot formation issues, especially in the DPF filters. Cleaning and replacing a DPF filter is a time-consuming and expensive job. This oil offers several features that help increase your drain intervals and time between servicing the DPF filter. Read more in our blog on this great product!
• DELO 400 XLE SAE 10w30: We love this product because it’s so versatile. The DELO 600 DELO 400 offers increased deposit control, improved fuel efficiency, and excellent DPF Filter protection. But the secret of this product is that it’s also usable for older engines, including engines that only meet the 2010 compliant low diesel engines and previous API oil service categories. Read more about this amazing product in this blog.

Chevron has even introduced Chevron ISOCLEAN lubricants to ensure you start clean and you stay clean, with requirements that these oils meet the Chevron ISOCLEAN™ standards. Chevron ISOCLEAN™ products meet OEM requirements set out by the International Organization for Standardization. In addition, they undergo precise filtration for cleanliness and product integrity after each filtration and are lab tested before being sent to the market. As a result, these products reduce the need for onsite filtering and eliminate the risk of over-filtering out important additives.

Chevron is so serious about lubricant cleanliness and reducing particle contamination that they’ve even created the ISOCLEAN™ certified lubricant calculator. This online tool uses three steps to determine your current ISO cleanliness code based on your industry type, equipment type, and storage environment. It’s a great tool that can help you determine how to keep your lubricant supplies fresh and protected from contamination.

Another tool we highly recommend for extending drain intervals is the Chevron oil analysis program Lubewatch®. This program is a great way to pinpoint exactly how to care for your equipment and stay on top of your maintenance and lubricant needs. It has six basic packages that test for various conditions and give you accurate information on your equipment maintenance needs. We offer this program to many of our customers. They’ve used the findings in their lab reports to create custom maintenance schedules uniquely designed for their equipment and how they use it. In addition, it can help prevent lubricant contamination and help you make sure that your lubricant supplies are fresh and working properly. If you are interested in the program, please call a Greg’s Petroleum Service representative, and we’ll help you get started.

These are just a few of the products and services that can help you extend drain intervals for your fleet. We know that reducing equipment downtime and maintenance is a great way to shore up your budget and increase productivity. We’re here to help support you, and we do that by offering quality fuel and lubricant supplies. As a Chevron 1st Source Elite Lubrication Marketer, we don’t just have access to Chevron products. We also can provide products from Chevron partners like Valvoline and Havoline. So if there is a specific product you are looking for, we can find it for you.

We know that a quality lubricant program is an important part of maintaining your business fleet and keeping your equipment running. For sixty years, we’ve served local businesses by providing them with the fuel and lubricants they need to keep their equipment running and their business going. Here are a few words from one of our valued customers, Carroll’s Tire Warehouse, about who we are. “When you find a good supplier, you stick with them. Greg’s Petroleum Service has been that partner for us. Since 1996, Greg’s has kept us competitive in our market with quality Chevron products, and their exceptional service has helped support our company growth over the years.” For us, that’s the best compliment we can get. But it’s not our only one. Another long-term customer, Royal Truck Wash, Lube, Tire & Repair, has this to say about our business: “With Greg’s Petroleum, we feel like we are always taken care of. They manage our inventory, are quick to respond when there is an issue, provide quality products and great service. Their recommendation for switching to Delo has helped make our company more successful. They’re a partner we can trust to make our needs a priority.”

Just like these customers, you can rely on us for fuel and lubricant supplies and knowledge. We can offer quality recommendations that help your business. We know that extending drain intervals is a great way to help, and that’s why we’ve invested so much time and energy into finding the best products and solutions. So if you’re ready to change up your drain interval and service schedules, give us a call and let us help as your local fuel and lubricants supplier.

We are excited to announce our partnership with 93.7 Kiss Country in Fresno and support their Kiss Country for Kids Radiothon to help raise money for Valley Children’s Hospital.

Valley Children’s Hospital serves over 1.3 million children from Stockton to Bakersfield, and from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Pacific, and will treat any child, regardless of the ability to pay. On any given day, 800 children are treated at Valley Children’s Hospital. With approximately 245 inpatients, 270 emergency department visitors and 400 outpatients depending on them for daily care, the demand for their resources are great.

This year marks Kiss Country’s 23rd year of raising money for Valley Children’s Hospital. In 1998, they produced their first Radiothon for Valley Children’s Hospital and since have generated over $5.6 million in donations to Valley Children’s Hospital. Last year, they generated more than $104,000 in donations and pledges with the Radiothon program. This year, the goal is to reach $200,000!

Help us reach this goal by calling in during the radiothon fundraising event, which airs Thursday – Friday, September 9th and 10th, on 93.7 Kiss Country. The radiothon is filled with heart-warming stores of the kids, families, and staff whose lives are forever changed by the quality care they give and receive at Valley Children’s Hospital.

When we change kid’s health, we change the future! Help us make a difference today! For more information, please visit the Radiothon page at ksks.com and http://donate.valleychildrens.org.

As a bulk fuel delivery company, we’ve delivered large loads of fuel, oil, and lubricants to many of our customers. They use their supplies, and when they run out, we pack up another load and take it to them. Sometimes the schedule is predictable, and we know when to expect another order call from a customer. Other times, we get a panicked call asking for a rush delivery because they don’t have the fuel and lubricants they need to work.

As a business owner, you know that planning is one of the keys to success. Companies that carefully plan their project budgets and use their resources wisely will always do better than businesses that don’t. Our goal is to help you make the most informed fuel and lubricant decisions. If you’re ready to take control of your fuel and lubricant inventory to make the most of it, we can help in a few different ways.

First, let’s talk about remote tank monitoring. If you keep large fuel tanks at your business or on the job site for easy fueling, you know that these tanks can be problematic. It’s challenging to monitor how much fuel you have and how it’s being used. Remote tank monitoring can make it easy to manage your tank use. We offer this service using wireless remote tank monitoring through SMARTLOGIX. We install SMARTtank remote monitors to gauge your fuel levels better.

These monitors offer a variety of measurements, including:

• Tank level
• Tank location using GPS
• Inventory Temperature
• Rate of consumption
• Usage history, delivery, and efficiency reports

The use of these monitors also comes with access to the SMARTtank mobile app. This app has all the data and analytics you need to manage your fuel inventory from anywhere. Some of the features of the app include:

• Ability to view the status of your tanks from anywhere
• Alarm notifications to help prevent potential issues
• Accurate tank data so you can easily control distribution costs
• Access to the SMARTtank Tank Level and Analytics portal

Remote fuel tank monitoring is a great way to stay on top of your fuel inventory. These tools will help you know exactly how much fuel you have in your tanks, who is using it and when you need to order. Tank monitoring can also help prevent tank spills or fuel misusage. Your alerts will also get sent to members of the Greg’s Petroleum Service team so we can help you make better order choices and make the best use of your fuel inventory. So if you’re ready to give remote tank monitoring a try, give us a call, and we’ll get you set up.

Another crucial part of inventory management is lubricant storage and handling. As a lubricant supplier, we work hard to ensure that you have the high-quality lubricants you need for your equipment. But once we drop off your order, it’s up to you to follow best storage and handling practices. Otherwise, you may find that your lubricant supplies will become compromised and contaminated. We suggest following the 5-S storage system, a Japanese-based set of principles that promote efficiency. The five S’s are:

• Sort: Organize your lubricant room. Everything should have a proper place, from the different types of lubricant to the various filters you use. Create a consistent system, so you know exactly where everything goes. Remove everything that you don’t need. Remember the golden rule of lubricant storage ‘when in doubt, throw it out.’
• Straighten: A well-organized lubricant storage room is efficient. Establish an organizational structure that is easily labeled and easy to follow. Keep the items you use most in a convenient place. Minimize waste and wasted space, and strive to make everything easy to access. Ensure that you establish a first-in/first-out storage system that will keep your lubricant supplies fresh.
• Shine: Lubricant rooms need to be very clean. Messy, dirty rooms can easily contaminate your supplies and ruin your inventory. Ensure you have an established cleaning procedure that includes protocols for cleaning storage, changing filters, cleaning out oil-containment drains, and degreasing.
• Standardize: The next step is to keep your lube storage area clean and neat at all times. Take pictures, create signage, and provide training to your team on proper lubricant storage and the cleaning practices for the storage area. Finally, make sure to properly label and color coordinate your storage area for easy organization.
• Sustain: Make sure you regularly audit your inventory and storage practices. Establish a set schedule for cleaning and organization duties and ensure that your team knows proper lubricant storage practices.

The 5S system is just one way to optimize your lubricant storage. There’s nothing worse than having to throw away inventory because of lousy storage practices that contaminate your supplies. Or not realizing your supplies are contaminated until you use them on your equipment. You’ve invested a lot of time and money into your lubricant program. If you want to get the best return on your investment, you need to establish transparent storage practices and have a dedicated, clean storage space.

As a bulk fuel and lubricants supplier, we know that inventory management is crucial to your business. We don’t want our customers to waste unnecessary money and time on new supplies because of poor inventory practices. If your business requires help better managing your fuel and lubricant inventory, call us. We offer several solutions like remote tank monitoring and our oil analysis program that can help you get the most out of your supplies. Our team is highly skilled and can even offer advice on lubricant storage practices to protect your inventory. Don’t waste your fuel and lubricant budget because of inventory management issues. Take care of your supplies, and you’ll be able to save money!

We are honored to announce we are again partnering with ALSAC/St Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the 2021 Central Valley St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway as the exclusive Early Bird Sponsor, giving away FREE fuel for a year!

The campaign’s goal is to raise funds for the inspiring patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the hope that one day, all kids will live cancer-free. One hundred percent of the proceeds of the giveaway are donated to St. Jude.

This year, only 10,000 tickets will be available in the hopes of raising $1,000,000 to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which works around the clock to develop cures to save the lives of children, including those in the San Joaquin Valley.

Tickets will be available for purchase this Fall. With your $100 ticket, you have the chance to win a house, fuel for a year, tickets to the ACM Awards, a $15,000 shopping spree along with a variety of other prizes. But you WILL make a difference.

The beautiful home will be located within the greater 3,300-acre Loma Vista master planned community designed by the City of Clovis and part of the highly acclaimed Sanger Unified School District. It’s a short drive from the Clovis Community Medical Center and a variety of entertainment and dining options including the Sierra Vista Mall, The Square at Campus Pointed, Old Town Clovis and even Wild Adventure Park. Easy access to Highway 168 can provide a fast commute during the week and family adventures on the weekend!

Stay updated on this year’s Central Valley St. Jude Dream Home By visiting dreamhome.org dreamhome.org for more information!