Our home state of California is known as the Golden State, and it’s not just because of all the sunshine we get! California was once the home of the Gold Rush in the mid-1880s. A record 12 million ounces of gold were mined from our state before the rush ended. Today, the gold rush is long over, but mining is still a big industry in California. There are 739 operating mines as of 2018, digging for everything from gold to boron and construction materials. In 2020, the industry brought in $13.6 billion in GDP!

As a fuel and lubricant supplier, you might wonder why we’re talking about the mining industry here in our home state. The mining industry needs specific lubrication for much of its heavy-duty off-highway hauling equipment. And it’s not just the mining industry either. The construction industry also uses heavy-duty off-highway equipment like backhoes, excavators, bulldozers, and more.

With that in mind, in our blog today, we want to focus on a new synthetic lubricant product from Chevron designed to meet the needs of the Caterpillar FD-1 specification. The FD-1 specification was brought in to address a common problem many heavy-duty off-highway vehicles were experiencing, clutch compatibility. Many of these vehicles undergo a lot of torque during operation, which can cause them to wear down quickly. The previous lubricant specification for these systems, the TO-4 standard, was not providing enough protection for these systems. So Caterpillar introduced a new lubricant specification for their equipment, the FD-1, to enhance the lubrication of these machines.

The goal of the FD-1 specification was to improve the gear and bearing life in the final drives and axles of these large, heavy-duty machines. This equipment is used under tremendous pressure and is a big part of a mining or construction operation. So, proper lubrication is vital to keep these machines working and reduce costly equipment repairs and downtime. Lubricants that meet the FD-1 specification are designed to address the extreme pressure, heavy load-carrying capability, friction, and torque the gears, bearings, axles, and other parts of these big machinery face during operation.

Introducing the Delo® TorqForce® SYN FD-1
To meet the demands of the FD-1 specification shift, Chevron has created a new synthetic lubricant, the Delo® TorqForce® SYN FD-1. This is a premium, fully synthetic, multigrade, heavy-duty gear lubricant designed for heavy-duty off-highway equipment like excavators, bulldozers, and large mining haul trucks. So what are some of the benefits of this product?

  • Increased equipment life: The advanced additive system that is part of the Delo® TorqForce® SYN FD-1 is designed to reduce wear over a more extended period by forming a protective layer on metal surfaces. This protective layer can withstand extreme pressure and temperatures many of these machines experience during operation.
  • Longer oil life: Another benefit of switching to a fully synthetic lubricant is that it lasts longer. Not only does this lubricant provide better oxidation stability against viscosity increase and deposit formation, but you can also extend your drain intervals to 6000 hours, up from the traditional 4000 hours!
  • Better temperature performance: We can experience some extreme temperatures here in California, from blazing heat to freezing cold, depending on where you are. That’s why this product is so helpful. It provides better cold weather pumpability in sub-zero operating conditions. It has excellent cold flow properties, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your equipment during a cold start. It also provides increased protection in extreme heat, which is very common here in California!
  • Less unscheduled maintenance: These heavy-duty off-highway machines are large and expensive. In mining and construction operations, they are heavily relied upon to get the job done. When one is taken out of the rotation for maintenance, it can significantly impact an operation’s bottom line. Using this lubricant, you can reduce unexpected maintenance and equipment downtime because your equipment is better protected. This lubricant contains more effective rust and corrosion inhibitors to protect your final drive components like axles, bearings, and more. It also has excellent viscosity at fluctuating temperatures, so you can be sure that your machinery is getting proper lubrication and that your equipment components are not damaged during operation.
  • It helps your equipment last longer. The best benefit of this lubricant is that it’s designed to keep your equipment running in good condition for as long as possible. It contains special additives that form a fluid film that protects the metal surfaces from pitting, scuffing, and wear under extreme pressure and temperatures. These types of equipment are big and very expensive to replace, so using the proper lubricant is necessary!

The switch from the old specification of TO-4 fluids to FD-1 lubricants hasn’t been easy for many operators of heavy-duty off-highway equipment. It means adding another lubricant to the rotation or worrying about possible lubricant contamination. FD-1 lubrications are also more expensive than TO-4 fluids, so many operators have been reluctant to accept the increased cost.

The team at Chevron knows this is an issue for many operators, which is why they put such effort into creating the Delo® TorqForce® SYN FD-1. The goal of this product was not just to meet the new FD-1 specification but to deliver a lubricant that surpasses operator’s expectations so thoroughly that it made sense to make the switch. Trust us. If you start using this product in your heavy-duty off-highway equipment, you’ll see the difference it can make!

So if you’re ready to switch to Delo® TorqForce® SYN FD-1, call our team. We’re getting you all set up so you can get back to work in the mining field or on the construction job site. With us as your Chevron Lubricants Supplier, you don’t have to worry about your large equipment breaking down and costing you money. Instead, we’ll keep your machinery on the road and working hard!