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Quick win strategies for enhancing operational efficiency

When the diesel engine was invented over 100 years ago, it transformed society, allowing the world to revolutionise in a safer, more cost effective and more efficient way. Though the technology has evolved over time, it is still a literal driving force of industries all around the world. Today, however, this technology requires significant investment in order to keep pace with the changes of the world around it.

For instance, those perhaps most reliant on their engines – the commercial transport sector – are having to increasingly adapt to rising costs, supply chain disruption and evolving environmental targets. While investing in new engine technology could be the answer to all three by helping to improve efficiency, utilisation and sustainability, a turbulent financial climate often prevents this from happening – even if the alternative is to risk costly repairs. Facing a dilemma between spending money or incurring costs, perhaps the answer lies in another crucial investment – that is, investing in their current engine’s maintenance and performance.

How to cut costs without cutting corners

32% of fleets report that fuel is their largest expense, making fuel management crucial.¹ Maintenance budgets can also have a disproportionately large impact on fuel and oil costs, due to the influence that maintenance decisions can have on fuel economy. 

This impact is best illustrated by focusing on the individual components that sit within the engine, like fuel injectors, for example. A critical and intricate part, injectors work in the heart of the engine and, as a result, are directly exposed to combustion. This direct exposure can lead to deposit build-up in and around the injector nozzle holes, which – when left untreated – risks inefficient combustion, power loss and increased fuel consumption. 

All three of these consequences spell trouble for a business’ bottom line, given the potential load-pulling power lost and amount of fuel wasted over time if no remedial action is taken. Thankfully, the solution is a simple one, and it involves cleaning the fuel injectors. First, by removing these performance-robbing deposits and then by keeping the injectors clean in the longer term.

Best of all, it’s a process that does not require a new product – vehicle nor part – to be purchased. In fact, it relies on something that every fleet diligently budgets for already: their fuel.²

How to navigate supply chain disruption

While the components inside an engine may fall within a fleet’s orbit of control, volatile supply chains perhaps seem the opposite. Whether related to production delays, inventory shortages, route disruption or capacity constraints, road transport fleets can end up on the wrong end of external events. Something that even a brand new fleet of vehicles might not solve without the right practices in place.

However, there is one way that fleets can combat these socioeconomic influences and start to put themselves back in the driving seat. By removing the restrictions of unplanned and unnecessary downtime – and ensuring their vehicles are always ready for operation – a business can be more agile in the face of these changing conditions.

Again, fuel choice can have a big impact on how this scenario plays out. If formulated with combustion improver, fuel can provide greater EGR deposit control, helping to support reliable engine performance so vehicles can spend more time on the road than off schedule.

Partnership is the new leadership

In an industry where tight driving schedules and fuel costs underpin success, investing in advanced fuel technology – and unlocking its maintenance benefits – is an obvious choice. After all, it can help you meet today’s most pressing challenges even if you can’t yet afford to invest in tomorrow’s engine technology. And while even the most basic diesel engine technology today is streets ahead of where it began, the importance of the historical invention remains, with more value than ever lying in the potential partnership between a road transport fleet and industry-leading solution providers.

¹ _{"”, Sujith Nair, 2024}

² _{Helps to clean and protect key fuel system components such as fuel injectors from the build-up of performance robbing deposits and hidden internal injector deposits. Helps to protect the EGR system from the build up of deposits. EGR benefits applicable to all heavy-duty vehicles/engines of all ages that are equipped with a high pressure EGR system}

ⁱ _{Helps to clean and protect key fuel system components such as fuel injectors from the build-up of performance robbing deposits and hidden internal injector deposits. Compared to regular diesel without performance additives and with the same level of biocomponent. Based on Shell proprietary test methods in a range of HD engines / vehicles (including on-road and off-road technology). Shell FuelSave Diesel was compared to regular diesel, showing up to a 3.75% fuel economy benefit under equivalent steady state conditions at the end of test. Actual savings may vary according to vehicle, driving conditions and driving style.}

_{A version of this article was published by Fleet Maintenance in February 2024. You can read the article .}