AMSOIL and School buses -
perfect together

• Clark County school buses see 3- 5% mpg increase

• AMSOIL shines in school bus tests

Clack County school buses see 3- 5% mpg increase
This field test was conducted in 1998 with the buses of the Clark County Board of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) in Springfield, Ohio.

Three 1997 International 3800 school buses were chosen. Two equipped with Detroit 466 diesel engines and one with a Detroit 466E diesel engine. Each had previously been using petroleum oil.

Four goals were set:

1. Reduce fuel consumption. Verified by comparing previously documented fuel mileage reports using petroleum oil

2. Extend oil drain intervals

3. Reduce maintenance costs

4. Provide the above-mentioned benefits without compromising the mechanical integrity of the equipment.

Baseline samples of the petroleum oil already in the crankcase were obtained, tested and documented. Next, the oil was drained and the engines flushed with AMSOIL Engine Flush. Then AMSOIL 15w-40 Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel and Marine Oil and a AMSOIL BMK-12 Dual-Gard By-Pass system with two BE-110 By-Pass filters were installed in each vehicle.

Oil samples from each bus were taken and tested at 4,000 mile intervals, the normal MR/DD oil drain interval practiced on petroleum oil.

These samples were used to determine:

1. Fluid and vehicle baselines

2. The mechanical condition of the vehicles

3. Ability of the equipment to continue functioning as a demonstration vehicle

4. Rate of internal wear

5. Serviceability of fluids and filters

As of May 1, 2001, the buses had accumulated a total of 182,426 miles without oil changes, and several benefits associated with running the AMSOIL products have been realized:

• Labor and vehicle downtime have been reduced.

• Engine wear rates have decreased

• High temperature operating conditions have been reduced significantly

• 3- 5% fuel mileage increase

This leads to enhanced engine protection, and ultimately, to longer engine life.

They now plan to extend their oil change intervals from 4,000 miles to 10,000 miles and beyond if supported by oil analysis results.  The chart below shows the comparison figures.

As for the aftermarket full flow oil filters, the original intention was to change them every 6,000 to 10,000 miles, but after careful review of oil analysis results, it was determined that because of the efficiency of the AMSOIL Dual-Gard Filtration System, 10,000- to 12,000-mile intervals were easily obtainable on the full-flow filters.

For demonstration purposes, the BE-110 filter elements remained unchanged for a 2-year period.  However, after review, it was determined that under normal conditions it would be beneficial to change them after a 40,000- to 50,000-mile interval.

The chart below compares the levels of wear particles present in the previous conventional oil with the levels present in the AMSOIL as of May 2001. 

Conclusion
Overall, this field demonstration was highly successful for AMSOIL.  The oil analysis data indicate that AMSOIL products deliver uncompromising protection and performance.  AMSOIL provides longer equipment life and reduced downtime, longer drain intervals, significant decreases in wear rates and operating temperatures and dramatic improvement in engine performance when compared to conventional petroleum oils.