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Prepare Your Equipment for the Unexpected

Living in the elements of Wyoming we all know we often experience Winter weather conditions well into the months of Spring. Working in farming and ranching, any seasoned farmer knows this obstacle of working outdoors with heavy equipment. Being one step ahead and always making sure you are prepared helps prepare you and your equipment for the unexpected. 

We are brought together a few quick tips to help you navigate the unexpected until we reach consistently warmer temperatures. 

Switching Grease: Grease weather changes typically happen earlier around March, April pending avg temps, around 40-60f is a good time to switch from cold weather #1 to a #2 thicker base grease.

Using High Quality Products: Using higher quality products for your equipment ensures longer lasting results and less costs in the long run. We are premium retailers for Shell, Chevron, Power Service, & more. 

Oil Analysis Tests: Avoid downtime by utilizing oil analysis tests. Oil analysis fluid sample reports provide insight into the inner workings of your machine.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or just to chat about how you can improve your equipment quality and lifetime age. Dooley Oil is a premium oil and lubricant supplier for the state of Wyoming. Contact us today! 

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Kick Winter Out, Move Spring In

How do hot temperatures impact lubricants?

One of the main concerns for fleets and owner-operators working in hot environments is a decrease in lubricant film thickness due to lower viscosity. The viscosity of an oil is crucial as it dictates its ability to form an oil film to protect moving engine parts from excessive contact. If the oil’s viscosity is too low, the oil film thickness may be too low which could mean that the engine parts aren’t being protected effectively, causing an overheated condition. This can cause serious operational problems such as a breakdown of the oil film, reduced power, increased oxidation rates, and fuel economy losses due to oil thickening.

It is critical that the operating temperature of the equipment is taken into account when selecting an oil. A warm climate often necessitates a heavier engine oil such as an SAE 30 or 40 grade; one able to resist the breakdown that comes with higher operating temperatures by ensuring proper and adequate film thickness and the protection of critical engine components.

SAE classifications values that do not include the “W”, define oil grades designed for use at higher temperatures.  The second number in the viscosity rating – the “40” in 10W-40, for example – means the oil will have a thicker film at high temperatures than one with a lower second number.

Planning and preparation is key

Regardless of the climate and conditions, a fleet owner-operator is working in, it’s crucial that they have prepared and considered not just their choice of lubricants, but multigrade hydraulic, driveline, and gear oils too to ensure all engine components are protected. Operators should also be regularly checking coolant condition and batteries to ensure engines are running safely and efficiently, no matter the weather or time of year.

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Benefits of Tank Cleaning

Most fuel contaminants are heavier than fuel and will settle to the fuel tank bottom if undisturbed. To remove this contamination it is best to remove free and emulsified water and filter the contents in the lower 5%-15% of the tank. This process will keep from mixing the clean fuel with the contaminated fuel. 

Tank cleaning is a relative term. A clean tank should be able to store fuel in a condition that exceeds the engine manufacturer’s recommended ISO 18/16/13 cleanliness target. 

Fuel should be delivered to an engine with less than 100 parts per million of free or emulsified water. 

Most fuel storage tanks do not have a protective coating on the inside; only raw metal with tiny pores that become home to fungi and acidic bacteria when any moisture is present. This contamination will become a problem if you use a biocide in your fuel. When the microbes die from the biocides they fall from the tank walls in a talcum powder-like substance that can clog filters for many weeks until all microbes have been killed. 

The most damaging fungi and bacteria problem is found floating at the fuel/water interface at the storage tank bottom. This contamination can easily be ingested into your engine’s fuel pickup tube, clog your filters and stop your engine. 

Removing tank bottom water and the interface microbes will eliminate 98% of filter clogging problems.

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How to Prevent Gelling of Diesel in the Winter?

As the cold sets in for the winter, diesel drivers and fleets need to start thinking about winter maintenance, if not hopefully already have their vehicles and machinery ready for lower temperatures. Diesel fuel is impacted by ambient temperatures, so its performance components need to be carefully managed throughout the year to ensure proper equipment and engine operation – especially in cold environments, like Wyoming.

Why is diesel impacted by low temperatures?

Diesel fuel contains paraffin wax molecules, which means that at low temperatures, the wax separates from the fuel as wax crystals. In normal diesel at normal temperature, the waxes are happily dissolved in the diesel fuel and burn right along, thus helping to provide some of the diesel’s energy value. But when it gets cold, the wax becomes undissolved, and the fuel clouds up. This is when cloud point and gelling up becomes an issue. 

As the temperature drops in winter, these crystals grow and cover the fuel filter surface, which can lead to fuel starvation, loss of engine power, and eventually stalling. Wax plays an important role in fuel by enhancing cetane, which improves cold starting.

There are many way to keep diesel fuel running, here at Dooley we recommend  adding an anti-gel additive to your fuel tank. An anti-gel additive is used to modify the shape of the wax crystals so that fuel keeps flowing through fuel filters at lower temperatures. However, this must be done before it gets cold. Once it reaches a cloud point, an anti-gel additive cannot reverse the gelled fuel once it's reached or passed the gel point.

Dooley Oil is a proud authorized distributor of Shell and Power Service products. For more information about how we can help keep your engine clean leading to less downtime, let us know! We would be happy to answer any questions about our products and services!

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Keeping your fuel tank filled & secure with Dooley Oil

Bringing the most up to date technology in an old industry. Dooley Oil offers FluidSecure, a fuel inventory management system that allows for security of your fuel. FluidSecure is The Next Generation of Fuel and Fluid Management which includes the FluidSecure LINK, CLOUD, APP and HUB. It uses the power and flexibility of modern smartphone technology, along the ubiquity of the cellular phone network. Plus, it is securely hosted on the fast and powerful Microsoft Azure cloud-based servers.

Fuel Security with FluidSecure:

With FluidSecure you can have an unlimited number of vehicle numbers and personnel numbers.  In order for the vehicles and/or personnel to obtain fuel, they must be set up in the database before they attempt to fuel.  When they enter their information to refuel, if the system does not confirm them in the database, they will not be authorized and cannot fuel their vehicle. 

FluidSecure HUB –  Hardware and Software

Tablet E 10.0″ – 16 GB memory with Cellular Data Plan, includes 1GB of data per month.

The customer can supply their own tablet and cellular plan, or can purchase it as a complete turnkey system from FluidSecure at an additional cost.

FluidSecure HUB Pedestal with included, housing, cover, heater, fan, secure tablet bracket.

A 6” by 1½” Cylinder FluidSecure LINK that connects to each pump to turn it on/off. One per hose is required.

A Pulser connected to the pump.

The FluidSecure Software App for the Tablet.

FluidSecure CLOUD database software.

Dooley Oil makes sure that customers and clients feel secure in their fuel tank fillings and security. Dooley Oil has been locally owned & operated for over 35 years. We are dedicated to offering unparalleled customer service while supplying Wyoming with the highest quality fuels & lubricants. We take pride in gaining our customers' trust while building relationships that last through the ages. We have a large fleet of vehicles prepared to handle any sized job or project whenever and wherever our customers need us. We are the hometown authorized Shell dealer, with access to a variety of products & specialized pricing to meet all your equipment needs. Dooley Oil has created a strong reputation for providing exceptional service and high quality products to the front range & are committed to continuing this tradition for years to come.

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Understanding The Differences Between Diesel Fuel Grades

Diesel is commercially available in many grades. The grades of course have their own advantages and disadvantages and must forgo certain characteristics in order to achieve different features. For example, #1 grade diesel fuel has lower energy components compared to, #2 grade diesel fuel. #2 diesel fuel will also gel up in cold weather environments. Read more to help you understand the differences between #1 and #2 diesel fuel varieties.

#1 Diesel Fuel

#1 diesel fuel products have less energy components and are more expensive than, #2 grade products. However, it rarely has problems in cold weather conditions, which is completely the opposite of #2 grade. This is because paraffin (a type of wax) has been removed from the chemical mix. The absence of this chemical allows it to remain in liquid form during the winter months.

#2 Diesel Fuel

#2 diesel fuel is the most readily available at most gas stations throughout the world. This chemical compound holds the highest amount of energy components and lubricant properties in one mixture and offers the best fuel performance available on the market today. Most studies show that #2 grade diesel fuel will protect injection pumps, seals, and other important engine parts.

Typically, #2 diesel fuel is less expensive than #1 diesel fuel.The downside to #2 diesel is its tendency to mold into a thickened gel when the temperature drops. This often leads to hard starts and other complications during winter.

Where to find high-quality diesel fuel

At Dooley Oil we are a family owned & operated petroleum distributor based in Casper, Wyoming, with additional locations in Laramie, Cheyenne, and Nebraska. We specialize in servicing customers in the industrial, commercial, construction, agricultural and ranching industries by supplying fuel and lubricant products to customers throughout Wyoming and Nebraska. We not only get you and your equipment into the products you need, but also specialize in manufacture/equipment specific application of those products. If your business is in need of wholesale fuel or if you have any questions about any of our Products and Services, give us a call at [phone] or Contact Us by email.

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3 Tips to Prepare Your Heavy Equipment for the Winter Season

Preparing for winter can be hard, but it doesn't have to be! Here are a few tips to help you get your machines prepared for the harsh winter season. 

Store Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) properly. DEF freezes at prolonged exposure to temperatures of 12 degrees or lower, so make sure the area you choose to store it at is well-insulated. Keep in mind, DEF does thaw out, so store the fluid in an appropriate container to avoid it bursting during expansion. If your DEF does freeze, it is still fine to use once thawed. 

Install the correct lubricants and condition hydraulic hoses. We know it can sometimes get pretty cold even in October in the West. Before it gets too cold outside, install the correct engine, hydraulic, transmission and final drive lubricants for your exact machine. Before starting the machine, check each level to ensure they are fluid enough for proper flow. You can do so, by checking each dipstick while the equipment is cold, if the oil drips without delay, then it is fluid enough. 

Always run the engine until it reaches operating temperature. We know life sometimes gets busy and, we don’t always want to let the engine fully heat up. Run the engine until it reaches full operating temperature. This will ensure that your machines run properly and last the longest that they are made to. Give your machine a nice stretch and cycle through all of the machine’s functions to distribute warmed oil until they all operate with ease. Help prevent the intake and exhaust valves from sticking by running your engine before you begin each day’s work until it reaches operating temperature. 

Dooley Oil ensures the best customer service, quality care and products. We offer delivery of bulk fuel, oil and, more. We service most of Wyoming and have satellite offices as well across the West. Reach out to Dooley Oil for all your oil needs in the Wyoming area.