Cummins extends oil drain intervals, updates software

March 29, 2017
Valvoline and Cummins Inc announce that Valvoline Premium Blue Heavy Duty Engine Oil is proven to extend oil drain intervals for an additional 10,000 miles

In a breakthrough with potential to deliver substantial cost savings for heavy-duty operators and fleet owners, Valvoline and Cummins Inc announce that Valvoline Premium Blue Heavy Duty Engine Oil is proven to extend oil drain intervals for an additional 10,000 miles, enabling a new maximum ODI of 60,000 miles in the all-new 2017 Cummins X15TM engines, compared to other API CK-4 engine oils. The announcement was made during the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual conference in Nashville TN.

The results were proven through extensive collaborative development efforts, covering millions of miles of real-world truck testing. In an analysis of cost savings potential, comparing the use of conventional oil and synthetic blend CK-4 oils in the Cummins X15 engine, Valvoline Premium Blue 15W-40 was proven to save upwards of $20,000 in annual oil maintenance cost and productivity savings for a 100-truck fleet.

"We know that when it comes to performance and investment of your engine and motor oil, everything matters-from the advanced hardware components found in the Cummins X15 engine, to the innovative formulation found in Valvoline Premium Blue,” said Roger England, Cummins R&D director of fuels, lubricants, and materials. It's not just one or the other."

Adding to the suite of connected products, Cummins officials said the engine manufacturer was putting customer uptime first.  Connected Advisor is a new telematics-based solution that provides meaningful information to its customers, maximizing uptime and improving engine reliability and performance. Customers receive information analyzed by engine experts at Cummins who then report on both critical and noncritical issues, making it easier for fleet managers to make service decisions about the vehicles in their fleets.

Isolating and interpreting key engine and aftertreatment data every day, Connected Advisor provides customers with prioritized, time-based recommendations to distinguish between immediate repair needs and those that can be scheduled a few days out. Fault reports, including probable causes and recommended actions, are sent to fleet managers daily to help initiate the repair process. For faults requiring prompt attention, immediate notification reports are provided to alert a fleet manager.

"A differentiating feature of our Connected Advisor product is the estimated time-to-failure provided for each issue identified," said Lori Cobb, vice-president--Connected Solutions at Cummins. "With a time frame in mind, customers can proactively manage the issue before it becomes a failure or causes an interruption in the vehicle's operations."

Cummins Connected Diagnostics customers can choose to enhance their remote monitoring capabilities by purchasing the Connected Advisor product. Connected Advisor provides an additional level of support in interpreting engine issues and improving operational efficiency with time-to-service recommendations.

Cummins has also introduced Connected Software Updates, delivering secure over-the-air programming enabled through a capable telematics service provider, advancing the way Cummins supports its customers. Through Cummins Connected Solutions portal, fleet managers are notified of software updates available to engines within their fleet. This enables fleet managers to upgrade an individual engine or all eligible engines, or they can choose to pre-approve updates automatically.

"Connected Software Updates allows our customers more control over the performance and management of their fleets, saving thousands of dollars," added Cobb. "In eliminating the need to schedule shop visits for calibrations, they not only avoid technician labor costs, but they no longer need to spend days out of commission waiting to upgrade their vehicles. In as little as five minutes of downtime, the software update is installed, and the vehicle can get back on the road."

As a safeguard, Cummins maintains the original software in the engine control module (ECM) throughout the update. Should a problem occur, the previous version is automatically restored to the ECM. This minimizes the risk of interruption to the driver's operations.

New mobile technology offers Cummins customers an efficient, streamlined service experience. Shown for the first time at TMC's annual conference, Guidanz allows customers to quickly read Cummins fault codes and other key information on 2007 and newer engines.

The new mobile app reduces the need to drive to a certified service location or wait for a technician to arrive on site. Customers can view prioritized engine faults using the Guidanz mobile app paired with an INLINE mini Bluetooth® adapter, which provides critical information they can quickly share with their operations manager or service provider. By either emailing the operations manager directly from the app or calling Cummins Care, initiating the service process is faster and easier than ever with data available at the fingertips of our customers. The app also links customers to an online service locator, helping them identify the closest certified repair location. Even when offline, Guidanz can provide a list of engine faults to the customer.

The new Bluetooth-enabled INLINE mini features a nine-pin connector that plugs directly into the standard SAE J1939-13 interface, allowing customers to quickly retrieve engine information using a Bluetooth-equipped iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Sharing this information with a service provider can help improve communication and speed up repairs.

The Guidanz mobile app also offers the Immediate Assessment feature to certified service providers. Immediate Assessment enables Cummins-certified service providers to improve shop scheduling. When a customer pulls into the service area, a service provider can use Guidanz with the INLINE mini or the INLINE 7 to obtain a full fault code report, and within minutes is able to assess the severity of the fault and how quickly it can be resolved. The Immediate Assessment feature provides repair time estimates, identifies the most likely repair parts and enables a work order to be started before the vehicle even enters the service bay.

The Guidanz mobile app will be available in April on either iOS or Android as a free download at the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The INLINE mini and the Immediate Assessment feature are available through Cummins-authorized channels.