Earth Day provides an opportunity to reflect on what we all can do to protect the planet from pollution. Fortunately, when it comes to servicing mobile construction machinery, there are solutions that can simultaneously protect our natural resources and bolster the bottom line. At the end of the day, the goal should be to service equipment on the jobsite without spilling critical lubricants in the most efficient manner possible.
The antiquated practice of transporting oil in five-gallon buckets has made it nearly impossible not to contaminate the ground and get oil almost everywhere. Buckets often end up tipped over and rolling around the bed of the service truck. It’s still all too common of a sight.
Sage Oil Vac offers a solution that packs a one-two environmental punch, where spills become a thing of the past while you cut fuel usage and labor costs. It is a win/win scenario for any contractor who relies on yellow iron to earn a living.
THE PATH TO A SUSTAINABLE OIL CHANGE SOLUTION
For many customers, the standard maintenance practice of changing oil evolved into much more sophisticated lube exchange systems that rely on conventional diaphragm and air piston pumps for fluid exchange. While this was a step in the right direction, in 1993 Gary Sage was seeking a better solution for servicing his irrigation systems. His goal was not a single drop of oil spilled on himself, the equipment or the ground.
The result was the Sage Oil Vac line of oil change products which use vacuum pressure technology and compressed air. To this day, from space-saving lube carts to class 8 lube trucks, Gary’s pump-free design is improving cleanliness and efficiency while eliminating maintenance issues common with pump-driven systems.
“Most lube equipment manufacturers use mechanical pumps, which have several drawbacks,” notes Gary’s son and current Sage Oil Vac CEO Aaron Sage. “Maintenance and repair are the most significant ones. Failing pumps that need to be replaced or rebuilt are typical. A more reliable fluid system option is vacuum technology, such as what Sage provides. It uses compressed air to push oil out of the tank, with no pump required. Another benefit is that it’s a faster process than with a mechanical pump, which allows technicians to service more units a day.”
MEETING THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING INDUSTRY
The drive toward sustainability is changing the way construction contracts are awarded. You now must evaluate every aspect of how you conduct business to stand out from the competition. This includes how you maintain equipment on the jobsite.
Changing oil doesn’t have to be a dirty job and in some cases, it cannot be a dirty job. Many project owners now require no-spill jobsites, with a growing trend towards zero tolerance for any spills. With large construction equipment and Class 8 trucks that can hold 12 or more gallons of engine oil each, this can be an intimidating undertaking.
By utilizing a Sage Oil Vac system in conjunction with the 100% enclosed fluid exchange of a drain plug, the technician can connect directly to the engine sump. Oil is exchanged directly into the Sage used oil tank, removing the risk for spills on a no-spill jobsite.
In addition to preventing spills, fuel savings from Sage Oil Vac equipment is also a win for the environment and your pocketbook. Conventional diaphragm and air piston pump systems require constant air volume from a compressor to run. The compressor must run 100% of the time. Not only does this lead to wasting fuel, but it also results in a lot more wear and tear.
Sage Oil Vac systems also conserve air by creating and maintaining vacuum pressure within the tanks. The tanks can be pressurized with compressors you keep at the shop or on the jobsite with a gas-powered compressor that can be added to your system. Once you achieve the necessary pressure to dispense new oils, the compressor can be turned off. This allows Sage systems to reduce air compressor runtime by up to 70% over conventional systems.
This saves fuel and equates to less wear and tear. Another key consideration is that less noise pollution is created when the compressor is not running, which leads to less fatigue for the technicians at the end of the day.
Sage also offers standalone power for its lube trucks. By using a small diesel engine mounted on the truck body to run hydraulics for the fuel pump and the air compressor versus the traditional PTO, the truck can be shut off to save hours and maintenance costs.
TAILORED SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY OPERATION
Sage Oil Vac offers a full line of environmentally friendly, reliable and efficient mobile lube exchange solutions to fit the ever-changing needs of your operation. Check out our product selector to find which is the right option to meet your jobsite maintenance demands.
