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.

People count on Alex Hochstein. He’s factory-trained on generator and engine repair — a rare combination of skills for one person. At his business Amarillo Industrial Mobile Maintenance (AIMM), he is essentially on call 24/7 to maintain and repair standby generators for customers ranging from hospitals and nursing homes to pig farms and dairies. His ability to provide service to his customers could quite literally mean the difference between life and death in some situations.

Hochstein is always available to work on generators, but when the weather gets bad, that’s when he gets really busy. Snowstorms, hard freezes, flash floods and other weather events mean it’s go-time for standby generators in Hochstein’s service area, which spans from the northern panhandle into parts of Kansas and Colorado. Last year, winter storm Uri caused catastrophic blackouts across Texas, with more than 69% of Texans losing power. Hochstein rose to the challenge and worked for 48 hours straight to ensure his customers had power.

Someone this dedicated to his customers’ needs must have equipment he can rely on. That’s why Hochstein has trusted equipment from Sage Oil Vac for nearly 20 years. Hochstein’s relationship with Sage Oil Vac started in the early 2000s when he rented a service lube skid. He loved how it worked, so he keeps coming back as his business grows and his mobile lube equipment needs grow alongside it. He bought his first lube skid seven or eight years ago, and upgraded to a 380 PM Trailer last spring.

Generator maintenance equipment built for the job

With his 380 PM, Hochstein can work nonstop all day without worrying about having to transfer oil or stop for refills. With longer hoses in different sizes and increased tank capacities, the 380 PM makes Hochstein’s job easier. “I plan to use my trailer until I retire. But if my workload increases, I won’t think twice about purchasing another one,” Hochstein said.

In addition to being happy with all the equipment he’s gotten from Sage Oil Vac, Hochstein is more than satisfied with his relationship with the company and the service he’s received. “We’ve had a great relationship over the years. Sage Oil Vac has helped immensely with my business routine,” he said. “I’ve been happy with the process and the whole flow of things when I’ve bought their equipment.”

Customized for maximum efficiency in emergencies

In addition to the standard five hoses that come on his lube trailer, Hochstein added a 20-foot wrapped hose to onload oil with a ball valve that is permanently connected to the fresh oil tank with a camlock. He also added a fourth reel to keep his offload hose handy. He’s gone through 26 drums of oil in less than six months, so these customizations to his 380 PM make it work even better for his business.

Hochstein also gets a lot of use out of the filter stinger, Used Filter Receptacle^TM (UFR) and digital preset meter. The filter stinger attachment makes the filter-draining process easier and cleaner than ever before with its ability to suction out used oil directly into the used oil tank. Once the filter is removed, Hochstein places it in the Sage-invented UFR. The UFR provides a secure and leakproof holding tank for the used filter to drain what little fluid is left. It connects to a used fluid tank so he can easily vacuum oil that may drain from the discarded filter.

The digital preset meter lets Hochstein see how much oil is in the equipment tank and set the amount needed to fill the tank. Hochstein said, “It all works great and has really sped up the pace of things.”

When it comes to having the right equipment to serve his customers, Hochstein said he’d never consider anything but Sage Oil Vac. “Reliability has been phenomenal and the pumpless system is the kicker.”

Busy season is just around the corner, so now is the time to make sure your mobile lube equipment is ready to work hard. Follow this comprehensive preseason maintenance checklist to help keep your equipment, accessories and work environment safe and reliable.

Air compressors

It’s crucial to maintain your Sage Oil Vac unit’s air compressor. Follow the recommended maintenance schedules for the engine and the compressor pump.

• Perform an oil change on the engine and pump at least once a year, regardless of use on your system.
• Replace intake air filters at least once a year.
• Drain compressor air tanks daily during use to properly maintain the compressor. 

Sage Tip: Operating your Sage Oil Vac continuously with the used oil tank completely full could result in a large amount of used oil accumulating within the compressor heads and air tanks. To avoid this, it’s important to unload the used oil tank before it exceeds 95% of its capacity.

Ball valves 

• Check that the actuation on each ball valve is tight so they don’t open or close during routine travel to the jobsite.

Cam locks

• Install caps and plugs on cam lock fittings to reduce drips and spills.
• Check that both actuating arms on female cam connections are working to secure a good connection.

Filters

• Change all fresh fluid filters twice a year, or after every 1,000 gallons of oil filtered.

Hose reels

• Check the spring-latch assembly of the hose reel to ensure it is performing properly.
• Grease the grease swivels at least once a year, and more often for heavy use depending on the model. If you are unsure about the requirements of your model, just ask your Sage Oil Vac dealer.
• Double-check that all ball stops are installed and tight to keep the proper hose reel tension.

Hoses

• Check the outer hose covers for any gouges or wear — this is especially important on spring-retractable hose reels.
• Look for spots where oil is seeping through the outer cover, as this could indicate that the inner lining of the hose is torn.

Hydraulic connections

• Clean off any grime or dirt from the hydraulic fittings for a secure connection to meters and equipment.
• Promptly address any leaks.

Lug nuts

• Tighten lug nuts on trailer wheels to the proper torque (tightness). A good rule of thumb is to check after the first 10, 25 and 50 miles of driving, before each tow, and at least twice a year thereafter.
  • Note: Incorrect wheel nut torque is a major reason lug nuts loosen in service. Loose lug nuts can rapidly lead to a wheel separation and serious safety consequences. Also note that overtightening can result in breaking the studs or permanently deforming the mounting stud holes in the wheels.

Sage Tip: Keep a record of the date and approximate mileage of your last torque check somewhere on or inside your equipment. Make note of any lug nuts that are loose and investigate why. If a lug nut becomes loose after retightening, something is wrong with it, the studs, wheels and/or hubs and must be corrected. 

Meters

• Check batteries on electronic meters.
• Regularly clean high-flow non-drip ends for a proper close to minimize drips and spills.

Running lights

• Check that all brake lights, turn signals, license plate lights and market lights work correctly.

Tires

• Check the condition of the tire tread.
• Make sure there is adequate air pressure.
• Inspect for gouges or other defects.

Sage Oil Vac tanks 

• Annually flush out the used oil tank to remove sludge and other contaminants that have been vacuumed out of engines and drain pans with debris.
  • Here’s how: vacuum 5-10 gallons of diesel, pressurize the tank (no more than 5 psi) and dispense the fluid to flush the tank and hose circuit. This same method can be used to switch fluids in new oil tanks if necessary (i.e., switching a 15W-40 motor oil tank to a hydraulic fluid tank).

Wheel bearings 

• Grease wheel bearings every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
  • Note: You can use red grease for trailer wheel bearings or wheel bearing grease, which is specially designed for use on trailer-running gear. Wheel bearing grease has a slightly higher temperature rating of 520 degrees, compared to 510 degrees for red grease.
• Inspect the bearings and races before repacking them.
• Replace the grease seals.

Sage Tip: Incompatible greases can break each other down. Make sure new grease is compatible with the old. If not, remove the old grease completely.

>> Download and print this checklist

 

Take inventory to boost efficiency

Before the busy season starts is also a good time to find ways to boost your efficiency. Consider adding new machinery or upgrading accessories to your existing equipment. Contact your Sage Oil Vac dealer for any of your product needs and with any questions about preseason maintenance.

FIELD SERVICE PROVIDERS BUILD A BUSINESS AROUND THE INDUSTRY’S LATEST TECHNOLOGY.

As telematics integration works its way across the equipment manufacturing sector, a common issue many fleet managers face is learning how to incorporate different telematic platforms and developing ways to use all the data to care for their assets. Employing telematics seems like an overwhelming task for many companies with a wide range of equipment and vehicles in their fleet. Most are trying to navigate a shortage of skilled labor for service technicians while juggling busy workloads. There simply just isn’t enough time in a week to process the data and stay on top of all the preventive maintenance and field service schedules of the equipment in their fleet.

Chris Britt and Ed Heinz, founders of Mobile Equipment Service Options (M.E.S.O.) recognized that while telematics could help companies maximize the life of their equipment, most fleet managers didn’t have the time to do it all themselves. So, in 2014, they started M.E.S.O., a mobile service company that monitors the health of its customers’ equipment fleets and proactively provides field service when needed.

“From customer-owned truck, trailer, and equipment fleets; utility, oil and gas, industrial, and equipment rental companies; and large contractors to equipment manufacturers, establishing a dedicated service team and creating a proactive approach to service can be a daunting and expensive undertaking,” said Britt, president/CEO of M.E.S.O.. “For most companies with a large fleet of equipment, it’s more efficient to hire out preventive maintenance and on-the-job service/repair work. But unfortunately, most fleet managers still require some manual internal tracking for the company, and a phone call. Ed and I knew there had to be a better way. What if fleet managers didn’t have to keep track of machine hours/mileage? What if they didn’t have to schedule service? What if we could use our customers’ machine telematics to simplify the whole process for them?”

Of course, to capitalize on all equipment data and make their business concept a reality, M.E.S.O.’s founders also understood they needed field-efficient service vehicles, which included a mobile lube system that would allow their team to perform routine fluid exchanges as quickly and cleanly as possible.

FINDING SUCCESS FOR FLEET SERVICE

Britt and Heinz tested their business concept when they opened their first location in East Liverpool, Ohio, and deployed the first service truck. This new technology-driven service model quickly gained market acceptance, and M.E.S.O. has expanded its operating territory beyond Ohio into Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

Heinz explained it hasn’t been easy to grow the business to where it is today. “We’ve had to spend a lot of time perfecting the process of collecting equipment telematics data. We also had to develop software processes for our service technicians to communicate quickly and efficiently with fleet managers, so they still have 100% ownership of all the work we’re doing on their behalf. And finally, we had to work on our own fleet of equipment to ensure our highly skilled field technicians had everything they needed to perform their job to the highest of standards in the shortest amount of time possible,” he explained.

FINE-TUNING THE FIELD SERVICE VEHICLE

While using Internet of Things (IoT)-based technology is the future of their business, M.E.S.O. understands that when their service technician arrives at a site, the clock is ticking. “While we try to work around the schedules of our customers, the first question we usually get asked onsite is, ‘How long will a piece of equipment or truck be down?'” said Britt. “We understand any downtime is wasted time and impacts profitability. Our goal is and always will be to keep service times to a minimum. To make that happen, we have explored all the different ways to perform oil changes and top off fluid levels, since those are the most common preventive maintenance needs.”

After trying out other mobile lube systems at CONEXPO/AGG in 2017, Britt and Heinz walked into the Sage Oil Vac booth. “We were just on the tail end of winter, and several of our service technicians were concerned about how some of their piston pump lube systems were performing in the cold weather,” said Britt. “They were running slow, and in some cases, freezing up in the extreme cold. Compounding the issue with our current mobile lube systems was access on some jobsites. The systems’ hoses weren’t long enough, and, in most cases, we couldn’t pull our trucks up closer to the machine.

“What we saw in the Sage Oil Vac booth was different, though,” Britt continued. “They designed mobile lube systems that use air to drain and refill fluids. This type of design eliminates the possibility of a pump freezing up and can efficiently pump fluids over longer distances since hose capacities are not limited by the size of the pump involved.”

CUSTOM LUBE SYSTEM

Upon returning from the show, M.E.S.O. ordered a 5120V Heritage Lube Skid with a 120-gallon waste tank, four, 80-gallon fresh oil tanks and a 50’ (15-m) hose reel. After using for a few years, Britt and Heinz added to their fleet with a custom lube skid build with a 60-gallon (227-L) waste oil tank, two, 30-gallon (114-L) fresh oil and grease tanks and a 50-foot (15-m) hose reel. Since then, M.E.S.O. has added eight additional Sage Oil Vac mobile lube skids with similar configurations, and plans to add at least one additional system every month through 2022. These custom lube systems have a low-profile design and a separate reel cabinet.

“We decided to go with a skid-mounted system because we tend to swap out trucks more than we need to replace lube systems,” said Britt. “A low-profile system was also an important aspect for us since we like to be able to have an enclosure over the top of the truck bed. The team at Sage Oil Vac worked with us through the process and came up with a customized system to match our specific needs.”

One unique request M.E.S.O. had was designing a lube system where the hose reels could be mounted separately from the skid with the waste oil tank and fresh oil tank. “The M.E.S.O. team wanted to give their service technicians the ability to access the hose from the side of the truck bed, instead of from the back,” said Chance Castillo, corporate sales manager for Sage Oil Vac. “After meeting with their team, we developed a new lube system configuration that would accommodate this request. In addition to allowing the reels to be mounted separately, this design keeps the skid profile as short and low as possible so they can maximize the usage of all available truck bed space.”

BETTER TECHNICIAN AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

M.E.S.O.’s original goal of engaging the Sage Oil Vac team to create a customized mobile lube system was to allow their service technicians to operate in colder temps and where access is challenging. However, after putting their fleet of mobile lube systems out in the field, they realized several other benefits of the Sage Oil Vac lube system design. “It is extremely competitive right now to hire and retain skilled service technicians,” said Britt. “I believe equipping our service trucks with best-in-class equipment like Sage Oil Vac lube systems has helped us retain our service technicians and hire more qualified individuals. With the Sage Oil Vac system, oil changes are safer and less labor intensive, with less mess than traditional methods. This adds up to our service technicians being able to do more work efficiently and safely each day. Furthermore, the whole process is much cleaner than traditional methods, so our guys go home with cleaner shirts, pants and hands. Who doesn’t want a job like that?”

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE OF TELEMATICS

Developing a better process to make managing telematics data is helping M.E.S.O. to grow their business while helping their customers grow their businesses, too. Pairing that thinking with the industry’s most advanced mobile lube systems is allowing M.E.S.O. continues to grow its team and operating territory.

To learn more about M.E.S.O. and its services, visit Mesoinc.net. For more information about Sage Oil Vac mobile lube solutions, visit sageoilvac.com.

Our stance has never wavered: The Sage Oil Vac pump-free design is the foundation of a better fluid exchange system — a faster, safer and cleaner way to change oil and fluids on your jobsite.

There are, of course, some skeptics. Systems featuring air-operated diaphragm pumps (AODPs) and air piston pumps have provided a dependable means of changing oil and fluids for decades. Proponents of these systems question whether there is truly a performance advantage to a system that uses compressed air to build vacuum pressure that moves fluids to and from tanks.

The Advantage of a pump-free fluid exchange system

Our response: There is a HUGE advantage with the Sage Oil Vac pump-free design.

Of course, don’t just take our sales pitch as gospel. We put the two systems to the test. Sage Oil Vac versus the competition. Conventional pump-dependent systems pitted against our patented design. May the best fluid exchange system prevail.

 This comparison took place in a controlled setting, therefore the results for either system may vary in real application based on weather conditions and other variables, like viscosity and temperature.

Challenge No. 1: Removing used oil

The first fluid exchange system showdown featured a Sage Oil Vac system and one using air-operated diaphragm pumps to remove five gallons of used oil.

• The results

  • Sage Oil Vac: 1 minute, 10 seconds
  • Air-operated diaphragm pump system: 1 minute, 40 seconds

Challenge No. 2: Dispensing fresh oil

For the second showdown, we bulk-filled 10 gallons of oil into each skid (a Sage Oil Vac skid and one fluid exchange system using an air piston pump) and performed an oil change on an engine that holds five gallons of oil.

• The results

  • Sage Oil Vac: 30 seconds (approximately 20 gallons per minute)
  • Air piston pump system: 2 minutes, 20 seconds (approximately 4.25 gallons per minute)

Conclusion

The results speak volumes. Whether you are removing used oil or fluids or bulk-filling fresh oil or fluids into your equipment, Sage Oil Vac pump-free fluid exchange systems are faster and more efficient. Plus, they provide a cleaner way to change fluids, greatly reducing the chances of spills or contamination.

See our pump-free fluid exchange system for yourself

Watch the Oil and Fluid Exchange System Showdown to see how our system prevailed over competitive models.

The latest adjustments to our onsite oil change equipment

In addition to new product development, evolving current Sage Oil Vac equipment designs is an important part of our business. No matter the product or the solution, components to our onsite oil change equipment can almost always be made better. We’re constantly testing new ways to do things, trying different building materials and seeking feedback from our customers on how we can improve. Check out a few of our latest innovative updates…

Redesigned Vac T component

The Vac T was created to have less wear parts on the top of the tank that might be susceptible to corrosion or leaking over time. The previous design had multiple pieces and fittings which increased the likelihood of premature wear over time which could eventually cause leakage. The updated Vac-T piece is a custom pre-cast resolving those issues. The Vac T also reduces the height of Sage Oil Vac LubeBuilder tanks by a couple of inches, allowing it to fit more easily in tight Lubebuilder upfit configurations. Just one way, Sage Oil Vac looks to create custom solutions to increase the life of our onsite oil change equipment.

Relocated bulk fill stations on all truck models

Previously, all bulk fill stations were housed within the rear reel cabinets of any Sage Oil Vac truck model. While this design had good intentions, the location required longer hose lines to be able to extend their reach and get the fluid to the tanks. It also created a bit of chaos and the potential for added mess when it came time to tackle replacement parts or address other issues. Moving the bulk fill station to the truck side body cabinets, brings lines closer to the tanks and prevents hose entanglement for and easier, cleaner and faster hook-up and fill.

>> View our Sage Oil Vac Lube Truck models.

Enhanced Used Filter Receptacle™ design

For those unfamiliar with our unique Used Filter Receptacle (UFR) accessory, this piece of Sage Oil Vac onsite oil change equipment provides a secure and leak-proof holding tank for used filters. The UFR is available in several designs based on its intended mount location and it connects to a used fluid tank so users can easily vacuum oil that may drain from the discarded filters. Cutouts were added to the side of the UFRs, within reel cabinets, in our latest design update to help nozzles and meters locked during transportation and catch any remaining drips.

>> Find out which UFR configuration would work best for your setup.

Customer feedback is always welcome

Have an idea, suggestion or request to make Sage Oil Vac onsite oil change equipment even better? We want to hear it! Get a hold of our team.

Let’s talk about some common misunderstandings and concerns we often hear about Sage Oil Vac fluid exchange systems. That’s right, we’re putting ourselves in the hot seat to clear up the most popular misconceptions about our product lines — after all, we’re the ones who know it best.

How Sage Oil Vac systems work

(Feel free to skip this section if you’re familiar with our brand — or watch our video.)

Pump-based oil extraction equipment has been the industry standard for decades, but that’s only because it’s what people have always known, not because it’s the greatest way to achieve the end results. Pump-based equipment needs constant, high-volume compressed air while you’re operating, Sage Oil Vac systems do not.

Sage fluid exchange systems use a patented pump-free design, allowing the end-user to dispense and drain fluids faster using cutting-edge vacuum technology. Compressed air builds vacuum and or pressure to move fluids to and from tanks. Our system goes against the grain of the traditional pump-based technology, offering customers who make the switch a cleaner, more energy-efficient oil change on the job.

Setting the record straight

Misconceptions No. 1 and No. 2:
Sage Oil Vac systems require more air compressor run time and are louder than pump-based oil extraction equipment.

Let’s tackle these two together. Sage Oil Vac systems actually use less compressor run time than pump-based equipment. Our systems conserve air by creating and maintaining vacuum pressure within the tanks. When using Sage Oil Vac systems out on the jobsite, you can either pressurize your tanks in the shop with compressors before you leave or on the jobsite with a gas or diesel powered air compressor that can be added to your Sage model. This is compared to conventional air pump systems which need to run air compressors 100% of the time.

Once you have the necessary air pressure to dispense new oils or drain used oils, the compressor can be turned off. Sage Oil Vac professionals advise operators to turn off machines once 20 inches (50.8 cm) of vacuum has been captured in the waste tank and 60-80 psi in the fresh oil tank. Using this advice ensures that Sage Oil Vac systems reduce air compressor run time by up to 70% over conventional pump-based equipment, and therefore reduce overall air usage.

This practice minimizes the amount of wear and tear on equipment and significantly lessens onsite noise and — in some cases — added emissions. Our product operators often comment they enjoy the quietness of their Sage Oil Vac system. Without needing a compressor to run the entire time or experiencing the noises from diaphragm/piston pumps, their workday fatigue improves.

Misconception No. 3:
Sage Oil Vac systems require and use more pressure than pump-based oil extraction equipment.

Pump-based equipment uses waves of pressure to extract/insert oil versus the Sage Oil Vac system, which uses constant vacuum pressure to pull/push oil. This equates to less fluid pressure per square inch (psi) usage. A diaphragm pump system with one piston pump generates 500 psi in pulses. Our system uses 60-80 psi of steady pressure. Reduced psi requirements almost always correlate with reduced risks for machine malfunction.

Misconception No. 4:
Sage Oil Vac systems weigh more than a conventional pump system.

Sage Oil Vac systems actually weigh less, as they don’t have the weight of a pump added to each tank. The lighter weight of Sage Oil Vac systems makes it easier for our engineers to create a non-CDL truck option to meet increasing industry demand for more lube bodies and service truck options that do not require a CDL.

How did we do? Do you have more questions? Contact the Sage Oil Vac team to learn more.

As one of the largest and oldest Mack and Volvo truck certified Uptime Centers and dealerships in the U.S., family-owned Bruckner’s Truck Sales is always looking for ways to be more efficient. Across 32 locations in seven states, Bruckner’s services trucks, trailers, and sometimes equipment with parts not original to the manufacturer. To keep equipment on the road and customers happy, it’s important for Bruckner’s to not only have an inventory of parts but the right tools for efficient service.

LEAVING THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY BEHIND

One specific maintenance area that had increasingly become a headache for their service team was transferring coolant lines off of the transmission without contamination, especially when working on equipment that has parts not original to the manufacturer. While Mack and Volvo use a quick-connect fitting hose for a more seamless transfer, other OEMs use a butterfly valve, which can clog more easily.

“Butterfly valves tend to clog up during coolant exchanges, so when we used to encounter one, we would have to do the service the old-fashioned way,” said Ryan Moore, service manager of Bruckner’s Fort Worth, Texas, location.

The old-fashioned way called for coolant to be drained into a pan, which often also caught debris and made the coolant unusable after engine maintenance was complete. That meant replacing it with new coolant even if it still had plenty of life left — and the stuff is not cheap. Standard silicate antifreeze typically lasts around two years or 30,000 miles while extended drain coolants perform up to five years or 100,000 miles.

After performing the service, Moore said they would then refill with new antifreeze from the top. As most operators know, adding in coolant from the top tends to leave a lot of air in the line. To fix this, service techs have to start the truck, run it for a minute or two, shut it down, open the cap and release the air, then fill the system back up with more coolant. Sometimes this process needs to be repeated.

According to Moore, this whole rigmarole can add an extra 15 minutes or more to service times. With 32 Bruckner’s locations across seven states, that can add up to be a lot of time wasted, not to mention extra costs passed on to the customer for new coolant.

THE SAGE OIL VAC SOLUTION

Ultimately, Moore wanted to find some way to make the coolant exchange process quicker, and he found it with a Sage Oil Vac 3011-1200 recycler cart. Gaining the ability to cleanly preserve fluid has been a big added bonus for cost savings.

“The 3011-1200 recycler cart is handy because we can do these complex coolant exchanges much faster than the old-fashioned way,” Moore said. “With this cart we can load the coolant from the bottom, ensuring most of the air is pushed out to the top from the beginning.”

The coolant recovery unit’s enclosed system uses vacuum pressure to remove fluid without the danger of contamination. The wheeled unit features a 20-gallon tank for ample storage and a 15-foot, ½-inch (4.5-m, 1.27-cm) hose. This enables technicians to easily reach antifreeze tanks.

“We tried some other brands but had issues with them — one small piece of debris would usually mess things up,” Moore said. “The 3011-1200 cart has a lot less room for error and a better valve assembly.”

All Sage Oil Vac lube carts come equipped with patented Sage Oil Vac vacuum process and fluid level sight plugs with added precision. A CV-20 vacuum generator provides power along with a required additional air source.

“Our service technicians are much happier because they can get the job done faster — if each one could have a recycler cart in their own bay they would,” Moore said.

The Fort Worth Bruckner’s team has four 3011-1200 recycler carts, but they’re looking to order more. Moore said he would describe his relationship with the Sage Oil Vac team as “streamlined.”

“I can send an email and get another cart, or any products basically, at the snap of a finger,” Moore said. “It’s no hassle. They know what we need, and then we get it.”

Find out more about Sage Oil Vac lube carts and contact the Sage Oil Vac team with any questions.

Operating an equipment rental business can create unique, specific maintenance challenges. The team at Crown Rental in Burnsville, Minnesota, has over the years learned how to overcome those challenges in serving its consumer and small contractor customer base in Dakota County, Minnesota, and the South Metro area of the Twin Cities. A year after adding a Sage Oil Vac lube cart system, the Crown Rental team is taking stock of how it’s changed their machinery maintenance operations for the better.

The idea of delivering a new level of service was in mind when Crown Rental maintenance techs and leadership saw a Sage Oil Vac 3011-1100 evacuation lube cart and the functionality the small but mighty tool could bring to their maintenance needs. So, when a stroke of luck provided them the opportunity to try it out, they jumped at the chance to put it to work. In doing so, they discovered the benefits of the pump-free Sage Oil Vac compressed air system, not just taking care of routine machinery engine maintenance, but also to manage some of the maintenance tasks that come with renting excavation and power equipment in a largely suburban marketplace.

“We rent a high volume of equipment to small contractors, homeowners and municipalities. Our customers may rent equipment for one day or one month, and 95% of the time, we conduct the service once the rental is completed,” said Crown Rental Service Technician Jarrod Heath. “We rent and maintain air compressors, drivable boom lifts, wood chippers, excavators, bulldozers, light towers and small generators.”

Luck of the draw

With expanding ways to serve that equipment rental business customer base in mind, Crown Rental Owner Doug Haas attended the 2020 American Rental Association (ARA) convention and trade show in Orlando, Florida, where he connected with the Sage Oil Vac team. Haas was the winner of a Sage 3011-1100 evacuation lube cart giveaway at the Sage trade show booth, and that tool introduced Haas and his team to a new way to change oil in machinery. Haas eventually also purchased a Filter Stinger™ and Dipstick Tube Evacuation kit for the cart. Now a year later, the system has altogether changed how Crown Rental maintenance team members do their jobs.

“Before Sage, we hadn’t really explored new options for lubricating equipment. We were just pulling drain plugs and draining into pans, then into a bulk waste tank. The main headache we had with changing oil on smaller equipment was caused by the location of drain plugs and the process of draining oil. We used to have to take multiple drain pans with us on our service trucks, and they would always overfill and spill oil everywhere,” Heath said. “With the Sage unit, our mobile service techs can vacuum out the oil pans while we’re draining the oil out of the machinery. It changes the job completely and eliminates so much of the mess we faced before.”

The lube cart solution to routine and unique problems

And that’s just with routine maintenance; Heath said his team’s been able to use the Sage lube cart to manage problems that would otherwise be much more costly to solve.

“The lube cart was a huge help when we had an issue with a customer mistakenly filling a diesel engine with gasoline. We were able to vacuum and evacuate the gasoline from the entire diesel system,” Heath added. “We also used it once when a customer mistakenly added diesel fuel to a hydraulic tank. Those are headaches that can become bigger and costly issues, but they didn’t because we had the Sage system. It saved us a lot of time and we were able to get equipment back up and running and on to the next customer.”

An easy transition for service teams

Though the transition to the Sage Oil Vac system was a departure from normal operations for the Crown Rental equipment rental business maintenance team, Heath said it was an easy one. While he did have initial questions, his Sage Oil Vac rep was quick to find answers, so he was able to easily integrate it into his operations. Now a year later, he said it’s helped open his eyes to how tools like his Sage lube cart can help streamline once-cumbersome, messy and time-consuming jobs like changing machinery oil.

“Our relationship with the Sage Oil Vac team has been awesome. We’ve had no problems with the cart from an operational standpoint,” Heath said. “Whenever we’ve had questions or have needed additional parts, everything always happens in a timely manner. That helps us take good care of our machinery, keep it rented and keep our customers happy.”

If you’re thinking about ways to streamline your own equipment maintenance, contact a Sage Oil Vac dealer to learn more and put a system to work in your business.

Being equipped with the precise tools to conduct the unique equipment maintenance your customers demand is crucial for minimizing work stoppages and maximizing productivity. The proper system also provides your team with more than just what they need to perform equipment maintenance on the jobsite; it also helps keep them engaged and performing optimally.

And with the Sage Oil Vac LubeBuilder™ system, that’s exactly what you get.

WHAT IS THE LUBEBUILDER SYSTEM?

The Sage Oil Vac LubeBuilder system is a customizable, scalable and versatile collection of components that can be assembled into exactly the system you need. In all, there are more than 300 different configuration possibilities, with tank options ranging from 10 to 600 gallons, all oriented to fit your specific truck bed or other maintenance vehicle.

“This system isn’t just great for organization. A few common situations we see are when a pre-built lube skid’s footprint doesn’t fit, a customer can’t afford to get another dedicated truck or a lube trailer doesn’t work with the jobsite parameters they frequently visit,” said Sage Oil Vac CEO Aaron Sage. “Whatever the reason, a LubeBuilder system provides equipment maintenance operators with the lube exchange essentials to fit their exact set-up at a fraction of the cost.”

No one knows your jobsite needs better than you, and with a LubeBuilder system, you get the tools to tackle just that, plus all the benefits of the patented Sage Oil Vac no-pump vacuum technology and other innovations unique to the platform. Each LubeBuilder is a specific, unique solution to problems operators now no longer have to face when it comes to equipment maintenance.

WHICH SYSTEM RIGHT FOR ME?

THE PROCESS

We’re often asked, ‘LubeBuilder systems are completely customized for each operation; that must mean it takes longer to get my system delivered and up and running, right?’ The process is actually quite efficient. Each system isn’t pre-assembled, meaning there’s typically just a two- to four-week turnaround time for design, manufacturing and delivery.

Michael Llewellyn, Shop Manager at Florida-based Johnson-Davis, Inc., was impressed with the overall process for his custom system. “The process was easy. I gave the Sage dealer our tank sizes and what we wanted, and they took it from there.”

Sage LubeBuilder systems will arrive complete with the tools, instructions and hardware to get it installed in your vehicle, plus one-on-one access to a Sage Oil Vac specialist who can walk you through the process quickly and efficiently.

Homer Gonzales, Field Technician at Ditch Witch Sales of Michigan, echoed the simplicity of the process and support from the Sage Oil Vac team, from start to finish. “Sage Oil Vac provided easy-to-use instructions and diagrams for installing the system in the back of my truck. The whole process took about eight hours and was pretty easy. I probably could’ve wrapped it up faster, but I’m pretty particular about my truck so I took a bit longer.”

PUTTING LUBEBUILDER TO WORK

On any given day, Louisiana-based Beard Construction is running more than 250 pieces of machinery across 12-15 commercial or industrial excavation jobsites. To meet the unique needs of their jobsites, Equipment Manager Lee Morrison knew they needed a customized, highly-reliable system to get maintenance done efficiently.

“I wanted a unit designed for specific applications that only had what we needed on it and nothing else,” Morrison said. “We knew the dimensions and that we needed full containment, and we got together and sketched out some drawings and came up with what would work best. With a lot of companies, you’re at their mercy, they have what they have and if you want it customized, you have to do it at your own shop. With this Sage system, we worked together and came up with the exact rig we needed.”

See more on how Beard Construction uses Sage Oil Vac LubeBuilder systems.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD YOUR CUSTOM SYSTEM

“The sky’s the limit with these LubeBuilder systems,” Sage said. “You pick out every component and how it’s laid out. And our team will be there to walk you through installation so you’re spending less time in the shop and more time on the jobsite taking care of your customers and generating revenue.”

Are you ready to add a LubeBuilder to your operation? See the full specs of the systems and if you’re ready to go, contact us to zero in on your needs and how we can design the perfect system for your business.