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5/17/12
an aggregates yard. 2. Operator Technique: Operator technique has a tremendous affect on the fuel burn rate. For example, an operator maintaining an aggressive truck-loading cycle of 20 seconds or less, says Caterpillar, can cause the machine to burn 60 to 80 percent more fuel than the same machine working at a more moderate pace, say, 30 seconds per cycle. Operator technique also extends to the manner of shifting the machine. Many wheel loaders have an auto-shift mode for the transmission, and fuel consumption usually can be reduced, says Caterpillar, if the operator uses the automatic system, versus shifting manually. Operators shifting manually tend to wait too long before changing gears, allowing engine speed to increase. A basic tenet of fuel consumption, says Caterpillar, is that fuel burn is directly proportional to engine speed. In comparative tests that Caterpillar conducted between identical K-Series loadersone shifted automatically, the other shifted manuallythe fuel burn rate for the automatically shifted machine was some 15 percent less. Automatic shift systems in wheel loaders have generally become quite refined; the K-Series, for instance, uses a new shift strategy that electronically considers both ground speed and torque requirements when selecting the gear for a particular operating situation. 3. Idle Time: The percentage of time a machine idles has a significant influence on the fuel burn rate. A medium wheel loader, says Caterpillar, typically consumes less than a gallon per hour when idling. On the other hand, a 369-horsepower 980K working steadily (no idle time) in a difficult application (such as the load-and-carry cited earlier) might burn more than 12 gallons per hour. Yet, most 980K owners, if asked, would probably say that their machine typically burns five to six gallons per hour. Heres the point to remember, says Caterpillar: The higher the percentage of idle time, the lower the overall fuel burn. The companys research, in fact, indicates that idle time of 30 to 40 percent is common for machines in North America. So, if you think that a machine in your fleet having a burn rate of six gallons per hour on the monthly fuel report is using fuel twice as efficiently as a similar machine that burns 12 gallons per hour, think againand take a look at the idle-time column. 4. Machine Configuration: The particular features a machine incorporates also can influence the fuel burn rate, Caterpillar reminds us. The companys literature that weve been citing enumerates some of those features that potentially can diminish the fuel burn rate: Tier 4 Interim engines; electronic fuel systems; on-demand, hydraulically driven cooling fans; engine-idlemanagement/shutdown systems; load-sensing hydraulics; lock-up-clutch torque converter; and buckets that load easier than others. The more such features built into a machine, the greater its inherent ability to reduce fuel burn. So, if youre making equipment-management decisions based on the fuel burn rate of various machines, first make sure youre comparing apples to apples. Enhanced machine technology has made important contributions to fuel efficiency, but according to Caterpillar, the really big gains are in understanding application differences, improving operator technique, and controlling idle time.
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