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Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has more than 20 years of experience conducting SAE fuel economy evaluation procedures (J1264, J1321, J1376, and J1526) that have been used to generate fuel economy results accepted by the U.S. trucking industry. The J1321 procedure specifically addresses the needs and operating conditions of long-haul truck fleets. The other SAE Recommended Practices (J1264, J1376, and J1526) are more appropriate for evaluating fuel consumption during operating cycles representative of bus, pick-up and delivery, and refuse operations.

The minimum test scope consists of a control truck and two test trucks driven in a baseline segment and a test segment. If two engine oils were being compared, oil A would be installed in the control truck and each test truck during the baseline segment. During the test segment, engine oil B would be installed in each of the test trucks. Additional trucks and test laps can be added to a program to improve the repeatability and confidence of the final results, which are stated as a percent of fuel economy improvement of the test item compared to the baseline condition. Additional segments can be added to the program to evaluate more than one test item.

A Test Example

For a J1321 program with Class 8 trucks, SwRI will lease tractors and trailers unless the client furnishes the test vehicles. Leasing agencies will typically have trucks available that are powered by Caterpillar, Cummins, or Detroit Diesel engines. Fuel consumption is measured by simulating a long-haul route, utilizing weigh tanks for fuel consumption measurement.

For information about how SAE J1321, CEC M111, and ASTM Sequence VIB test procedures compare for assessing heavy-duty engine lubricant fuel economy, visit http://www.hdfueleconomy.swri.org.
 

For more information about fuel economy evaluation capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please e-mail Larry Eckhardt, or call (210) 522-2980.
 

| Fuels and Driveline Lubricants Research Department | Fuels and Lubricants Research Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

April 13, 2007