The days of having just two types of Automatic Transmission Fluids (ATF) have been gone for years. In days gone past, it used to be either a Type A or a Type F.
Calcium Sulphonate Complex (CaS) greases do not function like other greases. In most greases the thickener releases the base oil to provide elastohydrodynamic lubrication in a bearing load zone. A Calcium Sulphonate (CaS) thickener is more like a gel. The base oil and gelled CaS thickener form a permanent emulsion. A well formulated CaS grease maintains the emulsified state, and the entire combination of thickener and base oil pass through the bearing load zone. If the emulsion should break and the base oil bleed from the thickener, the CaS thickener left behind would still lubricate.
Environmentally Friendly Hydraulic Fluids are a great choice for Landscapers, DPWs, Golf Courses, Tree Services, Paving Companies and Municipalities – Schools, where green, lawns and the environment are a concern or consideration.
Types of Power Plants
Fluid Management – Hydraulic Oils
Here at Dennis K. Burke Inc. we strive to only sell the best products to our customers. There has been a lot of confusion in the marketplace with RV Antifreeze and manufacturers have intentionally blurred the lines by labeling very different products all as “-50 RV Antifreeze”. This issue became much more prevalent around the beginning of the pandemic as propylene glycol became scarce and prices soared.
As the leaves change colors and the cold winds blow in, it's time to gear up and prepare your heavy-duty fleet for the fall and winter seasons!
Last week we had the pleasure of meeting with Petro-Canada to discuss the benefits of their Duron line of Heavy Duty engine oils. There are a lot of resources available that we thought might be helpful for fleet managers and operators, so we are going to share some of the tools and info below and hopefully its helpful as you are looking at the numbers for your fleet and deciding on products and service intervals.
What can High Copper Levels mean?
Calcium Sulphonate Complex (CaS) greases do not function like other greases. In most greases, the thickener releases the base oil to provide elastohydrodynamic lubrication in a bearing load zone. A Calcium Sulphonate (CaS) thickener is more like a gel. The base oil and gelled CaS thickener form a permanent emulsion.
Quality hydraulic fluids have advanced formulations, high VI and the most advance additive packages to provide operating and maintenance benefits for increased productivity and less downtime. T
An oil analysis report contains results on as many as 40 different parameters that each have acceptable ranges identified. The type of oil, its formulation, how it should be maintained, and the operating conditions all are considered when evaluating an oil sample and setting acceptable ranges. Also considering the type of equipment and the operating environment is just as important.
Renegade race fuels are premixed and factory sealed so no more guessing at mixing or additizing, and no more spending time and money to hit the gas station and juggle multiple containers.
Renegade Ratman Bushwacker Juice 50/1 & 40/1 premix drums and pails are ready to use immediately. From Renegade: "RENEGADE RATMAN BUSHWHACKER JUICE premix fuel is a specialty fuel developed with the lawn care industry in mind. This premixed product is not only an affordable premix fuel, but also offers quality that can’t be found at the pump. Use of this product will reduce maintenance cost and increase time in service of all of the 2 stroke power equipment it is used in. RATMAN BUSHWHACKER JUICE utilizes race fuel technology along with premium HP synthetic 2 stroke oil to give your power equipment a performance edge"
Ethanol free options mean reduced repair costs and equipment replacement due to ethanol issues. Fewer repairs and equipment downtime combined with less downtime at the shop which makes it a no brainer.
A common question amongst maintenance personnel is around the life expectancy of our Hydraulic Oils in their machines. For the most part, many maintenance personnel say that they expect a very short time because of the aggressive environment surrounding the manufacturing equipment.
Maintaining Proper Oil Levels in Reservoirs, Sumps, Gearboxes and Crank case
Since December of 2020, we have seen an unprecedented SIX price increases roll out on base oil, additive & finished lubricant products. Now we are additionally seeing essentially all major suppliers move to allocations on products because of increasing difficulty on supply/sourcing.
In 2015 we moved out of our longtime corporate headquarters in Chelsea MA into our new facility in Taunton MA. In 2020 we also added another state-of-the art lubricant plant in Saco, Maine.
While current COVID protocols limit our ability to show our facilities to our customers, we thought a photo "walk through" and explanation might be helpful while we wait for things to open up in Massachusetts so we can return to the real thing (which thankfully should be soon!!)
Below is a quick run through some of the key parts of our main facility in Taunton, Mass.
As a PetroCanada distributor, we're excited about the release of their new Duradrive HD Synthetic 668 transmission fluid. This product not only has the hard to get Allison approval, it's the new global factory fill fluid for the Allison TES 668, and the only Allison approved fluid for new transmissions (Allison Approval List)
The next generation of passenger car motor oil (PCMO) is on the horizon. The new ILSAC (International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee) is GF-6A and will be backwards compatible with ILSAC GF-5 and prior. The new spec will begin licensing as of May 1,2020.
AFS AWDA Cold Flow Additive is now in stock for the winter months. This additive helps reduce diesel fuel pour point and CFPP 8-12 degrees below the fuel's non additized temperature rating.
We're excited to officially announce that we are a distributor for Berkebile's 2+2 product line, which includes Protection First Class products. We have brake parts cleaner, white grease, aerosol grease, and PFC - Protection First Class Undercoating.
Dennis K Burke is proud to announce that we are now the Phillips 66/Kendall Lubricants distributor for the Northeast. Kendall has been on the forefront of advances in lubricant product technology since the early 1900's and we are excited to be able to offer their premium, cutting edge products to our customers.
Dennis K Burke is excited to announce that we are now an official distributor of Castrol automotive & heavy duty lubricants throughout the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont!
Dennis K Burke, Inc is pleased to announce that we are now a Petro-Canada distibutor for the Northeastern United States!
Check out the feature article in "Waste Advantage Magazine" on BioBlend Lubricants, and a feature on Charles George Companies' success with BioBlend as a full stream waste management and recycling company. (We got a little mention too!)
We're excited to announce that we have partnered up as a Master Distributor for Renegade Racing Fuels for the Northeast!
In case you missed it - this July we received our first shipment of our FleetlineDEF cases! This is a fully API licensed product. The cases contain two 2.5g jugs each, and are an economical choice for an ultra high spec product, like the rest of our Fleetline offerings.
For pricing and quantity options, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at lubesales@burkeoil.com
We just got this in the mail - NESSARA, or the New England Service Station and Automotive Repair Association is a non profit group that works very hard on behalf of small, independent service stations, repair facilities, and similar companies in the industry to keep them informed of policy changes that can affect their business, and lobbies against legislation that hurts small business' bottom lines.
We are proud to announce that we are now official supporters of the PQIA - the Petroleum Quality Institute of America. The Institute's focus is testing and ensuring that lubricants, transmission fluids, and motor oils available in the marketplace have been tested and verified to be of high quality.
There have been a lot of questions regarding Marine vessel lubricants and the VGP regulations on them, so we thought it would be a good idea to lay out some of the fundamentals on the topic. The VGP regulations on vessels requires that vessel operators replace conventional lubricants with environmentally friendly options whenever possible.
According to farmfutures.com in their weekly review, Urea prices on the international market spiked this week, up over $120 per ton. Futures were trending lower for the spring and summer months though, on hope that international supply issues could relieve some of the demand pressures - hopefully that leads to a pull back in pricing over the next couple months, but time will tell. As you know, ammonia pricing also impacts DEF pricing, and the good news is those prices eased some this past week or stayed relatively stable anyways, depending on the individual market. (you can read more about the specifics on the Urea & ammonia market movements here: http://farmfutures.com/story-weekly-fertilizer-review-0-30765 )
Diesel Engines have sure come a long way from the noisy, clunky, smelly, black smoke pumping trucks we used to see. Today's diesel engines are quiet and clean, and in the case of 2010 model year and later vehicles - they even have emissions ratings better than many of their gasoline counterparts. How did that happen?
We talk a great deal around here about proactive solutions - ideas and programs that, with a little time and capital ultimately save us time, money, and maybe most importantly - save us from the headaches of unanticipated problems. A major proactive plan that's been awesome for ourselves and several of our customers is Oil Analysis.
Antifreeze prices will be going up for all major suppliers this Spring due to the rising price of Ethylene Glycol. Ethylene Glycol is the main componant of automotive antifreeze - but it is also used in the manufacture of plastics and resins, including plastic soda bottles and it is also used in some medical applications. The increase in demand, especially for manufactured plastics as a result of economic expansion in countries like China has made global prices continue to climb.
Just a reminder on beating the DEF increase coming April 1st......As you know, this is the time of year where we start seeing increases in the DEF market. 1/3 of DEF is comprised of Urea. The reason this time of year causes an uptick in DEF prices is that Urea's primary use is as fertilizer in the agricultural sector, and competition for urea reflects on the commodities market side, and that results in an increase in its cost.
Pre-Winter Tank Maintenance Program
Up to 50% of all winter diesel vehicle breakdowns can be attributed to water and bacteria (bugs) being pumped from the main diesel...
Its still August, but we are ready to roll out our Fall Pricing Specials for the Lube Division.
Environmentally Sensitive Lubricants
If you buy motor oil, you probably get frustrated sometimes with all the specifications and constant updates to product info... "Do I need a CI-4 a CJ-4 -whats the difference anyways? I know I need 15w40, but why? What is that anyways?"
Did you know we stock BioBlend lubricants? Environmentally friendly lubricants for the environmentally friendly contractor.
Dennis K Burke's Lube division is excited to announce that Jim Daigneault and Chris Smith have been promoted to Account Managers.
From talking to many marinas this week I was floored on how much an OEM is charging for 2-cycle outboard engine oil. Its insane!!!
ADDTIVES are our friends!
We Carry Specialty Oils Too!
Join Dennis K Burke Inc and Team Burke Racing May 18th and check out the DKB Super Com Dragsters, meet John and Brad of Team Burke Racing, and even check out Junior Dragsters with the kids!
Day to day, we get quite a few calls about Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). Expanding fleets are increasing demand, and customer focus is moving from single-use containers to DEF dispensing equipment.
We're excited to announce that we now stock Peak Global Extended Life Yellow Antifreeze & Coolant. This Antifreeze is for all applications - heavy duty, light duty and automotive. Finally, no more stocking multiple products for multiple uses!
Spring is not looking to be a very fun month for lubricant decision makers out there. We just had the industries FIRST price increase on diesel exhaust fluid last month; We in the process of having this year's first finished lube price increase; NOW, diesel exhaust fluid is going up again.
Come Visit Us!
Just a quick update on the increase in finished lube prices we mentioned a couple days ago - almost every supplier is going up anywhere from .30 to .40 cents per gallon. (Heres a link to the updated info US Base Oil Prices - Lube Report)
1- Make sure the number matches! Do you need a #1, #2, etc? The numbers indicate the texture of the grease. #2 is the most common grease. As you go up from #2 the texture gets more solid and paste-like, as you go down, the texture of the grease gets wetter and more slippery. (How the NLGI classifies this stuff gets a little confusing - the wikipedia article here gives a pretty solid quick overview)
It looks like we will all be absorbing another pricing increase 30 days for now in the finished lubricant market. Most majors Like Shell, Warren, Peak, Cam2 and Smittys have already announced that they will be participating. I predict some of the other majors such as CITGO, Castrol and ExxonMobil will soon follow.
Well of course I can only think of one place that can cover all your propylene glycol needs and that is Dennis K Burke. This stuff is the best environmentally friendly antifreeze on the planet.
Please give your car a little extra attention this month. A little TLC on the maintenance side of things can help your vehicle be more dependable and help avoid major repairs down the road.
UREA price increase is happening in April 2012, so all distributors and end users of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) will be effected. If you are a DEF user, please call DKB today to get your latest price.
"Dial 3 to place an order..." Doesnt that drive you crazy?
Hey, where’s the snow? And where is the cold New England weather? This time last year, it seems a week didn’t go by without dumping a foot or two of snow.
We're happy to announce that from now til December 31 2011 (while supplies last), Oil Eater Degreaser and Truck Wash is on sale! Oil Eater is readily biodegradable, non...
The new lube product on display for July is Diesel Exhaust Fluid, or DEF.
See Dennis K. Burke Inc. at the 34th annual North American Heating and Energy Expo June 7th and 8th at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston, MA.
We are running a special on Coastal Full Synthetic GF-4 Cases - for more detailed information, visit this page of our site for pricing and product data sheets.
Dennis K. Burke Inc. is proud to announce that dexos1™ 5W-30 is in stock and ready to ship. Dexos 1™is the new proprietary engine oil for 2011 General Motors vehicles worldwide. Dennis K. Burke chose the Altra SHL brand as it is fully licensed with GM (Lic # RB1A1008018) and features a full synthetic base stock as well as state of the art additive technology to provide the ultimate in engine oil performance. Altra SHL dexos1™ 5W-30 also meets the requirements of API SN GF-5 performance categories. For more information and discounted introductory pricing, call Kevin @ 617-819-3206 or e-mail me @ kevin.oleary@burkeoil.com
It looks as though there will be a third national lubricants price increase between mid-May and June. The typical suspects are to blame: raw materials, packaging, additives, transportation, etc. The new wrinkle being put into play is the A word: Allocation. Many oil companies have instituted limits on orders based upon a percentage of their yearly purchases and suggest that product shortages could exist.