Maintenance – Learn to Truck

All Oil By-pass Filters are Not Equal

As I frequently do, I have learned another lesson the hard way. All oil By-Pass filters are NOT equal. About 8 years ago I purchased the FS2500 oil By-Pass filter from Filtration Solutions. It did and excellent job! All my oil contaminates remained consistently low. On a couple of occasions certain contaminants began to climb. Both times my oil analysis company identified the failing parts correctly and I made the repairs for minimal cost, on my terms and in my shop. The combination of the FS2500 and oil sampling saved me thousands of dollars in repairs and maintenance on 1 truck.

I parked my truck for 1 year while I was deployed to the middle east with the Indiana Army National Guard. When I returned I prepared to put my truck back on the road. I was introduced to the AmsOil BMK30. I was enticed by the spin on filter and the 20,000 miles between filter changes. Believing the AmsOil BMK30 was the way to go, I elected to replace the Filtration Solutions FS2500 with the AmsOil BMK30. It didn’t take long for me to discover I had made a terrible mistake. With the AmsOil BMK30 all my metal contaminants began to increase. While using the AmsOil BMK30 the metal contaminants in my engine the far exceeded any level of contaminants I had experienced with the Filtration Solutions FS2500. I removed the AmsOil BMK30 and put the Filtration Solutions FS2500 back on my truck. The results were immediate. My contaminant levels dropped and returned to the same low levels I had enjoyed from the first time I installed the Filtration Solutions FS2500.

While using the AmsOil BMK30 I discovered significant differences between the filters I had not considered before making the change.

The FS2500 with a drain valve is easier to drain.
Changing the Oil By-Pass filter using the FS2500 is a far cleaner than any spin on filter… especially while on the road.
When sampling your oil every 10,000 miles instead of every 20,000 miles you are far more likely to identify engine issues and repair them before they become an expensive repair or even unaffordable break down on the road.
The FS2500 doesn’t cost a single penny more and provides the very best protection for any diesel engine.

The FS2500 filter element holds a nominal 1 quart. The AmsOil EABP120-EA replacement filter holds an unnecessary and expensive 1 gallon of oil.

      FS2500                            AmsOil
Filter Element: $32.95            EABP120-EA: $45.80
Shell Rotella T6: $5.50 (1 qt)    Shell Rotella T6: $21.99 (1 gal)
Total Cost: $38.45 or 004cpm    Total Cost: $67.79 or 004cpm

I will never make the mistake again of trying a different oil By-Pass filter. I am a Filtration Solutions customer for life. I would encourage all truck owners to give very serious consideration to purchasing the Filtration Solutions FS2500. For maximum results and profitability always perform regular oil testing to reduce repairs and maintenance costs while extending the life of your equipment.

Junk Yard Truck Parts

When I modify my truck, I do so by locating and purchasing as many Junk Yard Truck Parts for the modification as I can. The easiest way to get used truck parts is to find a quality junk yard with OTR trucks. I have been known to spend hours with my tool bag at my favorite junk yard collecting Truck Parts. I enjoy the time invested in saving money while collecting parts to improve my trucks performance and profitability.

When truck owners see my truck and ask about my modifications they are shocked and in disbelief when I tell them that the majority of the parts I used are Junk Yard Truck Parts. Take for example the picture of my 1999 International 9900i shown above. As you can see I added 2 fuel tanks on the drivers side. The first is a 30 gallon fuel tank for my APU mounted directly in front of my first drive axle. The other is a 130 gallon fuel tank for truck fuel mounted below the drivers door. On the passenger side of the truck I added another 130 gallon fuel tank for the truck below the passengers door. With my original fuel tanks, that is a total of 560 gallons of truck fuel and 30 gallons of APU fuel! I purchased both 130 gallon fuel tanks, their carriers, their straps and all mounting hardware for a total of $300.00. If I had purchased all those parts new it would have cost an estimated $4,000.00. By using Junk Yard Truck Parts I saved $3,700.00. The best part is I improved my trucks performance and increased my profits by more than .30 cents per gallon of fuel!

After I decided to add the fuel tanks, I had to decided where and how to mount my battery box. You guessed it, I found my solution using Junk Yard Truck Parts. I simply walked around the junk yard looking at different trucks and focused my attention on the older trucks since they had different battery box styles and mounts. And I saw my solution on an old International cab over. A battery box mounted right behind the cab on the frame rails. Because of the other parts I was purchasing that day (fuel tanks, hangers, straps, etc.) it’s cost, free!

Watch for my upcoming post “How Does IFTA Work?” to see why I added 3 fuel tanks to my truck and exactly how I did increase my profits by more than .30 cents per gallon of fuel. I must read for any truck owner.

If you would like to learn more about modifying your truck using after market truck parts, lowering your maintenance cost and saving money, read my post After Market Truck Parts.

After Market Truck Parts

Once you have successfully financed your truck it won’t be long until you want to improve your profits. Using after market truck parts to modify your truck can lower your maintenance cost and save big money every year. I have had amazing success with some products while others left me disappointed. My best after market truck parts successes include oil by-pass filters, heated fuel filters, and tire inflation systems. My worst experiences were early on in my truck owning career because I failed to use common sense. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Before you buy after market truck parts there are a few rules to remember.

1. Ensure you really want or need any product before you purchase it! If your goal with after market truck parts is to increase your profits at the end of the year then you need to verify the ROI (return on investment). The only way to do this is to verify that your total cost paid for a product is lower than the estimated savings in 1 year. If it is a larger purchase and your ROI plan is for 3 years, then multiply your estimated annual savings by 3 and compare it to your total cost of the product.

2. Don’t automatically believe what the salesman is telling you. Ask for references that he has already sold the product to. Talk to other truck owners who are using, or have used, after market truck parts because they will provide you with their uncensored product information. Truck Owners that are not referred to you by the salesman are your most reliable resource for the performance of after market truck parts.

3. Look for any competitors that might offer a similar product. If you find one then repeat rule #2 until you decide on which product you are going to purchase.

4. Keep looking to improve your trucks performance by using after market truck parts. In doing so it helps you stay competitive with your competition while maintaining your profit margin.

After market truck parts aren’t the only way to lower maintenance cost and improve your profit margin. In my next post, Junk Yard Truck Parts, see how I dramatically reduced my fuel cost by over .30 per gallon!