PT Rusianto Bersaudara reduces oil change-related costs by more than $45,000 with Mobilgard™ HSD 15W-40

Background
The coal industry has grown into one of the largest barging contractors in Indonesia but it is also a highly competitive sector; falling coal prices are squeezing supply chain margins. As a result, vessel operator PT Rusianto Bersaudara wanted to ensure that its fleet of 80 tugs was functioning as efficiently as possible. The vessel operator worked with PT Arthapusaka Mitra Sakti (APMS), an authorised ExxonMobil distributor, with support from ExxonMobil engineers, to determine the most suitable engine oil and oil drain interval for its vessels, which were all operating on B30 fuel, as per local regulations.

“The switchover to Mobilgard™ HSD 15W-40 helped us to reinforce our competitiveness in a challenging market. We’ve seen substantial cost savings, longer oil drain intervals and enhanced safety as a result of the switch.”
Ahyar Syahputra,
Logistic Manager PT Rusianto Bersaudara

Challenge
The Indonesian government has mandated the use of B30 diesel, a blend that contains at least 30% biofuel, in this instance, palm oil. This is to support local palm oil producers and reduce reliance on imported fuel. Despite its benefits, it does have its challenges to overcome. The use of B30 diesel can inhibit the engine protection capability of an engine oil by accelerating its oxidation and hampering the performance of its anti-wear additives. It is therefore important to use a high-performance lubricant that can mitigate these impacts.

Approach
PT APMS, in collaboration with ExxonMobil, recommended running a field demonstration of Mobilgard HSD 15W-40 on the tug, the Vest Fair 10. The oil was chosen because of its outstanding oxidation stability, dispersancy and detergency capabilities. It was also expected to provide exceptional wear protection in the tug’s high-speed engine. All these properties are essential to withstand the additional oil stress resulting from the use of B30 diesel.

To support this move, the vessel’s crew were given additional operational training. A series of borescope inspections was carried out during the field demonstration to monitor the oil’s performance. Regular used oil analysis was also conducted to assess oil and engine condition to help determine the optimal oil drain interval.

“The support we received during the field demonstration was excellent and the operational benefits gained from switching to Mobilgard™ HSD 15W-40 are having a significant impact on our business. The results far exceeded our expectations.”
Ahyar Syahputra,
Logistic Manager
PT Rusianto Bersaudara

"This field demonstration once again proves that the investment in a high performance lubricant can have real, tangible advantages to vessel operators. Once again ExxonMobil’s solutions helped cut costs and will enhance operational reliability and safety."
Komang Edy Suarjana
General Manager
PT. Arthapusaka Mitra Sakti
(Authorised ExxonMobil Distributor)


Impact
The field demonstration produced excellent results that exceeded its original objective. As a result, PT Rusianto Bersaudara switched all 80 of its tugs to Mobilgard HSD 15W-40. Benefits include:
• An annual saving of $45,000 across the entire fleet
• A 20% reduction in oil consumption, which improved the sustainability of the company
• Enhanced engine cleanliness and reliability
• Improve safety by reducing human machine interaction by 701 hours
• Extended oil drain intervals to 1,000 hour