What you, your employees and customers need to know

Tier 4 Interim (Tier 4i) is here. Now, rental stores and their customers are learning how to deal with any new cost and maintenance requirements of heavy construction equipment in the 174- to 750-hp range.

However, there may be less to fear from the machines employing new technologies as long as a rental store’s employees and customers are educated about the benefits and maintenance needs to avoid problems.

Manufacturers, for example, say that there are no major maintenance issues as the industry has moved to Tier 4i engines. One of the reasons for that smooth transition is that much of the technology has been in use since 2007 in on-road vehicles.

One of the main technologies that engine manufacturers have adopted to reach Tier 4i compliance is exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), which is a method for reducing nitrous oxide (NOx) exhaust levels. An EGR system recirculates exhaust gases, blends them with fresh air and returns the blend to the cylinder. This makes for lower combustion temperatures, which reduces NOx, but also will mean higher particulate matter (PM) levels than a hotter burning engine. As a result, a diesel particulate filter (DPF) is needed to lower the PM levels. The DPF is coated with a catalyst, so that hot exhaust can burn off particulate matter, releasing carbon dioxide.

To read the rest of Jim Robinson’s cover story from the August issue of Rental Management magazine, click here.

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