Thanks for the great article Heather!  Heather highlightes the move by Case IH to SCR technology.

Case IH uses technology to lower emissions

By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com

Bill Whitworth, a sales manager for Case IH, says 2011 Magnum and Steiger models use technology to meet new regulations for lower emissions. The new diesel exhaust fluid tank, part of the system to lower emissions, is visible on the Steiger in the background.

KASSON, Minn.— Case IH’s 2011 models of Magnum and Steiger tractors now at dealerships are the company’s first models required to meet the latest emissions regulations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 regulations reduce the amount of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and non-methane hydrocarbon that may be emitted in new non-road diesel engines. The rule was created to improve air quality and reduce health risks for people and animals. Canada and European countries also have emissions regulations.

Case IH is using two types of technology to meet Tier 4 regulations.

Tractors with more than 100 horsepower will use selective catalytic reduction, or SCR. This system treats exhaust gases with a diesel exhaust fluid. The chemical reaction turns exhaust into nitrogen gas vapor and water.

Tractors under 100 horsepower will use exhaust gas recirculation, or EGR. This system puts exhaust back into the engine and uses a filter to capture particulates.

Bill Whitworth, southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa sales manager for Case IH, said SCR will provide the best engine performance on their medium- to heavy-duty tractors.

Not recirculating exhaust back to the engine will allow it to run longer between maintenance stops and it improves fuel efficiency, said Whitworth.

It’s estimated SCR provides a 10 percent boost in fuel efficiency compared to EGR, he said.

A drawback of SCR is it requires the user to purchase diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, which will be sold by Case IH dealers. DEF is approximately 33 percent synthetic urea and 67 percent deionized water.

DEF’s price will vary by Case IH dealer. It’s sold in 2.5 gallon containers, 55-gallon drums, 275- or 330-gallon totes or bulk size containers. Minnesota Ag Group in Kasson was recently selling 275-gallon totes for $3.89 per gallon.

The DEF tank will need to be filled every other time the diesel tank is filled. DEF tank sizes range from 15 gallons to 64 gallons, depending on the model.

It’s non-toxic, but operators will want to wash it off if it gets on them, said Whitworth. It has a shelf-life of up to two years when stored at room temperature. The system is designed so that DEF doesn’t freeze in the machines’ lines.

Case IH says the technology has proven itself reliable through a partnership with Fiat Powertrain Technologies, an engine manufacturer that has made SCR engines for worldwide customers since 2006.

Case IH’s light- to medium-duty tractors will use EGR systems because those tractors use less fuel. The boost in fuel efficiency that an SCR system would provide won’t make as big of an impact, said Whitworth.

Case IH sees itself as ahead of the curve by putting SCR technology in their larger tractors. According to company literature, some industry engineers say tractor engines will need SCR on medium- to heavy-duty engines to meet final Tier 4 regulations that will start to be phased in by 2014.

Both 2011 Steiger and Magnum models also feature new hoods and engines.

What is Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)?

Here at Pynergy Petroleum we have been getting a lot of phone calls and emails regarding Diesel Exhaust Fluid.  What is it, do we sell it, how do I store it, etc.?  The good news for our customers is that we have been selling Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) to our customers for the past two years, and as a result we have the experience and knowledge that has earned us the respect of our customers and competitors.

What is DEF?

Whether you have or not, it is likely you will soon be driving vehicles that will require this operating fluid.  DEF is a non-hazardous, non-toxic, nonflammable, non explosive fuel and is, therefore, very safe to use.  DEF is an operating fluid for a new engine technology – it is not a fuel nor is it mixed with fuel.  DEF is a high purity solution of urea in water (32.5%), and is used to reduce NOx emissions from trucks and buses powered by diesel engines that use Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. 

What is SCR?

SCR technology reduces emission of the NOx emissions of the NOx gases that are produced inside the engine during combustion.  This process requires the correct injected volume of DEF into the exhaust stream.  DEF is sprayed into the exhaust, where it is subsequently hydrolyzed before the catalytic converter breaks down nitrogen oxide (NOx) into harmless (N₂) and water (H₂O).

Why did things change?

It’s all about improving the environment.  Over the last 15 years or so the emissions from vehicles have had to meet increasingly lower limits.  In the USA, emissions from vehicles are regulated by the EPA’s Clean Air Act. The use of SCR System for NOx reduction is an efficient way to meet these regulations, which went into effect on January 1, 2010 and sets the NOx emission limits at 0.20 g/bhp-hr.  Pre 2010 diesel engines relied on EGR technology to meet emission standards; however, this technology had limitations on meeting this new standard as well as the continued reduction in fuel economy due to how this system works.

Availability?

Pynergy Petroleum Company has partnered with the world’s largest manufacturer of DEF, Yara.  Yara’s brand of DEF, Air1, has been at the forefront of this technology and has gained global accolades for their product quality and supply chain protocols.  Pynergy Petroleum Company represents the Air1 brand throughout most of Colorado and SW Wyoming with a full line of DEF products and DEF dispensing equipment.  We currently can supply you with 1 gallon and 2.5 gallon jugs, 55 gallon drums, 275 or 330 gallon totes or Bulk DEF.

If you have new vehicles that require DEF in your fleet, or will have units coming in soon we would appreciate the opportunity to help you with all of your DEF and dispensing equipment needs.

Happy Holidays,

Brandon Prentice

Director of Operations

Pynergy Petroleum Company

About Pynergy Petroleum Company

Pynergy Petroleum Company was founded in August 1999 when it acquired three Conoco Branded retail locations in the Denver, CO area.  Since then, Pynergy has been devoted to providing high quality fuels, lubricants, diesel exhaust fluid, equipment and service to the automotive, heavy duty and industrial markets.  Please visit us at www.pynergypetroleum.com

Rocco’s Automotive & Fast Lube is located at 4611 South Santa Fe Drive, Englewood, CO 80110

Rocco’s Automotive & Fast Lube Story…….

So you want to know where it all began?  It all started when I began working for Herb in 1999 at Colberg Bros. Custom Automotive.  It was awesome, we were busy, life was good andI was working under the hands of a genius.  I was still a little wet behind the ears, never wrenching as a profession prior to Herbie, but on the road to a world of knowledge.  Herb is known, to all who know me, as my dad.  We hit it off right from the start andran with it.  Not too long after, dad had his 6th heart attack and his health was declining.  Something wasn’t right, he was up and down, everyday was unpredictable.  Time goes by and Herb is diagnosed with renal disease andgoes on dialysis 3 days a week at 5 hours a pop.  That pretty much paralyzed him as a mechanic not being able to turn a wrench.  So he came to me with an option, either he loses the business and I lose my job, or I take it over.  By now I bet you guessed that I took it over.  So, from June 01, 2001 it became Rocco’s Automotive, INC.  and for 6 years it stayed that way.  Herb’s health was getting better and he started wrenching again, andthings were good.  But our business just never seemed to grow enough, come to findout by now it was just the location.  Tucked in the middle of a business park with no exposure to the public we were getting by solely on referrals and repeat customers.  When we saw the lube shop on Santa Fe up for lease, our wheels started turning, thinking what if?  As of April 26, 2006 we became Rocco’s Automotive & FAST LUBE.  Having the exposure of Santa Fe traffic and the general public walking in our door opened up all kinds of possibilities for us.  More and more people were finding out everyday how we operate and conduct our business, and in turn we grew.  3 employees to 7 in 1 year.  Thanks to a great staff who take pride in their work and loyal customers who take pride in their vehicles, our customer base has multiplied by 3 in the 1st year and 4 in the 2nd year.  Join us and help us grow again in our 3rd year.

Services they provide……

OUR OIL CHANGES GENERALLY TAKE BETWEEN 10 TO 15 MINUTES AND INCLUDE; oil, filter, check all under hood fluids (top off washer fluid), lube suspension and steering components (if applicable).

VISUALLY INSPECT AND ADVISE OF; Air filter, belts, hoses, tires, steering linkages, shocks, drive train, suspension, and any noticeable leaks.

DID YOU KNOW;  We have a huge selection of serpentine belts in stock, that if needed, we can replace them while you wait to get you back on the road, and in most cases in less time than just getting your oil changed else where.

*Complimentary windows and vac with every oil change (some exceptions may apply)!

Also On Us; $8.00 off your meal coupon at The Platte River Bar & Grill right down the street.

17 point service also available for added charge.

REPAIR SERVICES AVAILABLE:

SAME DAY SERVICE!  ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT!  WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES!  ALL MAKES & MODELS!  EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE ! COURTESY SHUTTLE (available in most cases)!

Scheduled and Preventative Maintenance according to vehicle  manufacturer specifications using mostly original equipment or premium grade quality aftermarket parts

Minor Repairs;  Ranging from brakes, tune-ups, shocks and struts, alignments, etc.  Driveability diagnostics such as check engine lights.

Major Repairs:  Engines, transmissions, transfer cases, differential assemblies, suspension rebuilds, exhaust systems and so on.

Fleet Maintenance & Repairs:  Charge accounts, same day turn around, in most cases, priority service when in a bind. 

Stuff you wouldn’t expect;  windshields, window tinting, protective clear bras, pre-purchase inspections andreferrals to other businesses that we use for jobs we do not perform.  Our database entails many other fields.  So even if your looking for someone to work on a home remodel or landscaping, you can also call us to refer you to one whom we have dealt with as a business.  Our customers are our livelyhood and I would be more than happy to refer the right person for any job.

About Pynergy Petroleum Company

Pynergy Petroleum Company was founded in August 1999 when it acquired three Conoco Branded retail locations in the Denver, CO area.  Since then, Pynergy has been devoted to providing high quality fuels, lubricants, diesel exhaust fluid, equipment and service to the automotive, heavy duty and industrial markets.  Please visit us at www.pynergypetroleum.com

March 25, 2010 – Gas Prices to Climb Above $3 for Spring

Other companies include, but are not limited to:

Verizon Wireless

Capital One

American Honda Finance

AT&T Wireless

Chase

T-Mobile

In addition to Bill Payments, Instant Check Cashing can handle sending money, receiving money, reload your MoneyGram Prepaid Debit Card, reload other prepaid cards or add minutes to your phone.  If you have any question regarding our new Bill Payment program and what bills you can pay at our location, or how to use our other financial services please give us a call at (303) 355-3000.

About Pynergy Petroleum Company

Pynergy Petroleum Company was founded in August 1999 when it acquired three Conoco Branded retail locations in the Denver, CO area.  Since then, Pynergy has been devoted to providing high quality fuels, lubricants, diesel exhaust fluid, equipment and service to the automotive, heavy duty and industrial markets.  Please visit us at www.pynergypetroleum.com

About Pynergy Petroleum Company

Pynergy Petroleum Company was founded in August 1999 when it acquired three Conoco Branded retail locations in the Denver, CO area.  Since then, Pynergy has been devoted to providing high quality fuels, lubricants, diesel exhaust fluid, equipment and service to the automotive, heavy duty and industrial markets.  Please visit us at www.pynergypetroleum.com

 New York Auto Show Preview: Acura TSX Sport Wagon

Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

The Acura TSX Sport Wagon will be based on the European Honda Accord Tourer. 

This one was displayed at the 2008 Geneva auto show.

Finally! Acura will introduce its handsome TSX Sport Wagon at the New York auto show at the end of March, the company announced Monday. The all-new wagon will go on sale in the fall as a 2011 model, Acura said, confirming its announcement last October.

The Sport Wagon is based on the European Honda Accord Tourer (not to be confused with the United States-spec Accord Crosstour). Acura is holding Sport Wagon details close to the vest, including engine options, though it’s a good bet that it will be available with the engines that are currently available in the TSX: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V-6. In Europe, the wagon comes with diesel options, but Honda does not sell diesel engines in the United States.

While popular in Europe, wagons have been pretty much banished from America showrooms, where the crossover is the preferred species du jour. In fact, Ford recently unveiled its Focus wagon at the Geneva auto show, and even though Ford will begin selling its new Focus in the United States early next year, the wagon will be for Europeans only.

Press previews for the New York International Auto Show begin March 31. The show opens to the public on April 3. See autoshowny.com for more details.

Below is the link, as well as the text to a stripped down version of Garrett McKinnon’s, Vehicle MD Staff Writer, article titled “15 Reasons to Read Your Owners Manual”.  Some stuff is basic, but this article does a good job of decreasing frustration as well as pointing you in the right direction to take advantage of your vehicles options that often go unknown and unused.

http://vmd.epubxpress.com/link/vmd/2010/feb/1?s=0

15 Reason to Read Your Owners Manual

By Garrett mcKinnon, Vehicle MD Staff Writer

Let’s face it, reading an owner’s manual is about as much fun as a trip to the dentist. But in today’s increasingly sophisticated vehicles, it’s becoming more and more important that drivers spend at least a few minutes familiarizing themselves with exactly how their car works.

As such, we present 15 reasons you should read your owner’s manual:

1.) Find out what all those buttons do.
Modern cars have more buttons than ever before. You might want to know what they do before you start pressing them.

2.) Find out what that light means
Just as the number of buttons inside a car is proliferating, so too are the number of warning lights, some of which aren’t exactly self-explanatory. Your owner’s manual can decode those mysterious lights for you.

3.) Learn how to operate the radio
These days, you almost need a Ph.D. to operate a car radio. Gone are the days when you simply pushed the power button and turned the dial. In order to get the most out of your radio, spend a few minutes finding out how to work it. (Chances are the radio section in your owner’s manual will be the single largest section in the entire book!)

4.) Learn how to open the hood
Automakers are hiding the hood-release latch in some really odd places these days. If yours is hiding, your owner’s manual will tell you where it is.

5.) Learn how to open fuel filler lid
You pull you new car into the gas station, only to realize you have no idea how to open the fuel filler lid. Save yourself some time before your first fill-up.

6.) Find out how to set the trip computer
Does your car have one trip setting or two? How do you reset either one? What other information does my car’s computer keep track of? The answers to these questions and more are waiting to be found.

7.) Change your car’s settings
These days, many of your car’s systems can be controlled thought its central computer. You may be able to customize settings for your alarm, climate system, lights, ect., but read up on the system first in order to avoid problems later.

8.) Know what TPMS is
If your car was manufactured after September 2007, it has a tire pressure monitoring system, or TPMS. (Many vehicles as far back as 2003 also have these systems.) It’s important to know exactly what the TPMS is and how it affects you, information you can learn in the owner’s manual.

9.) Know where the spare tire is
A flat tire is the worst nightmare of most drivers. But even worse than the prospect of putting on the spare is not knowing where it is-or how to access it. Familiarize yourself with the spare tire before trouble strikes.

10.) Learn how the oil change reminder system works
By some estimates, more than 60 percent of all new vehicles have an oil change reminder system. Find out how yours works and what those service messages really mean.

11.) Find out what your car’s service intervals are
Be an educated customer. Read your owner’s manual before having your car serviced to know exactly what services it needs and what it doesn’t.

12.) Learn why your car is “limping”
Many late-model cars and light trucks have a “limp” mode that allows for low-speed travel in case of a cooling or other system failure. Find out if you car has such a system, and what it means if the “limp” mode engages.

13.) Learn the cool little features your salesman didn’t show you
Can your signal a lane change with just a tap of the turn signal? Can you roll the windows down with your key fob? You might never know all your car’s neat little “tricks” if you don’t read the owner’s manual.

As it turns out, when it comes to operating today’s highly complex automobiles, real men-and women-do need instructions!

About Pynergy Petroleum Company

Pynergy Petroleum Company was founded in August 1999 when it acquired three Conoco Branded retail locations in the Denver, CO area.  Since then, Pynergy has been devoted to providing high quality fuels, lubricants, diesel exhaust fluid, equipment and service to the automotive, heavy duty and industrial markets.  Please visit us at www.pynergypetroleum.com