Are AirDog Fuel Systems Worth The Price?
It makes sense to optimize the performance of your truck or fleet, and there are many opportunities to do so. However, fuel is responsible for up to 40% of fleet operating costs, while maintenance and repair costs often account for another 10%, resulting in fleets and independent truckers alike looking for ways to contain those costs. One of their often-overlooked opportunities is the truck’s fuel filtration system, which is crucial for engine power, efficiency, and longevity.
AirDog fuel systems stand at the top of the class for their ability to remove water and entrained air from diesel fuel, and along with other systems benefits, they provide cost savings. Of course, an obvious question is whether AirDog fuel systems are worth the money. Does investing in an AirDog fuel system make financial sense, and how long does it take to recover my investment? Of course, your payback time will vary by your model, application, and mileage per year. Still, we show below that investing in an AirDog fuel system for an over-the-road truck can pay for itself in 3 or 4 months based only on fuel savings, and the investment in the AirDog fuel system continues reaping financial and performance benefits throughout the truck’s life.
AirDog Fuel Systems Save Money
It isn’t often that you find an investment to improve your truck’s fuel efficiency and performance that also pays for itself within 3 or 4 months, but that is the case with AirDog fuel systems. As we will show, it is one of the most intelligent choices for improving your truck’s performance while saving money.
Consider the numbers for an over-the-road truck without an AirDog fuel system that travels 120,000 miles yearly and averages 6 miles per gallon. Both the annual mileage and fuel efficiency fall within the normal range.
So, what are the economics of a truck when we install an AirDog fuel system? Our experience shows that trucks with AirDog fuel systems typically achieve 5 percent better fuel economy than a standard fuel system. In our example, our 6 miles per gallon truck becomes a 6.3 miles per gallon with an AirDog fuel system, and at 120,000 miles per year, its fuel usage drops by 952 gallons per year, leading to considerable cost savings.
How much money savings you receive will depend on fuel prices, but when diesel costs $4.00, $4.25, or $4.50 per gallon, you can count on annual cost savings of $3,808, $4,046, and $4,284, respectively. Now, comparing those cost savings to the price of an AirDog® FPII 4G Fuel Air Separation System shows you break even in only 3 or 4 months. From that point on, every mile driven produces additional savings, allowing you to keep that 5 percent in your pocket rather than increasing your fuel expense.
The math is simple. AirDog fuel systems save enough money at the pump to pay for themselves quickly, but fuel savings are not their only contribution to your bottom line. They also keep your truck out of the shop.
Reducing Maintenance Costs with AirDog Fuel Systems
AirDog fuel systems reduce fuel costs by helping your truck use each drop of fuel more efficiently and reduce maintenance costs. Consider that two common causes of premature fuel injector failure are water in the fuel and clogged fuel filters, problems solved by AirDog fuel systems. AirDog fuel systems remove water and entrained air from diesel fuel, deliver pure fuel at optimal pressure, and minimize wear on the gear pump. The result is that they reduce potential fuel injector problems and extend the life of those critical components.
In turn, by allowing your truck to run longer before replacing your fuel injectors, the repair cost per mile drops while your truck’s uptime increases. No one ever made money on a truck as it sat in the shop, so not only does the AirDog fuel system reduce operating costs and lower your maintenance expenses, but by avoiding downtime and keeping your truck on the road, the system helps increase revenues.
A Value Proposition That Goes Beyond Cost
We’ve shown that AirDog fuel systems save money by increasing fuel economy and reducing maintenance costs, but they also provide other crucial benefits that are difficult to express in dollars. By feeding your engine purified fuel at optimal pressure, AirDog fuel systems enhance engine performance, resulting in smoother acceleration, better power delivery, and improved throttle response. These improvements provide a comfortable driving experience and support efficient operations and are especially important when operating in hilly or mountainous terrain and when hauling heavy loads.
Not only does the improved operating performance help your truck operate more smoothly and contribute to on-time deliveries, but the smoother ride enhances the driver experience. Less fatigued, happier drivers are the lifeblood of an effective and safe fleet, and AirDog fuel systems contribute in that arena.
In addition, by delivering pure, regulated fuel to your engine, AirDog systems optimize combustion and reduce emissions. When you combine cleaner burning fuel with a 5% reduction in fuel burned, an AirDog fuel system reduces your truck’s environmental impact, resulting in a win-win for everyone.
An AirDog Fuel System is the Right Choice
Whether you want fuel savings, reduced maintenance costs, enhanced engine performance, environmental advantages, or all of the above, AirDog fuel systems deliver on each item. Your fuel savings quickly pay for the cost of the AirDog fuel system. Yet, you continue to save on fuel and maintenance throughout the truck’s life, all while gaining improved performance and environmental benefits.
To sum up, AirDog fuel systems provide more than just upfront cost benefits. Whether you’re speccing new or looking to improve an existing engine, an AirDog fuel system can be a hardworking and loyal addition to your setup. By delivering significant cost savings and enhanced performance, AirDog fuel systems directly and indirectly contribute to your bottom line, enhancing the driver experience and helping the environment. How can you go wrong when AirDog fuel systems provide that set of benefits? Check out the Champ, Champ II, and the Airdog FPII.
