In what scenario would fuel consumption be the preferred factor for determining PM intervals?

Fuel consumption is particularly relevant for determining preventive maintenance (PM) intervals in fleets with an extraordinary amount of time spent idling. Idling can significantly impact fuel efficiency and overall vehicle performance, as it leads to unnecessary fuel consumption without any productive work being done. In such scenarios, tracking fuel consumption helps fleet managers identify when maintenance is due based on how efficiently the vehicles are operating while they are idling.

This approach is advantageous as it allows fleet managers to mitigate costs associated with excessive fuel use and helps maintain overall vehicle health by addressing issues that may arise from prolonged idling. For example, engines that idle for too long can experience carbon buildup, poor combustion efficiency, and other mechanical issues, thus making fuel consumption a key metric to determine when maintenance should be performed to keep the fleet running efficiently.