Mack Surveillance Panel Teleconference - November 26, 2002.
Participants - Wim Van Dam (Chairman); Bob Campbell; Greg Shank; Jeff Clark; Jim Moritz; Jim Wells (joined late); Ken Goshorn; Jim Matasic; Pat Fetterman (Secretary); Riccardo Conti; Ron Buck; Lew Williams; Bill Larch; Gita Krishnaswamy.

Action Items -
Ron Buck to contact test labs to determine needs for "old" style bearing sets. (Done)
Jeff Clark to establish and lead a task group to monitor all test results with new style bearings.

Principle Topic - Mack has changed the design of the rod and main bearings in the "T-10 type" engines in production. The primary difference is a change in the composition of the final flash coating, described as a few millionths thick, from a 90/10% mixture of lead/tin to 100% tin. The current supply of "old" style bearings is about 50 engine build sets. Mack's bearing supplier has indicated that they could build one more special batch of the "old" style bearings, possibly over the Christmas Holiday break. This batch could comprise either 200 builds of rod and main bearings, or 400 builds of just rod bearings.

Greg Shank described three potential scenerios to move forward -
1) Recognize that the flash is extremely thin and probably disappears very early in the test…possibly even during the pre-test flush. Move to the new style bearings and procure a five year supply of parts.

2) Order the 200 build supply of "old" stlye bearings, continue the status quo, and face this issue again in about 1.5 to 2 years.

3) Order the 400 build supply of "old" style rod bearings, move to the new style main bearings (data suggests that the main bearings show very little wear), and hope that the supply is sufficient to reach the end of T-9/10 testing needs.

Greg indicated that option 3) was his preferred course of action.
There was an extensive period of discussion concerning the impact of lead on other test parameters, how quickly the flash is removed, how many ppm of lead the flash coating would make if it were all solubilized in the oil and the desirability of actually having test data to predict the impact of any change. It was also noted that there is no option for "no change", as the production process has been modified to manufacture the new style bearings; so even options 2) and 3) involve some risk that the bearings will be different from the current supply.

Eventually Jeff Clark made the motion to switch to the new style MAIN bearings at the next reference test and to set up a sub- group to carefully monitor test results with the new bearings and develop a plan to deal with any unexpected results. It was also noted that any correction factors will be tied to the hardware change.  The motion passed with no negatives and one waive.

Another period of discussion followed the decision to change the main bearings, and this time Greg Shank moved that rod bearings should be changed to the new style bearings at the same time as the mains, and that TEI should take steps to acquire a five year supply of the new style bearings. This motion passed with no neagtives and two waives.

After a short discussion it was concluded that 500 sets is probably about a five year supply, and Ron Buck noted that TEI had acquired 500 sets of thrust washers.

Jeff Clark noted that he needs the part numbers for the main and rod bearings and the thrust washers so he can add them to the critical parts list.

Bob Campbell attempted a motion to restrict "non-standard" tests from using the "old" style bearings, but it was noted that the Surviellance Panel can only control ASTM Standard tests. It has no control over non-standard testing. To address Bob's concern, Ron Buck agreed to take an action item to contact the labs and reserve the existing bearings at individual lab's requests.

Ron also noted that ten stainless venturies had been acquired by TEI, and several have been distributed.
Finally, Greg Shank noted a desire to have a face to face meeting of this Panel to discuss some of the non-standard testing which has occurred and what impact this testing may have on the Panel's activities. Target timing is for early 2003, with actual date at the call of the Chairman.

Respectfully submitted,
Pat Fetterman
Industry Liaison Advisor
Infineum USA L.P.
Ph - (908) 474-3099
Fx - (908) 474-3363
e-mail pat.fetterman@infineum.com