Why The Xtractor? Because Containment Isn’t Enough
When it comes to heavy-duty truck and trailer hub caps, most products only aim for one thing: leak prevention.
But here’s the reality—leaks are just a symptom, not the root cause, of a deeper, more expensive problem affecting fleets every day: contaminated lubricant.
What the Law Requires
FMCSA Regulation 49 CFR §396.5 – Lubrication
"Every motor carrier shall ensure that each motor vehicle subject to its control is—
(a) properly lubricated; and
(b) free of oil and grease leaks."
Legacy hub caps only focus on (b)—trying to stop leaks. But what about (a)?
What does "properly lubricated" really mean if the oil circulating around your critical axle components is degraded and full of wear-inducing particles?
The Wheel-End Deterioration Cycle
Most mechanics and fleet managers know: once a hub starts leaking, you’re already too late. So what sets the damage in motion?
It begins with contaminated oil—tiny metal particles, rubber debris, and road grit introduced during normal operation. These particulates circulate freely, grinding away at seals and bearings. As wear increases, heat rises. Seals degrade. Leaks begin. Oil levels drop. Overheated bearings follow—and failure isn’t far behind.
This self-reinforcing loop is what we call the Wheel-End Deterioration Cycle.
Containment Isn’t Working
Every year, over 70,000 citations are issued in the U.S. for oil leaks on commercial vehicles—and those are just the ones that get caught during inspections.
If containment-based hub caps were enough, this wouldn’t be the case.
The Xtractor represents a shift in philosophy: from passive containment to active protection. With the patent-pending 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter, The Xtractor actively pulls wear-inducing contaminants out of hub oil, effectively interrupting the failure cycle from progressing unfettered.
The Data Backs It Up
We partnered with an accredited independent laboratory to analyze used hub oil from test fleets—before and after installing The Xtractor.
- Total Particulate Matter reduced by up to 63%
- Ferrous Metal Content reduced by over 90%
This leads directly to:
- Extended bearing and seal life
- Cleaner oil between service cycles
- Fewer unscheduled service events
- Lower cost per mile
"By maintaining a cleaner oil system, The Xtractor preserves the fluid’s physical integrity and thermal stability—critical factors in enabling lubrication oil to perform at its highest efficiency."
— Dr. M. Tree, Ph.D., Tribologist
The Bottom Line
Containment is no longer enough.
Most hub caps trap oil. The Xtractor protects it—by filtering contaminants, preserving fluid health, and breaking the cycle of wheel-end deterioration before it starts.
If your PM program still waits for leaks to show up before you act, you’re not maintaining your equipment—you’re reacting to failure.
Use The Xtractor™ and go from damage control to active protection.
