Popular Posts What's the deal with diesel engine DEF sensor downtime? 6 Tips To Improve Work Truck Ergonomics and Tech Comfort How diesel engine filtration impacts fuel economy These truck tire checks should be routine Time to embrace some EV realities Connect with us advertise with us
What's the deal with diesel engine DEF sensor downtime?
6 Tips To Improve Work Truck Ergonomics and Tech Comfort
How diesel engine filtration impacts fuel economy
These truck tire checks should be routine
Time to embrace some EV realities
Popular Posts What's the deal with diesel engine DEF sensor downtime? 6 Tips To Improve Work Truck Ergonomics and Tech Comfort How diesel engine filtration impacts fuel economy These truck tire checks should be routine Time to embrace some EV realities Connect with us advertise with us
What's the deal with diesel engine DEF sensor downtime?
6 Tips To Improve Work Truck Ergonomics and Tech Comfort
How diesel engine filtration impacts fuel economy
These truck tire checks should be routine
Time to embrace some EV realities
Sponsored By D-A Lubricant Company, Inc.
Coolants: What You Need to Know to Prevent Downtime
Sponsored By D-A Lubricant Company, Inc.
Did you know coolant is just as important as your engine oil when it comes to your fleet? Coolant needs to be monitored and tested because mechanical and/or chemical reactions can take place hindering the performance of the coolant. Coolant can break down and become less effective over time. Not monitoring the coolant could result in corrosion and/or sludge, which can impact proper function of the cooling system. If the cooling system becomes damaged, you risk the possibility of the engine overheating causing downtime for your business.
Want to learn more about coolants? Attend this webinar to learn about:
Speakers Emily Featherston, Product Application Supervisor, POLARIS Laboratories Joe Heitker, Senior Director of Strategic Sales, KOST USA, Inc. Jason Morgan, Editor, Fleet Equipment
Sponsored By D-A Lubricant Company, Inc.
Fleet Equipment covers all the latest industry news and in-depth features related to trucks, tractors and trailers, including detailed information on the latest equipment components. Fleet Equipment tracks industry equipment trends, focusing on the issues that help fleets run the most efficient and productive trucks on the road. Fleet Equipment’s detailed editorial focused squarely on the equipment makes it an excellent resource for every fleet. The experienced editorial staff provides insights and solutions based on their many years in the trucking industry. Access to digital editions, contests, news, and more are ready for you today!
Fleet Equipment covers all the latest industry news and in-depth features related to trucks, tractors and trailers, including detailed information on the latest equipment components. Fleet Equipment tracks industry equipment trends, focusing on the issues that help fleets run the most efficient and productive trucks on the road. Fleet Equipment’s detailed editorial focused squarely on the equipment makes it an excellent resource for every fleet. The experienced editorial staff provides insights and solutions based on their many years in the trucking industry. Access to digital editions, contests, news, and more are ready for you today!
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David Sickels is the Senior Editor of Fleet Equipment. He has a history of working in the media, marketing and automotive industries in both print and online.
Every year as the nights the longer, the leaves start to fall, it gets a little cooler, and, inevitably, we start to talk a lot about preparing your trucks for winter. But that doesn’t mean you get to skip spring truck maintenance! It really is just as important to address the tolls that a season of wild temperature swings and corrosive road chemicals can take on your vehicles, and your brakes in particular.
Click here to watch more of FE’s On the Road video series.
First and foremost, be sure to alert your drivers and technicians that they need to start paying extra attention to your trucks this time of year, both with visual checks and component performance levels. We’re focusing on the brakes today, but show the rest of the truck some love too, yeah?
Winter is particularly hard on all parts of your trucks’ air brake system. Take a look at air dryers mounted on the frame rail and steel air tanks, which have been known to corrode and develop small punctures. Dirt, sand, and road chemicals can mix with water and form residue that can clog and prevent proper operation of these kinds of components.
Now, think about freezing temperatures combined with heat coming off the truck’s engine; you get trapped moisture due to freeze-thaw cycles, and thermal cycling, and humidity; you get metals expanding and contracting, and plastics softening and hardening.
So, inspections should also include looking out for cracking plastics, like in the air-line tubing that connects to the truck’s air system. Air fittings can also be affected by chemicals and temperature cycling.
Behind the wheel, there are other indicators of winter damage to an air brake system. Just because you don’t immediately see or hear any leaks doesn’t mean they’re not there. If you notice that it’s taking double or triple the time to charge the tanks, that’s a sign that your air brake system is probably losing air. The same thing applies if you notice the system charging more often. That means more air is going through the dryer.
Drivers might also notice a general “stickiness” in the feel of the brakes, as if they’re responding more slowly to the push of the brake pedal. This might mean valve seals in the system have had their lubricant degraded through corrosion or de-icing solutions if the air system froze during the winter.
So, if you were in a situation where you had to add anything to the air system, spring is a great time to check for leaks around brake valves where O-rings might have been exposed to these chemicals, or to replace valves that may be sticking internally due to loss of lubrication.
Even the antilock braking system might suffer if winter was harsh enough. Wire harnesses get chipped by gravel or corrode, and once the wires get wet, they can short out. Any wiring on the chassis is at risk here, so be sure to check these as soon as you’re able.
Spend a little extra time addressing issues that winter brought your fleet, and you’ll not only make your fleet safer, but you can reduce downtime and give your drivers an altogether better ride.
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