Keeping your fleet of commercial trucks in good working order is hard enough, but winter can make it even tougher. That’s why it’s important to practice smart winter truck fleet maintenance in Flagstaff, AZ when it starts to get colder outside.
It can get pretty darn cold when the days get shorter, even when the sun is shining. Practicing good truck fleet maintenance can help keep your fleet on the road in winter and throughout the year. From topping off fluids to checking vital systems, here are some tips to help you stay on top of the systems that keep your trucks running smoothly during the winter months.
Lubricants
The most obvious thing to keep an eye on in the winter months is the coolant and water in your truck. Of course, you want to make sure those are topped off and not leaking anywhere. But there are other fluids you should keep an eye on, too.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on all lubricants in your truck during the winter months. Cold weather can affect the viscosity of many lubricants, and they can become sludgy or too thick to be effective. This can put the whole engine under more stress, and even lead to the engine seizing up or failing completely.
That’s why it’s best to take some time to let the engine warm up after starting it before taking the truck out on the road. Make sure you are also using an oil with lower viscosity during winter months so it can keep flowing where it needs to go when temperatures drop.
Air system
Liquids aren’t the only thing to keep an eye on in the winter. When the air outside of your truck is cold, remember that same air goes into all the intake systems inside the truck, too. It has an effect on everything that uses the air system, including automated manual transmissions, advanced driver assistance systems and more, including emissions controls. Not only is the temperature a factor, but the dryness of the air can have a major impact on the pneumatic system.
Moisture in the air gets drawn in when the compressor is charging. It’s the air dryer’s job to make sure that moisture doesn’t get into the system. If the air dryer doesn’t do its job, and moisture does get into the system, it can condense inside the air tanks or even find its way deeper into the system. That problem is compounded with cold weather, when low temperatures can cause that condensation to freeze and possibly wreak havoc in valves and even the brakes.
Fortunately, you can avoid this by replacing the air dryer cartridge when temperatures start to fall. It’s also a good idea to take a look at your purge valve and heater and wiring harness. While you’re at it, check for corrosion on the dryer.
Looking for help with your commercial trucks? Emergency Response – Truck, Trailer & RV Repair can assist you. Reach out to us with your commercial truck fleet repair and maintenance needs in Flagstaff, AZ.