With cold weather and holiday demand rapidly approaching, now is the time to ensure your fleet is prepped for freezing temperatures and icy roads. The key: preventive maintenance checks. These will help reduce emergency roadside failures. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! –
Here are six things to note during your fleet’s upcoming PMs:
- Batteries / Charging Systems: Battery performance is crucial for cold starting. Load test batteries, clean terminals/posts, and check that charging systems are operating properly.
- Air Dryer System: Often overlooked during warmer weather, air dryers should be maintained year-round. Issues with air dryers are common causes of winter roadside failures and can lead to downstream failures in other air brake components. Check the air system for overall condition, leaks, and routinely drain air tanks. Ensure the air dryer operates properly and maintain it according to OEM recommendations.
- Cooling System: Check antifreeze levels for freeze point to confirm a proper 50/50 mix of water and coolant. Confirm proper levels of diesel coolant additive (DCA) to prevent cylinder liner cavitation and corrosion in heavy and medium-duty diesel engines, if required by the coolant OEM. Inspect belts, idler pulleys, hoses, and coolant protection levels. Pressure test the cooling system and check the operation of block heaters if equipped.
- Cab / Driver Safety: Inspect wiper blades and confirm the proper operation of the wiper motor and washer fluid reservoir. Check the operation of heated mirrors (if equipped) and ensure the safety equipment kit is complete.
- Fuel Treatment: Check the operation of fuel heaters if equipped. Use blended fuels or proper additives to prevent fuel gelling, especially as transportation demands may take you into unfamiliar climates.
- Tires: Routinely inspect tires for winter travel. Tire pressure is critical and will drop with seasonal temperature changes. Regular attention is required to maintain proper pressures.
FleetNet America is here to serve you 24/7/365 to return your units to service as quickly as possible. We look forward to being of service as we move into 2025 and beyond!
Written By:Mike Hagaman, Sr. Manager, Client Relationship Management
