Truck Topics

Old Man Winter Is Coming - Protect Your Truck

Once again, it's time to get out the winter checklist and see if you and your trusty truck are ready to weather the storms of winter.  If you're a veteran of the big road, you probably know these items by heart, but here are a few reminders:

Coolant
Winterizing the cooling system means flushing and checking for leaks. The ATA's Technology Maintenance Council recommends pressure-testing the cooling system at 15 to 18 psi after turning on the heater control valves.

For normal operation, TMC advises using no more than 60 percent antifreeze, because excess antifreeze damages coolant heaters, interferes with proper heat transfer and contributes to a high concentration of total dissolved solids. But if the truck has to be shut down for a long time when it’s 35 below, use 100 percent antifreeze.  But, as one driver says, “If it gets that cold, you never shut your truck off anyway.”

With the wide variety of coolant products available today, choosing the right coolant can be confusing. It’s best to consult your owner’s manual and follow its recommendations. All modern heavy diesels require low-silicate antifreeze.

Coolant heaters — circulating-tank, immersion-block and fuel-fired — make subzero start-ups easier. They usually require minimal maintenance but should be inspected before the cold sets in.

Oil
Cold engines need adequate time to warm up in sub-zero temperatures, when even the best oils move slowly. Cold can give oil the consistency of tar, at which point it no longer lubricates. The greatest wear occurs in the first few moments after start-up, before bearing surfaces are fully lubricated. Excessive oil pressure is also a potential problem, and only engine heat will lower it.

“We’re seeing the 5W-40 taking off because it offers improved cold weather performance, lower maintenance costs and better fuel economy,” says one lubrication authority. “At start-up, 5W-40 is going to flow and get into your bearings better at the real cold temperatures, and at normal operating temperature, it’s still going to behave like a 40-weight oil.”

Synthetic lubricants give better cold-weather performance in transmissions and differentials, too.  

The experts says that 75W-90, traditionally a synthetic, protects to 40 below, but 80W-90, while thicker, has a conventional mineral base and protects only to 15 below. Meanwhile, 85W-90 — thicker still — protects only to 10 degrees above zero.

In extremely cold weather, engine block and oil pan heaters will ensure that even higher viscosity oils provide maximum lubrication at start-up. Thorough preparation for winter means checking these components for proper operation.
 
Chassis and Lube
Regular chassis and driveline greasing is always important, but it serves two functions in the winter: keeping key components lubricated and helping prevent contamination from slush and road chemicals. Experienced truckers protect equipment with premium-quality greases, which have good low-temperature flow characteristics.

The calcium chloride that is now used in many areas is incredibly corrosive.  Frequent visits to the wash bay are essential to rinse the road de-icers from the undercarriage.

Conventional greases are suitable for indoor maintenance, but synthetics are easier to use outdoors in cold weather. Be sure that any grease used in cold weather pumps freely for relubricating the chassis.

Belts and hoses
Belt and hose condition is important anytime, but it can be critical in sub-zero temperatures, when breakdowns involve more than mere inconvenience. It’s wise to examine these parts before cold weather arrives and replace anything that looks even marginal.

Replace cracked, worn, swollen or dried-out belts and hoses. Squeeze hoses to find soft spots and fine-line cracks. If your rubber hoses have over 100,000 miles on them, you should replace them before winter with new especially if it’s near a hot spot under the hood.

You might also want to insulate your heater hoses with hose wrap and replace your standard hose clamps with the constant-torque variety – this to keep coolant from seeping out after a cold night or weekend of inactivity.

Pulleys are harder to spin during engine start-ups in frigid temperatures, putting extra strain and wear on belts. And hoses, particularly long and unsecured ones, are at risk from the weight of hanging ice and slush. A small investment in new parts now could prevent large mobile-service charges later.

Battery and electrical heck
Cold weather puts extra demands on your truck’s batteries, and can reduce their output. As much as you rely on the batteries, it pays to check up on them from time to time.

Today’s sleepers feature any number of electrical accessories that can place extra demands on the batteries. A thorough electrical check, including a battery load test, will help to avoid a jump-start call during the chill of winter.

Inspect the truck’s electrical system, especially the ground wires. Cold weather will make dirty, worn or corroded wires brittle. Where possible, disconnect wiring connections, clean and coat with corrosion-resistant grease before reconnecting.

Brakes and air system
Air compressors produce a lot of moisture and if it freezes, you have malfunctioning or non-functioning brakes.  Like most devices, however, air dryers need periodic inspections and maintenance. Their two main components, a filter and a heating element, must be occasionally replaced.

You can check the filter by draining the truck’s air tanks. A stream of grayish crud coming from the petcocks is a sign that the dryer’s filter is plugged. 

Clean the electrical connections and replace the filter if necessary. If your air dryer has a heater, make sure it works. Air tanks should be drained daily, not only to =remove water but to see how well the air dryer and compressor are working.

Tires
Fall is the time to make tire changes and tread depth is important, especially in the drive position. The experts say that the drive tires need at least 20/32-inch tread depth for maximum traction and the steer tires should have a tread depth in the 10/32 to 12/32 range.

Keeping tires at the right air pressure can be tricky during winter because tires warm while running, raising the pressure, and cool while sitting. While running, tires should be at about 100 psi. But if the truck stands overnight in subzero weather, the pressure will decrease significantly.

Fuel
The winter of 2006-2007 will present a brand new issue:  How will the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel stand up to the cold weather?  The engine makers mostly see cold weather as a non-issue, and testing will back them up because U.S. standards require blending that makes the fuel suitable for the average temperature in each area of the country throughout the winter.

The experts say, "Gelling will be a problem handled by an additive program.  Do not blend in kerosene. The sulfur content of regular kerosene is extremely high, and will have a negative impact on PDF (particulate diesel filter) operation.

”If No. 1 fuel labeled ULSD becomes available in your area, it should be safe for blending.

To cut down on water problems, be especially mindful of where you buy fuel in winter. Stay with name-brand fuel stops that sell good fuel and turn over their supplies frequently.  You might pay a little more, but if you’ve ever had 200 gallons of fuel pumped out because of water in it, you’ll know a few cents more per gallon is worth it.

In extremely cold weather or if the truck has been shut off a long time, fuel heaters are helpful. Placement is critical because the fuel must be heated before it reaches the filter. To minimize heat loss through the fuel line, mount in-line heaters near the filter and in-tank heaters near the uptake.

Tire Chains
Many routes through the mountains require truckers to carry and use tire chains when dictated by weather conditions. If you don’t have any, get some now. If you already have chains, check them for broken segments and wear before loading them into your truck for the winter.

Other items
Other systems to check include in-cab heating, windshield wipers and washing/de-icing fluid, door seals and latches and your personal winter survival kit.

Key items include a shovel, flashlight with extra batteries, space blanket, extra dry socks and gloves, energy bars or other non-perishable food, bottled water, and spare charged-up cell-phone batteries.