Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/284466
COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | APRIL 2014 33 are consumed during the vehicle's operation, and they must be reforti- fied periodically with supplemental coolant additives (SCA) to maintain effective corrosion protection. Adding to the confusion, OAT and NOAT coolants do not require SCAs. Also, the inhibitor package is respon- sible for corrosion protection only and does not determine the coolant's level of freeze or boilover protection. When to use what and why To curb the confusion surrounding various coolant types and their prop- er use, the Technology and Mainte- nance Council issued Recommended Practice 313C on Cooling System Maintenance. Among its recommen- dations: s Use an antifreeze/coolant that satisfies industry standards and performance requirements. s Maintain proper additive levels, and regularly top off coolants at regular service intervals. This can be done quickly with dipsticks that provide quick col- or-coded updates on the strength of a coolant's various additives. Technicians must make sure the selected dipstick is formulated for the coolant type. s Test the coolant regularly for proper additive levels and freeze protection. This should be done every time a vehicle hood is opened as a routine procedure, as well as during scheduled maintenance intervals. Steve Muth, chief chemist for Penray, says that while extended-life coolants (ELCs) offer certain benefits compared with conventional formu- lations, their life is not forever. "Many ELCs require supplements after 300,000 miles in order to fortify orig- inal chemical components and restore them to original specifications," Muth says. "Furthermore, many trucks no longer carry the factory fill of ELC due to service or repairs that may have replaced the original fill with conventional coolant." The key, then, for good cool- ing system life is periodic testing to evaluate the coolant and fortify it as needed. "With conventional coolant, you have to use additives and perform maintenance checks fairly frequently," Muth says. "By doing this, conventional coolants are highly tolerant of con- tamination and 'abuse' since they are boosted back to original strength quite frequently through the use of additives and supplements." Text INFO to 205-289-3554 or visit www.ccjdigital.com/info Exciting News! Howes Lubricator has acquired U.S. Lube Performance guaranteed or double your money back! Customer support that's second to none Exciting promotions throughout the year And that's great news for you! Professional Grade Performance Since 1920 Collect Save and Win stamps from the bottles and send in for FREE merchandise! Howes Oil Enhancer is unsurpassed in preventing excessive wear, reducing oil consumption and improving engine power – whatever you're driving. Which is why we've added it to the Howes line. And it's why we're able to double-down on our guarantee. After all, Howes has been delivering professional-grade performance since 1920. We guarantee we're not about to stop now.