Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/741843
38 commercial carrier journal | october 2016 Check coolant, belts, hoses before it gets too cold BY JASON CANNON M onitoring your engine's cooling system is part of year-round maintenance, but the onset of winter is a particu- larly good time for a close look. That includes going over your truck's belts, hoses and hose clamps. Matt Cleveland, heavy duty sales en- gineer for Gates, a maker of hoses and other parts, recommends that inspec- tion be performed every six months, or more often if mileage merits it. "An inspection every 35,000 to 40,000 miles is a good timeframe," he says. Hose inspection doesn't change between winter and summer months, Cleveland says, but with more idle time likely during the winter, inspec- tion intervals may need to increase. "The cooling system is designed for the products to be replaced at about the same interval," he says. "When servicing the vehicle, when you open the cooling system for replacement of other parts, look at the hoses internally as well." Hoses should be inspected closely when servicing any coolant system component such as the water pump, thermostat, radiator and coolant filter, or when adding coolant and inhibitors, says Jim Wakeem, senior development engineer for Dayco. Coolant contamination is harmful to engine cooling systems, and Cleve- land says that when replacing compo- nents, it is good practice to flush the cooling system entirely. "Flushing a system removes contam- inants, which is the only way to verify a clean system and long service life of all components, including the hoses," he says. The process for checking coolant lev- el differs depending on the truck's age, says Colin Dilley, director of technolo- gy for the Prestone Technology Center. For trucks with antifreeze reser- voir tanks, the level should be at the cold-level line marked on the tank. For older vehicles without a reservoir tank, remove the radiator cap when the en- gine has cooled, and look at the fluid level. It should be about 1 inch below the filler neck in the radiator to allow space for expansion when the coolant gets hot, Dilley says. Many operators waste large amounts of coolant simply by overfilling the radiator. "When the cooling system gets hot and the coolant expands, the coolant runs out on the ground through the drain," he says. The easiest way to tell if you might need to replace your coolant is by visual inspection. "If the truck is equipped with a coolant reservoir tank and the fluid in the tank is dis- colored or stained, there is likely an issue," Dilley says. If the coolant is discolored, remove a coolant sample and test it. "If there are viable signs of contaminants, it is likely time to replace the coolant," he says. A mixture of 50/50 concentrated antifreeze coolant and water provides both freeze and boil-over protection, Dilley says. in focus: WINTER PREPARATION When any coolant system component is being serviced, use that opportunity to check hose wear, too. "Even those who work in southern climates pass over mountains that often reach freezing conditions, and even high deserts will drop below 32 degrees on some nights," says Colin Dilley of Prestone Technology Center. "Maintaining the optimal freeze point for your cool- ant is exactly the same as maintaining the optimal boil-over point."