Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/749298
21 Service Bay almost exclusively the result of these events. And that's just from winter moisture. When temperatures drop below freezing things get even worse. "I'd bet the majority of our [winter] service calls are due to locked up brakes," says Ellis, referring to brakes that get covered with snow and road chemicals then corrode, freeze, and become inoperable. Full brake replacements during a winter PM will limit, but not eliminate, the risks for both problems. Electrical systems Fighting corrosion is the No. 1 priority for electrical systems in the winter as well, says Tom Begin, director of innovation and emerging technology at Phillips Industries. Similar to how tires throw moisture and chemicals at wheels and tires, electrical currents attract moisture to wires and lighting systems. Begin says technicians per- forming winterization inspec- tions should apply dialectic grease to all connections as a fi rst line of defense against winter moisture and corrosive chemicals. He says check- ing for proper voltage levels across all electrical systems is another must-do. Once that is complete, all weakened systems should be inspected further to identify root causes, and any corrosion found should be removed and the wiring replaced. Begin says wire splicing should be avoided as much as possible. "We never recommend that you cut through your insulation," he says. "Har- nesses come in sections. They are designed that way for a reason. If you have to make a change, replace that section." Batteries also should be included during the electrical step of an inspection. Because most heavy-duty truck batteries are lead acid based, they are impacted by the 'lead acid paradox,' says Doyle Choate, U.S. director of heavy-duty aftermarket sales at Exide Technologies. Choate describes the paradox as "the colder it gets the more cranking power you need. But the colder it gets the less current you actually get because the current is pro- duced by a chemical reaction." An additional concern of which to be aware is the danger of leaving batteries in a low state of charge. The pro- cess of discharging dilutes the acids within the battery and creates water, therefore be- coming increasingly suscep- tible to freezing. Choate says technicians should measure a battery's voltage and cold cranking amp (CCA) ability during all inspections, and should recharge or replace a battery when low readings are uncovered. "I would say if a battery tests at lower than 12.35 volts the chances of regularly start- ing the truck are not good," he says. Oil & Fuel Fluid checks are another necessity during winterization and pre-trip inspections, says Rommel Atienza, commercial brand manager at Chevron. Atienza says severe cold thickens heavy-duty engine oils and creates "resistance" that inhibits proper fl ow. This problem is most common at starting but can persist during regular operation if not addressed. Addition- ally, thickened oil accelerates engine wear, ruins related components and eventually can trigger cataclysmic engine and vehicle failures. Diesel fuel has its own list of winter-related issues. Similar to oil, diesel can thicken and start gelling once temperatures fall below the fuel's "cold fi lter plugging point," says Mark Kardon, di- rector of marketing at Penray. This has multiple effects, none of them good. "Once a fuel starts to crystallize or gel it becomes un-fi lterable," says Scott Hen- ningsen, senior fi eld service engineer at Donaldson. Kardon says gelled fuel also clogs fuel injectors, creates hard starts and craters fuel economy. Fuel cleaners, conditioners and other treatments added to a fuel system during fueling or winterization inspections are the most common treat- ments to combat these risks. Kardon says these chemical treatments can be purchased for individual fuel fi lls and in bulk depending on customer preferences. Coolant The most common coolants used in the trucking industry today are 50-50 ethylene gly- col and water concentrations with freeze points of ap- proximately -34°F, says Stede Granger, OEM technical W W W . T R U C K P A R T S A N D S E R V I C E . C O M N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6 | T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E Replacing fi lters is just one of many necessary steps in a winterization service stop. Photo courtesy Luber-fi ner ®