General routine semi-truck maintenance is a must to help keep your fleet vehicles in safe and working order. Cooling system maintenance, however, is especially important. In the summer, keeping your eye on the cooling system will protect the engine from overheating and causing stressful and expensive issues.
Here are some tips for maintaining your truck’s cooling system:
Warning Signs
Routine maintenance will keep your cooling system intact, but it’s still important to recognize the signs of trouble. Check for a rising temperature gauge and if the needle is swinging into the red “danger” zone, pull over immediately.
Keep an eye on coolant levels, especially if it looks low after you recently topped up. Low levels could mean a leak, which is never good. Smoke is another warning sign that would indicate burnt coolant or a blown gasket. These warnings will need immediate and professional attention, so don’t wait.
Keep It Clean
The first step to your semi-truck maintenance is to keep the cooling system clean! A clogged system or one with dirt buildup makes the system work extra hard and leads to early burnout. Regularly give the system a flush to clean it out. Then, examine it for any signs of corrosion. Truck manufacturers will also recommend how to drain and replace the coolant. That is also an essential part of keeping the system clean and functional.
Watch the Water Pump
Generally, heavy-duty vehicles should have the pumps replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Check the pumps for broken seals, bad bearings, or contamination between replacements. Like a dirty system, these minor issues can lead to costly repairs. If you hear any whining noises, it’s likely a loose belt or pulley that needs repair quickly and some semi-truck maintenance.
Top Off Properly
When topping off your semi-truck’s coolant, always use a 50/50 mix of coolant and water. Using just water or only coolant alters the mixture’s viscosity, which impacts the ability to keep the engine cool. Not just any water will do, however. Always use purified, deionized water when mixing in the water, but not any treated with softeners. That leaves sodium in the water, which risks causing costly corrosion to your coolant’s interior system.
Visit a Professional
Regular and routine DIY cooling system maintenance is part of preventative care, but it’s not absolute. Never skip out on getting a professional system inspection and run some routine checks. A technician with years of experience and an eye for detail can quickly catch minor issues before they turn into big trouble.
Regular tune-ups will also help keep your system in top shape so that you can spend more time on the road and less time getting repairs. Motorplex offers a full range of services, including handling cooling system maintenance. In addition, we have shops in Spokane and Auburn, WA and are ready to serve you.
Motorplex has shops in Auburn and Spokane, WA, with skilled and experienced teams at both locations. Contact Motorplex today!
Need professional fleet maintenance? Then Motorplex is here to help. Contact us now to book an appointment in Auburn, WA or Spokane, WA!
For all your maintenance and trailer repairs, Motorplex is here to help! They have shops in Auburn and Spokane, WA, for service anytime you need them.
Call us to set up a schedule for your truck fleet maintenance!
• Spokane: 509-571-9002
• Auburn: 253-245-5400
