Winter is upon us and it’s the roughest period of the year to drive. Severe weather conditions bring about some of the harshest driving conditions including snow, slippery roads, reduced visibility, and low ambient temperatures. These all set up the perfect situation for truck problems during winter. If you want to avoid any vehicle downtime while reducing damage to your felt and maintaining the safety of your drivers, follow these truck fleet efficiency tips and keep business running smoothly through the winter season.
Keep Things Warm
One of the biggest challenges during this season is the low temperatures that your trucks will face. Depending on where these trucks are headed, temperatures can go well below freezing and this can lead to damage of your truck’s internal components. So, it’s a good idea to try and keep things warm as much as you can. The first thing is to keep the vehicle running at highway speeds in extreme temperatures instead of idling. This is so it can reach the temperature threshold required for the regeneration and Diesel Engine Fluid cycling process.
You should also plug in the engine block heater on all diesel trucks at night, even when the temperature feels warm. You must make sure the vehicle is at normal operating temperature when you plug in the block heater. Block heaters are meant to maintain temperature; they can’t heat coolant from ambient temperatures.
Lastly, do what you can to avoid cold soaks. Cold soaks happen when the engine fluids and the steel of the engine block drop to ambient temperatures. This can impact starting and charging systems.
Make Sure You Have The Right Fuel
Maintaining and keeping an eye on your fuel tanks and fuel systems is another key tip to preventing truck problems during winter. Most diesel fuel in the U.S. is now Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. ULSD ‘s lower sulfur content improves air quality, but it also prevents some challenges that you have to address when winterizing your fuel.
Firstly, ensure that you have a winter blend fuel in your tank. When temperatures drop below 20˚F, add a diesel fuel anti-gel additive. When filling your fuel tank, make sure that the tank is always at least half full. Condensation can build up in a near-empty tank in extremely cold temperatures. This will cause fuel lines to freeze up and will prevent the truck from starting.
It’s also good to plan ahead. Figure out where the truck is heading and determine geographic cold points and treat fuel accordingly. A correctly blended fuel with a cloud point additive will prevent fuel tank waxing. Always base your fuel needs on your destination’s weather and use winter weight fuel when driving up north.
Check Your Tires
Winter brings about slippery driving conditions that cause a lot of truck problems during winter. You wouldn’t want to find out that a truck needs new tires after it’s already figured in an accident. Protect your drivers and your fleet by constantly checking on the condition of tires. Ensure there is enough tread and that you’re using the right tire for the season. Choose a winter tire specifically designed to drive on snow and wet surfaces. Also be sure to maintain proper air pressure as cold conditions will lead to a drop in pressure in a truck’s tire.
Always Complete Pre-Trip Checks
This has probably been repeated countless times, but an indispensable truck fleet efficiency tip is to always complete pre-trip checks. These checks allow you to keep track of the condition of your fleet and lets you spot problems early so you can fix them before they can cause more truck problems during winter. Things to look out for in these checks include:
- Brakes
- Battery
- Ignition system
- Radiator coolant, hoses, and belts
- Tires
- Fluid levels including anti-freeze and thermostat
- Windshield wiper blades and de-icing washer fluid
- Headlights
- Taillights
- Brake lights
- Blinkers and emergency flashers
- Fuel and ai filters
- Oil levels and power steering fluids
- Door locks – which should be properly lubricated
Keep Your Fleet In Tip Top Shape With WTX Truck Repair
Maintaining your fleet throughout the year, and especially during winter, is a tough task. A trusted partner like WTX Truck Repair, LLC can help keep both your trucks and your business running smoothly. Entrust your truck maintenance in Dallas, TX with us and we’ll make sure your fleet is well taken care of.
