Colder days are upon us, and the winter season means truck maintenance in Odessa, TX is all the more important. With winter comes a whole new set of challenges when it comes to preventive maintenance for semi-trucks like lower temperatures, slippery roads, and less visibility.
Here are a few tips and things to remember when preparing your truck for the winter season. So whether you’re a driver or a fleet manager, read on to see what preventive maintenance for semi-trucks in Texas should look like.
Preventive Maintenance And Pre-Trip Checks
The best thing you can do to prepare for the winter is to conduct preventive maintenance on semi-trucks and checking the different components. Here’s a list of the different things to check whether you’re conducting routine maintenance or a pre-trip check.
Battery – Check the age and strength of your battery since cold weather can drain a battery faster.
Fuel – Diesel fuel can gel in cold weather because of the paraffin found in it. To prevent this from happening, add a fuel additive or use a fuel blend that with a high cetane rating. Also keep some extra additive in the truck in case temperatures drop significantly.
Cooling system – Do a winterization check and inspect the radiator, belts, and hoses for any potential failures. Check the coolant as well to see if it’s at the optimum freeze point or add antifreeze to the coolant.
Fuel filter and water separator – Replacing the fuel filter when due and draining the water separator when full will help prevent contamination and keeps the engine running optimally.
Air dryer – The air dryer keeps water out of the brake lines. If this is not working normally, water in the break lines can freeze in the winter and cause problems with your brakes.
Engine block heater – Diesel engines need a higher cylinder temperature than gas engines which can make it difficult to start. Having an electric engine block heater will help keep this optimum temperature and making cold starts much easier.
Double Check Your Brakes And Tires – And Maybe Consider Snow Chains
Another challenge in cold weather is snow and slippery roads. Because of this, proper truck maintenance in Odessa, TX includes keeping an eye on your brakes system and tires to ensure maximum traction in slippery conditions.
Check your brakes before every trip to see if they’re still thick and in good working condition. Replace the brake pads if they’re too worn and also be sure to check the other components of the brake system, like topping up the brake fluid.
As mentioned above, check the air dryer as well as the bake lines themselves for any potential failure. The last thing you want is something going wrong with your brakes, preventing you from being able to stop, leading to a dangerous accident.
Pay attention to your tires as well, making sure there is enough tread. If your tires are close to being worn out, this will mean much less traction and larger chance of slipping and skidding on the highway. Depending on the trip, consider using snow chains for extra grip in snowy conditions.
Emergency Supply Kit For Your Truck
To prepare for breakdowns, which can happen to anyone, it’s always a good idea to pack an emergency supply kit to help with small repairs or troubleshooting. Include extra jumper cables, tools, flares, flashlights, etc.
While breakdowns are always inconvenient and sometimes unpredictable. In the winter however, they can be dangerous. Aside from the normal emergency kit, pack cold-weather clothing, blankets, a first-aid kit, radio, portable snacks, and drinking water. Getting stuck on the side of the road could mean getting snowed in, so the driver has to be prepared while waiting for assistance.
Let WTX Truck Repair Take Care Of Your Truck For You
If you’re looking for some help when it comes to truck maintenance in Odessa, TX, look no further and call WTX Truck Repair, LLC. Our team can help you out whether you’re a fleet or just one truck. We specialize in truck repairs in Odessa, Texas and are even available 24/7. Give us a call today!
