Summer is here, and much like the extreme conditions winter brought,
you can plan on the summer heat bringing entirely new challenges for
commercial box truck truck drivers.
Coolant and Coolant Hoses.
Everyone knows how important antifreeze is for the winter months, but your new and used Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, Nissan UD, and GMC
medium-duty trucks rely on antifreeze during the summer months, too.
Double-check to be sure your coolant is in good condition, and inspect
all your coolant hoses, too.
If your truck seems to be running hot, but you have plenty of coolant
in your radiator reservoir jug, you need to physically lift the cab and
check the radiator level when the engine has been cool for at least 2-3
hours. If you open the radiator on a warm or hot engine, you will risk getting seriously burned.
Most vehicles get a pin-sized leak in the engine or the hose. The
coolant looks fine based on the reservoir jug, but in reality, it's not
getting to the engine like it should. This ruins a very expensive motor
and causes thousands of dollars in damage within just a few minutes.
Do you know how old those hoses are? You do if you purchased your truck new, but probably not if the truck was used.
So here are a couple more truck driver tips: replace all your coolant
hoses, and replace the coolant. These things aren’t expensive. You’ll
have peace of mind knowing the system is fresh, and as time passes,
you’ll know how old your hoses are. That’s worth a lot, especially
compared to the cost of a potential breakdown or a blown engine.
Related: 5 Tips to Keep Your Truck Cool When Parked
Air Conditioner.
Your truck will perform the same whether you’re comfortable or not,
but you or your employee won’t enjoy the job as much if it's sweltering.
Have the truck's air conditioner checked for leaks, especially Schrader
valves and hoses. Repair or replace as necessary, and recharge the
system.
Having an AC system that isn't working can also contribute to problems such as Road Fatigue.
On some levels, driver fatigue is considered as dangerous as drunk
driving, and in the summer, driver fatigue is at its worst because the
weather is hotter, the days are longer and drivers want to push it for
as long as they can. Meanwhile, they are creating a very dangerous
situation for themselves and fellow travelers. Keeping the truck cool is
a big way to help your drivers out.
Tire pressure.
In addition to poor fuel consumption and handling, tires that are
either over-inflated or under-inflated can actually explode when they
get hot enough. Speeding and the weight of your load can overheat tires.
A blown tire can easily cause an accident or collateral damage. We
recommend you check your tire pressure frequently and always keep it in
the back of your mind.
Batteries.
With the warm weather, you don't often worry about your battery
starting first thing in the morning. But did you know that heat is
actually harder on your medium duty truck batteries? Excessive heat can
cause a weak battery to fail. So make sure your battery’s electrolyte
levels are full and the unit is fully charged. We recommend you keep
your battery terminals and wire ends clean, to ensure a strong
connection.
Engine Belts.
Like many of these items you should inspect as part of your
pre-summer maintenance program, engine belts are often overlooked. They
just keep going round and round, racking up an astounding amount of
mileage with all those revolutions. And they have to flex as they’re
rotating. That’s a lot of wear, yet we don’t give it much thought.
Compare that to tires – you might get as much as 100,000 miles from
them, but you always aim to replace them before they fail.
Replacing your engine belts is far cheaper than repairing your
engine, so it’s smart to inspect all your belts for cracks or other wear
indications.
Related: Ways to Cool Off on the Road
Weather Dangers
For many areas of the country, summer means bad storms: Tornadoes,
hurricanes, thunderstorms, heavy rains that strike quick, wind, hail,
extreme heat, etc. All create frightening driving conditions at worst
and can create hazardous driving conditions at the least.
Check the weather habitually. Look at daily forecasts for where you
are and where you will be. Make sure you are taking precautions to deal
with what Mother Nature has in store for you. And always check in with
your company to stay on top of problem areas. If you do find yourself in
a dangerous storm, make sure you get off the road and find shelter
ASAP.
Wherever your travels take you and your truck during your busy season
this summer, you’ll travel more confidently and more profitably if you
take the time to follow these truck driver tips for preventive
maintenance.
If you or a co-worker is in an accident and you need replacement
parts for your medium or heavy duty commercial truck, call us at (803)
564-3228 or (877) 564-6307. If you have any difficulties getting through
our phone system, please use our Contact Form or Parts Request Form, or email sales@busbeetruckparts.com.
We have hundreds of Salvaged Medium Duty Trucks and Commercial Box Trucks for Parts including: Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, UD, and GMC. With thousands of parts, including our most popular Isuzu NPR Truck Parts, we
should have any part that you need in stock. Our sales professionals
will be glad to assist you. We are located at 4107 Festival Trail Rd,
Wagener, SC 29164.
