Make summer maintenance a breeze by focusing on these four areas of a truck

“Sometimes, the [preventative] maintenance gets left to the side, and we just keep running,” said Mike Hagaman, senior manager of client relationship management at FleetNet America. “And then eventually we see tons of their preventive maintenance, but we're actually doing it in emergency situations on the side of the road. That’s not the most cost-effective way to do that, because now we're trying to limit the time the meter’s running in an emergency situation—and your freight’s delayed as well.”

Here's what to look for at each area:

Powertrain

The engine heats up even when it’s cold outside, making it a critical spot to keep an eye on during the summer.

One thing to know is that vehicle technology under the hood has risen in complexity and temperature, especially since aftertreatment systems need to get really hot to do their job. The SCR, for example, operates within about 400 and 842 degrees F for optimal NOx reduction.

“That's taxing on not only belts but cooling systems, and of course for the emissions system,” Hagaman added.

This means that techs should be sure to check belts for cracking and ensure that they’re snug and tight. Just be warned that belt wear can be subtle to catch as it slowly wears away due to contact with pulleys throughout the drive system, which can lead to belt slip, vibration, and inconsistent alternator performance. To make sure you know how much a belt has worn away, use a Belt Wear Gauge, according to the Gates Corporation, a heavy-duty products manufacturer.

Along with the belt, techs should also double-check the tensioner, idler pulley, and alternator decoupler pulley, too. Hoses may need to be changed more frequently as well, since they “age from the inside,” Hagaman added.

The charge air cooler is another component to check. Coolant leaks and contamination can prevent the CAC from doing its job: sending cooled compressed air from the turbocharger to the engine. Visible cracks and corrosion, or hearing a leak, are telltale signs, but if unsure, a pressure tester should do the trick. Some diesel techs even opt to fabricate their own tool for the job, as Stevens Truck Power demonstrates in this video.

Battery and electrical

Additionally, a truck’s electrical system tends to take more of a beating during both summer and winter.

“Excessive heat causes the battery's electrolyte fluid to evaporate, weakening the state of charge,” said Ross Lopez, sales manager of new business development who specializes in batteries for GMB North America Inc. “This eventually leads to sulfation (crystals forming on the battery's plates), which prevents the battery's ability to recharge to full.”

Plus, the added heat and power draw in a truck during summer can also strain the alternator. So, a general rule of thumb is to check a vehicle’s battery at least twice during both the winter and summer, when temperatures tend to reach their peaks. When technicians do this, they should make sure the battery is not older than three years old and ensure that vibrations haven’t loosened its mounting or terminals, Lopez added. It’s also good to check for corrosion here, too.

Beyond visible damage, drivers should keep an eye on the voltage gauge in their truck, and techs should also load test a truck’s batteries, too, Hagaman said.

“Load testing your batteries to make sure they have the proper outputs as well is very important in hot weather, because batteries need to be replaced,” he noted. “For example, it's over-taxing your alternator, and you have to be careful that you don't have customers that are out there utilizing their alternator as a battery charger because they haven't properly charged their batteries.”

To test a truck’s battery, Haakan Light, training and development manager at Topdon USA, advised that techs use a carbon pile load tester and a standard digital battery tester, like the Topdon BT600. However, keep in mind that battery testers can be sensitive to temperature as well.

Finally, techs should also make sure that batteries are charging properly beyond the normal variance that occurs with the seasons.

“Batteries accept charge and provide discharge current differently based on temperature,” said Jim O’Hara, EVP of merchandising, Clore Automotive Inc. “That’s why it can be difficult to start a car in very low temperatures, as the cold suppresses the total power capacity of a given lead acid battery.”

This means fleets may need to increase their charge frequency, O’Hara added.

Tires and wheel-ends

Another component to watch out for is tires, said Mike Nemitz, service manager at Jim Hawk Truck Trailers out of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Especially since deflated tires don’t just cost a vehicle fuel and efficiency, but also add more heat to the tires themselves, increasing the likelihood of a blowout.

“Aside from reefer units putting in additional work, tires and wheel-end bearings take on additional stress as well,” Nemitz stated. “Making sure tires are set to the proper pressures and bearings are greased and adjusted properly will reduce the rolling resistance, helping lower temperatures and reduce premature breakdowns.”

Again, Hagaman emphasized that this is an issue easily avoided with proper pre-trip checks, which should catch when a tire is low on air and avoid the added heat while on the road.

The cab

Finally, technicians should pay special attention to both the cooling systems and windshield wipers in summer, even though both items may be easy to overlook.

“You get a lot of bugs, a lot of debris that are coming up off the roadside this time of year, and [we have] to make sure that those radiators and windscreens are kept free of debris so we can get all the air we can,” Hagaman explained.

This includes making sure that air conditioner condensers are clear, and that the vents for transmission coolers are open and clear of debris as well. And techs should condensate the drain lines for the AC as well to avoid flooding in the floorboards if the device stops draining.

Joe Puff, NationaLease’s VP of truck technology and maintenance, also added that fleets should be testing their coolant systems for temperature protection and inhibitors, too.

Meanwhile, it’s also important to keep an eye on windshield wipers, especially their inserts and motors, Hagaman said, even if a truck hasn’t driven through a storm in weeks.

“Because what will happen [is that] you get an extended two weeks of no rain, and then [the driver] finds out the refills on their wipers are bad,” he emphasized. “[If] They have a bad wiper and they're in an extreme storm, they can't see because the wiper motors won't run properly.”

Again, for Hagaman, many of these issues occur because they’re not given enough attention before a truck hits the road. This can lead to techs dealing with common problems at roadside instead of in the shop or yard, and drivers getting caught in a potentially dangerous situation.

Instead, drivers and technicians should always make sure they’re covering a truck’s basics before they go: Check that a vehicle’s radiator is clear of debris; that its tires are properly filled; and that the AC is working.

That way, no matter how hot a summer afternoon gets, drivers are set up for a safer, more comfortable ride.