While fleets still have some time before the coldest weather arrives, that means there’s no time like the present to prepare for icy roads and colder temperatures. Even though fleets might be tempted not to worry about their winter preparedness until the first sign of snow, the days of bone-deep cold without a single snowflake can be just as damaging to vehicles, if not more so, according to Mike Hagaman, sr. manager of Client Relationship Management at FleetNet America by Cox Automotive.
“We probably have more serious breakdown situations as far as high volumes when, let's say, you get single digit temperatures in a region, and those single digit temperatures hang on for two or three consecutive days,” Hagaman explained. “That will cause you more call volume than the big nor'easter that gets all the publicity, because that paralyzes your roads and everything comes to a stop.”
Even if a fleet manages to avoid getting stuck at roadside in such conditions, a cold snap over a weekend can still leave fleets with fuel gelling and no-starts come Monday, ultimately causing as much headache as a full snowstorm. But both situations are avoidable with the proper preparation now.
“What we really want to do is prevent our customers from having an emergency situation to start with, because anytime that you do have an emergency roadside event, it's going to be a more costly endeavor than it would be doing it scheduled,” Hagaman said. “You can really prevent a lot of expense and unwanted downtime for the fleet, and safety issue situations from the driver.”
Doing so just means preparing the systems that are most vulnerable, including batteries and electrical systems, air dryers, fluids, the powertrain, and tires.
Batteries and electrical systems
According to Hagaman, one of the first systems fleets think of with cold weather on the way is batteries and charging systems. And they’re right to do so, as making sure to load test their batteries; check battery terminals, cables, and posts for cleanliness; and verify the output of the charging system alternator is a solid practice. But the electrical connections deeper within the truck need some attention as well.
“For all the electronics and computers, such as the ECU for the computer system for the trucks, voltage is critical,” Hagaman stated. “You’ve got to have the voltage and amperage right for those situations to operate properly.”
Additionally, once road salts and deicing chemicals start to come into play, fleets should also be sure to thoroughly clean their trucks after use to protect their wiring, electrical connections, and pin connectors from corrosion.
Air dryer and system maintenance
Another critical component to prepare for winter is the air system, given its role in other systems on a truck and its vulnerability to cold.
“Moisture in the system can condense and freeze in winter, heightening the risk of valve and brake malfunctions,” warned Brian Screeton, manager of technical training and service at Bendix in an October article on winter maintenance for fleets. “The dryer is a crucial part of defending the system against moisture year-round, but particularly in cold weather.”
This is especially true given that Hagaman noted that air dryer issues or air systems not building air are popular issues in wintertime breakdowns, which can cause even more problems when air gets pushed back to a trailer from the tractor. To avoid these hurdles, “those air tanks on the trucks have valves on them, they'll get condensation in that air that they're compressing,” Hagaman said. “So just open the valve on the bottom and drain the tank before that all turns to ice.”
He also noted that technicians should check the entire air system for leaks before cold weather arrives to avoid developing ice in the lines. To do so, shops should refer to their OEM’s maintenance recommendations and specs.
“Additionally, since most truck manufacturers equip their vehicles with oil-coalescing cartridges like Bendix PuraGuard, you’ll want to make sure you replace these like-for-like: Oil aerosols passing through standard cartridges can shorten component life and lead to system troubles,” Bendix’s Screeton said. “You can always upgrade a standard cartridge to an oil-coalescing, but not the other way around.”
Screeton also emphasized that de-icing chemicals don’t only do damage to electrical connections and wiring, but can impact air system components too, such as valves and O-rings. Checking these areas for corrosion or weakness will help make sure the brake system functions properly through the winter.
Preparing fluids for the cold
When it comes to helping the powertrain keep trucks moving through the winter, there are several fluids that need to be prepared for the colder weather. This includes coolant, windshield wiper fluid, fuel, and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).
According to Hagaman, making sure that a truck’s coolant is working well is critical before winter, as it will help keep drivers warm in the cab. He recommends a 50/50 mix of water and coolant, as well as potentially using diesel coolant additives to prevent cylinder liner problems, gravitation, and corrosion.
Windshield wiper fluids (and the windshield wiper motor and blades) shouldn’t be overlooked either. Luckily, there are winter formulas for wiper fluid that will help it avoid freezing in below-zero temperatures.
Similarly, Hagaman emphasized that fleets should consider their winter fuel treatment early. Otherwise, in truly cold temperatures, fuel “will actually gel up in tanks if it's untreated, to the equivalent of basically having a tank full of jello,” the senior manager recalled. He’s even experienced scenarios where fuel tanks have frozen to the equivalent of an ice cube, he said, leaving the fleet with little else to do other than put the truck inside to wait for the fuel to return to the proper temperature. Avoiding this could mean fleets need to include the right fuel additives and procure a fuel heater, or make sure the ones they have are working well.
Finally, Gino Fontana, COO and EVP at Transervice Logistics, added that DEF needs similar precautions in a piece for Fleet Maintenance’s sister publication, FleetOwner. According to Fontana, DEF can begin to freeze at 32 degrees F.
Other powertrain precautions
Beyond liquid elements in a truck that could freeze, the mechanical aspects of a truck should be checked before winter as well. This includes checking pre-heaters, ultracapacitors, and other components for starting the truck, Fontana emphasized.
Hagaman also said that technicians should inspect the belts, pulleys, and hoses of the cooling system, even the idler pulleys that keep the belts tight.
“Pressuring testing the cooling system is critical,” he emphasized.
Fleets should also double-check their block heaters to make sure they’ll be able to leave their trucks overnight without worrying about no-starts in the morning, Hagaman continued.
Final tire checks
Finally, Hagaman emphasized that while fleets tend to pay close attention to their tires in summer, they should get just as much scrutiny heading into colder temperatures, too. The most basic task for tires is verifying that their tire pressure is up to snuff, as well as any related tire technology.
“Technicians should ensure any tire pressure monitoring systems are operating properly, especially in the winter months where larger temperature swings can occur,” said TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions. “And along with drivers, they should be watching tires for tread depth and unusual wear such as cracking, as well as making sure all wheel bolts are tightened.”
