Winter Maintenance tips for heavy trucks
Winter Maintenance tips for heavy trucks
Posted on November 16, 2022
Extreme temperatures can have detrimental effects on your truck. All parts and components of your truck need to be maintained appropriately before each season to prolong your truck's longevity. If this isn't done, then your truck will soon encounter more severe problems since it’ll inevitably experience more wear and tear. We've formulated the top essential winter maintenance tips to ensure your truck gets through the freezing Canadian winter.
Change the Wiper Blades
The wiper blades may have become damaged in the hot summer heat. Install a pair of new wiper blades to ensure you'll be able to properly see the road ahead while driving in the rain or snow. While you're at it, you can top up the windshield washer fluid.
Battery Check
Your truck's battery is the heartbeat of the vehicle. Without a properly charged battery, you'll be going nowhere. It's crucial you check that the battery provides a healthy charge. You should remove any corrosion on the terminals to see if it improves the charge as well. If this doesn't work, you may need to invest in a new battery.
Inspect and Change the Tires
Equipping your truck with winter tires is vital since they provide more traction on slippery winter roads. The air in the tires will contract in extremely cold weather, so you should ensure that you maintain the proper inflation as per the manufacturer's guidelines. Properly inflated winter tires with good thread are the most basic yet effective way that will avoid unnecessary breakdowns and stay safer on the road.
Treat the Fuel
Diesel engines undergo a lot of wear and tear in cold weather conditions. It's strongly advised that you fill your truck's tank with winterized diesel. This will help to avoid breakdowns, more extensive problems, and loss of income for you down the road. For example, the diesel can gel and cause filters to get clogged up, or fuel lines can even freeze up.
A bonus tip is to keep your truck's fuel levels at half full as much as possible during the winter. A half-full fuel tank will allow less condensation to build up in the fuel tank.
Top Up the Fluid Levels
Your truck's engine needs sufficient fluids to operate at optimum levels. Check and top up all engine fluids, including the antifreeze, coolant, battery, power steering, transmission, and brake fluids. Check if the oil needs changing, and make sure that you continue checking it regularly, as you don't want the engine seizing up on you. Fixing a seized engine can cost thousands of dollars in repairs and loss of income.
Furthermore, ensure that the coolant levels are maintained. Coolant protects the truck's engine against corrosion. The antifreeze fluid reduces the stress on the engine and the radiator during icy cold temperatures. When all the fluids are at the correct levels, it’ll also make your truck's engine more fuel efficient.