Watch: Keep wax buildup out of your diesel engine in cold weather
Cold weather is especially difficult on diesel engines. This is because a percentage of diesel fuel is made of paraffin wax molecules that give diesel that little extra little “umph” in the stored energy department. While these wax molecules are completely harmless in warmer temperatures, if the fuel gets cold enough this wax can crystallize and form a gel-like consistency that will clog the truck’s fuel filters.
Watch: Five tips to make your truck’s wheels last
There’s a lot to consider when spec’ing the wheels on your truck, but with the correct application and proper maintenance, these days it isn’t uncommon for wheels to last the life of the vehicle. Here are our top five tips to make sure your truck’s wheels last as long as the truck itself.
Watch: Providing the comforts of home within the cab
Trucking companies are always looking for ways to help recruit and retain good drivers. Sometimes this means more pay or other financial incentives, and oftentimes this means doing their best to provide the comforts of home within the cab.
Watch: Maintaining the right coolant mix is a must
The chemistry of today’s extended-life coolants is fairly complex, and you need to maintain the proper mix if you want to make the most of it.
Watch: Fifteen years later, are SmartWay tires still the smart choice?
The EPA launched SmartWay 15 years ago this month. It’s a program which was created to reduce freight transportation-related climate change and emissions, which ultimately leads to fleets saving more money. But after all this time, are SmartWay tires still the smart choice?
Watch: TPMS or ATIS – What’s better for your truck?
There are two main types of digital tire monitoring systems in the marketplace: Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, known as TPMS, and Automatic Tire Inflation Systems, known as ATIS. Deciding on one system over another isn’t as straight-forward as you might think. Both have their own set of pros and cons, to the point that some fleets even opt to use both systems at the same time.
Watch: Three tips for axle spec’ing
We all know that being aware of how well your truck’s components integrate together should be one of the first things you consider when spec’ing a new truck. But this is especially true for axles, which work closely with everything from your truck’s engine and transmission to its wheel ends and tires.
Watch: What are oil additive packages and what do they do?
An important element in meeting or exceeding the standard requirements of both CK-4 and FA-4 oils is the additive package, which is crucial to help keep your engines clean and protected from sludge, heat and acids. So, what do some of these key additives actually do?
Watch: Building a better battery
In a world where many fleet managers still site batteries as one of the top factors in downtime and increased maintenance, what can be done to fix the issue?
Watch: Choosing the right alternator
Today’s commercial diesel engines depend on the reliable flow of fuel, air and coolant to efficiently take you from Point A to Point B. However, if you bring a stray electrical current into the mix, you could be faced with wrecked internal components and sophisticated electronics systems that are put in an early grave.
Watch: Don’t let road gators take a bite out of your fleet
Keeping your fleet’s steer, drive and trailer tires properly inflated during summer months will significantly reduce the probability of your tires failing and producing road gators, which is both a safety issue and bad for your bottom line.
Watch: What coolant should I use in my engines? (Part 2)
After you’ve confirmed the coolant for your engine, you need to then make sure you are choosing a high-quality coolant that will serve your engine well. There are a couple of rules of thumb to remember when selecting and using coolants.
