As the pumping industry moves from the busy summer season to the fall and winter, it’s time to park your rigs in the shop and make sure all the mechanical systems are working properly. Just like you want to avoid a breakdown during the hectic summer months, truck failure is not an option in the colder months, either.
So as Mother Nature prepares to hurl a snowball in your direction, let’s look at effective ways for you to duck the frozen projectile and keep your trucks safe from common wintertime breakdowns. Follow this step-by-step approach to fall maintenance so you’ll have fewer worries running down the road:
LOOKIN’ UNDER THE HOOD
Five basic things to check:
1. The battery. How old is it? Are there any signs of corrosion where the cables connect? Does it need to be replaced? Is there anything worse than a dead battery in below-zero weather?
2. The oil. Cold weather will thicken the oil and hinder the process of engine lubrication. You might want to switch to a “thinner” oil based on manufacturer specifications. Don’t forget to check the oil in the rear-end differential. Manufacturers usually recommend shifting to a lighter weight gear oil in colder temperatures. One other note: Having the right oil is important, but it won’t help much if you’re two quarts low.
3. Antifreeze. What’s in the radiator now? Make sure the heating and cooling system is ready for the coldest temperatures you’re likely to experience.
4. Tune-up and timing. When was the last time you checked the engine timing or got a tune-up? A well-tuned engine will maximize fuel economy.
5. Hoses. Visually inspect all hoses in and around the engine. Some hoses tend to dry out and crack as summer passes. Those hoses will again be tested to get you through the winter.
THE WALK-AROUND
Let’s close the hood and check out the rest of the truck:
1. Tires. Tire tread wears rapidly in summer due to the heat and hot stopping. Are the tires going to make it through the winter or are you going to be slip-sliding away? Think about winter tires for better traction, and if you’re located where you deal with serious winter weather, what about chains?
2. The body. If you’re in a snowy climate, you’ll be seeing a lot of salt and chemicals on the roadway. These materials are corrosive to your truck body. As winter progresses, make sure you wash these chemicals off on a regular basis.
3. Heated collars. If your trucks have heated collars, make sure they’re operating properly before you actually need them.
4. The brakes. Summer’s drifting away. Lots of hot stopping has taken a toll on the braking system. Are the brakes going to make it through the winter without maintenance? Get the brakes checked and make necessary upgrades before the sloppy weather sets in.
THE VACUUM SYSTEM
The truck is ready to go, but what about the vacuum pump and the operating system:
1. Vacuum pump oil. Manufacturers recommend switching to lighter weight oil in winter. This prevents the pump from bogging down. Masport, for example, recommends going from a GST ISO 68 Turbine Oil to GST ISO 46 Turbine Oil in the colder climates. Other pump manufacturers also have their recommendations, so check the operating manual or call the pump manufacturer. Don’t assume that because everything is working properly today that it will be fine tomorrow.
2. Water in the system. Many of you have had a pump freeze overnight and the following morning you found a cracked vacuum pump. The housing itself wasn’t the problem, but the water inside the housing caused the problem. Clearly, a lot of water and liquid is pumped every day. Some of it scoots past the primary and stops at the secondary. That’s why it is critically important to drain the secondary every day after pumping. If you wait until the next morning, the water has frozen in the secondary and now any pumping will cause the water to bypass the secondary and head for the pump. The next night, in freezing temperature, the water will turn to ice, expand, and crack the housing. Time for a new pump.
3. Pressure and vacuum relief valves. If these valves freeze, due to water or other liquids, and they don’t function properly, you run the risk of collapsing the tank or with pressure, exploding the tank. Neither is good for business. These valves can be tested in minutes before starting out every day and even on every job.
4. Hoses. Going into winter, double check the condition of all hoses. Not just the suction hoses, but look at hoses that connect the primary to the secondary, and the secondary to the pump. Make sure water is not trapped in the hoses overnight. There’s nothing like starting the vacuum system on a freezing day and there is no suction because ice has shut the system down.
5. Visual check. Take a look inside the primary. Is it beginning to rot away? Is it good for another winter? If there’s a manway on the tank, open it up, grab a flashlight, and inspect the interior. Rust? Other types of corrosion?
A FINAL WORD ON SEASONAL MAINTENANCE
Regular seasonal truck maintenance, especially preventative measures, is not something you can afford to skip because of a lagging economy. Saving a buck in the short term might cost you a fortune down the road.
