Proper battery maintenance during the hot summer months is just as important as it is during the frigid winter months. Your truck battery powers your business. Follow this checklist to extend the life of your battery:
Preventative Maintenance
During scheduled preventative maintenance (PM), check and confirm the following:
Battery connections are clean and free of debris
Battery connections are tight
Hold-downs are properly secured
Battery pack is fully charged
Battery Inspection
Inspect the truck battery pack as part of your regularly scheduled vehicle inspection, any time the operator is experiencing ‘hard starts’ or the truck is being used for shorter runs with hotel loads. When the battery pack is tested, look for the following factors:
State of charge of the battery pack
Full charge is 12.6 volts for flooded batteries and 12.8 volts for AGM batteries
Hold-downs and battery connections are securely fastened
Batteries are fully recharged and tested with either a load or conductance tester
Evaluate what loads are being used and how much power is being taken by the additional use of air conditioning during warmer months
If the battery pack is 2-3 years old, the user may want to consider replacing batteries to reduce the risk of a no-start situation or emergency repairs.
Conductance Testing in our Truck Repair Shop.
Conductance uses the battery’s response to a very small signal in attempt to predict the effects of a much larger current. Conductance testing is ineffective on a discharged battery. If the battery is known to be discharged, or if the tester tells the operator to charge before testing again, the battery must be completely recharged.
State-of-Charge
State-of-charge is estimated from the open circuit voltage (OCV) and is used to determine if the battery is in a testable state or to estimate how long charging will take. Worth noting:
Battery design varies
Typical values are shown on the charging time tables
A true 75 percent or better charge state is needed for most testing
We got buyers for our used semi trucks from all over USA. Truckers that drive in Colorado might experience a difference when come to their truck safety rules.
The views in the Rocky Mountains can be breathtaking, but the conditions can be downright frightening during winter months.
That’s why the state of Colorado is bolstering its winter driving restrictions along the mountain stretch of Interstate 70 to create safer roadways for all travelers.
The law will be in full force for nine months starting September 1st, and affects both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive passenger vehicles. Previously the law was in effect only before and during actual winter weather.
Each September-May, these vehicles face a new requirement of having specialized winter tires or carrying traction devices while traveling along I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison. The law, also known as House Bill 1207, increases the minimum tread depth for tires on all vehicles from an eighth of an inch to three-sixteenths of an inch.
Drivers of vehicles without four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive can comply with the traction law by either having snow tires (with or without studs) or by using all-season tires with a mud/snow designation. Experts say the all-season tires are less effective on ice and slush. Owners of two-wheel-drive vehicles with standard tires can carry chains when winter weather strikes.
Why Should You Have Your DPF/DOC Cleaned?
When left uncleaned, soot and ash will collect and could damage or destroy you filter. While soot and ash burn off as quickly as it accumulates when driving under load, it tends to accumulate and stay when idling or driving through slow-moving traffic.
A few key indicators that it is time for a professional cleaning are a loss in engine performance or an increase in frequency in regeneration cycles. With regular DPF cleanings you could see:
Increased fuel efficiency
Extended filter life
Higher resale value if you decide to sell your truck at some point
A dirty filter may not sound like it could cause a lot of damage if left unattended, you’d be surprised by how costly it could be. This makes cleaning a necessary part of maintenance. When you factor in that replacements cost about $3,000, if not more, plus the cost of unexpected downtime, neglecting this relatively simple process could greatly affect your bottom line.
If you think your diesel is in need of DPF maintenance, visit our service department now. Our body shop and mobile truck service technicians are available to help you in ILlinois.