708-467-7181     16425 Van Dam Rd., South Holland, IL 60473

 

 

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Heavy Duty Truck Inspection: The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) unannounced Brake Safety Day that took place on April 25 of this year put nearly 1,600 vehicles with brake violations out of service.. CVSA holds brake-focused enforcement events throughout the year to identify and remove commercial motor vehicles with dangerous brake issues from our roads to reduce the number of crashes caused by or made more severe by faulty braking system performance.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large trucks involved in a crash where the braking capacity of the truck was critical were 50 percent more likely to have a brake violation than trucks involved in crashes where the truck’s braking capacity was not critical.

The following observations were made during this year’s inspection:

    The U.S. conducted 10,074 commercial motor vehicle inspections
    14 percent of commercial motor vehicles were placed out of service for brake violations
    8,128 air-braked trucks and tractors were identified as requiring anti-lock braking systems (ABS)
    10.2 percent of air-braked trucks and tractors had ABS violations
We fully inspect our trucks that are going for sale. Stop by at United Truck Sales or visit our website listings on truck paper.

 

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.

 

The Importance Of Cleaning Diesel Filters

When was the last time you had your diesel particulate filter (DPF) or diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) cleaned? If the answer is, “I don’t know” and your truck is newer than a 2007 model, it is time to visit a repair shop. If your diesel engine is newer than 2007, here are a few things you should know to extend your filter life and increase your fuel efficiency.
What Does a Diesel Particulate Filter or Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Do Exactly?
Before we go into detail on why you need to clean your DPF and DOC, we need to discuss how these engine components work together. The DOC protects the DPF. Vapor can interfere with the DPF’s ability to trap and remove particulate matter, so manufacturers route the exhaust through the DOC first, then into the DPF. The DOC forces the exhaust over a honeycomb ceramic structure coated with catalyst which chemically changes carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water. Then the exhaust gases go through the DPF where it is forced through porous channel walls, trapping and holding the remaining ash and soot.
When Is It Time To have Your DPF or DOC Cleaned? A good rule of thumb is to go in for a cleaning about every 200,000 miles or less depending on your duty style. It is possible to burn off this excess ash and soot on your own using either passive or active regeneration. Passive generation uses the normal exhaust temperatures and nitrogen dioxide to oxidize the build up and active regeneration requires much higher temperatures. Even with these different cleaning cycles, it is still important to take your truck to get serviced.