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  • Essential Winter Driving Checklist

Essential Winter Driving Checklist

Essential Winter Driving Checklist

As we approach the peak of winter here in Australia, it’s important to understand how cold weather conditions can impact your truck and its equipment, affecting your ability to safely make it to your destination.

Truck drivers are dependant on their trucks running reliably all year round – rain, hail or shine. Winter weather, however, can be especially gruelling on your vehicle. Uncontrollable factors such as rain, icy roads, snow and freezing temperatures can have severe impact on your vehicle and your control of it.

Consider this your essential winter check list. To ensure your safety on the road, and that of those around you, be sure to follow all of the items mentioned below in addition to observing and tips or operational advice offered by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Use a reliable coolant
As the name suggests, coolant is designed to reduce the freezing point and raise the boiling point of your engine’s cooling system. By adding a high-quality coolant to your system, you are able to increase the temperature a vehicle can run at before the cooling system boils. Cold weather conditions can accelerate the heat loss of your vehicle’s engine cooling system.

You’ll need to have the coolant in your engine cooling system flushed and replaced from time to time. And because of its importance, it’s vital you keep a regular check on the condition of the fluid.

Testing strips offer a quick, one-minute test that helps you maintain that cooling system chemical balance. They measure freeze point, nitrite and molybdate.

Test, check and maintain your batteries
Trucks require a bit of extra power in the colder months, so it’s important to check the condition of your batteries before commencing your trip.

A digital multimeter will let you know if your battery is holding a charge and measure the DC voltage. You should disconnect and check each battery individually, only once they have been unused for at least an hour; failing to do so may receive a false reading from the unit.

If your battery surface contains acid corrosion deposits, electrolytes, dirt or moisture, apply a Battery Maintenance Spray. This will also help eliminate energy loss and reduces voltage leakage by cleaning dirty connections, promoting maximum current flow and longer battery life.

Check your tyres
There’s nothing more valuable than solid tyres during winter months. Be sure to check each tyre individually to ensure it’s still in good shape. Consider purchasing a Tyre Inflation Kit to assist with keeping your tyres properly inflated to reduce wear and fuel economy.

It’s also important to conduct safety checks on wheel indicators. We suggest purchasing Wheel Nut Indicators and fixing them to the lug nut of your truck’s wheels. The tags will indicate when the wheel nut is loose as it rotates with the nut and if the nut becomes loose, the point of the tag shifts noticeably out of alignment with the other tags.

Check your wipers
Did you know you should be replacing your wiper blades every 12 months? Wiper blades are often overlooked but can make all the difference in undesirable weather conditions.

Ensure your wiper blades are refilled and functioning well to provide clear vision for the road ahead.

Empty air tanks and check air dryers
As the weather gets colder, excess water can freeze up and result in damage to the air system; this can significantly affect your air suspension and brakes. It is essential to drain air tanks every 60 – 90 days as part of routine maintenance on heavy trucks, even if your truck has an air dryer.

Test and prep your fuel filter
Condensation or residual water in your fuel filter system can cause it to freeze and damage your truck, even causing it to shut down. Be sure to change or adjust your fuel filter every 38,000 to 40,000kms your truck travels.

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