Skip to main content

Winter Maintenance Tips for Fleet Vehicles

Winter Maintenance Tips for Fleet Vehicles 


Harsh winter conditions and freezing-cold temperatures are hard on any type of vehicle, especially fleet vehicles that are on the road for 10 or even 12 hours a day. If you are a fleet manager, performing regular maintenance services will help you avoid majors repairs and expensive downtime during the winter months.

Before the winter season sets in, make sure you are preparing your fleet vehicles for the season with this helpful fleet maintenance tips:

Use Winterized Fuel


The two main complaints in harsh weather conditions are related to vehicles that don't want to start when the temperatures are below zero and a drop in fuel economy. Seasonally improved fuels like CENEX® WINTERMASTER® PREMIUM DIESEL FUEL, will operate in temperatures as low as -30° F and have a cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of –55° F. Having a special additive package will contribute in increasing the fuel economy and horsepower with up to 5 percent, therefore fleet vehicles can stay longer on the road with reduced fuel costs.

Drain the Water Separator and Replace Filters


When the temperatures are below zero, the water in the fuel system can cause a serious damage to fuel pumps and injectors. This is the reason behind the cold engine startup issues that some owners of fleet vehicles consider as “fuel gelling.” The water is turning to ice in fuel filtration systems and storage tanks, plugging filters during the first couple of cold days. You can avoid these issues by simply draining the water separator regularly and replacing the water-absorbing filters.

Perform Proactive Maintenance

Harsh winter conditions can cause a serious damage to wearable components. Performing a proactive fleet maintenance such as replacing worn brake pads, hoses, and belts can save you from costly repairs in the long run. Clean the connections and test the battery.

Check Your Fluids


Engine oils differ in composition, so bear in mind that using the wrong oil during the winter months can lead to quick engine wear. Heavier oils may be a bit vicious to create effective lubrication when the temperatures are low. For easier startup and cold cranking, switch to a full synthetic oil that has a lower cold temperature viscosity, such as CENEX® MAXTRON® ENVIRO-EDGE® FULL SYNTHETIC DIESEL ENGINE OIL, created to operate in both lower and higher temperatures. Have a look at your owner’s manual for manufacturer cold-weather viscosity recommendations. You should also check and top off power steering, coolant, brake and windshield washer fluids.

Clean and Inspect the Exterior


The best way to protect your vehicles’ exterior from snow, salt, and ice is with a deep cleaning and a coat of wax prior to the arrival of the winter. You should regularly wash the undercarriage, body, and cab to get rid of the corrosive deicers and salts in order to prevent body damage.

Think about Your Drivers


Your fleet drivers have to be comfortable, warm, and safe in the cab during the winter months. Check defrosted and heater operation, and equip every fleet vehicle with an emergency kit consisting of water, a solar blanket, a fire extinguisher, road flares, jumper cables, reflective triangles, etc.

Winter can be a tough challenge for both fleet managers and fleet drivers, but following a couple of simple yet helpful fleet maintenance tips will help you to keep your fleet vehicles running smoothly and safely during the winter months.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Child safety in the vehicle

We all know that child car safety is quite simple, provided that you follow a couple of simple steps. The first thing you need to do is to fit child restraints correctly and make sure you always buckle your kids into them correctly. In addition, it's equally important to seat your kids appropriately so that you can avoid any fighting between them and keep them happy while on the road.

Child Restraint Basics
The first item related to child car safety that we're going to look into is the child restraint. It's an absolute must for children aged up to 7 years to travel in a child restraint. You must remember to always choose, properly fit, and use the right child restraint suitable for your child's age and size. Once your kid's shoulders reach higher than the upper shoulder height marker seen on child restraints, your kid will be ready to move to a bigger child restraint.

Seatbelts
You can set a great example for your kids if you start wearing your own seatbelt on regul…
Post a Comment
Read more

The rise of the automotive industry in Kansas City

The rise of the automotive industry in Kansas City
Kansas City is officially the nation's second-largest auto hub. City’s long history of auto production dates back to 1913 when Henry Ford made a decision to choose this region to be the first one outside of Detroit for auto production. The most recent expansion of Ford Motor Co. in this particular area was in 2011. At that time, the company announced a $1.2 billion investment that was meant to expand and retool Kansas City Assembly Plant, which is located in Claycomo. This plant is responsible for manufacturing the Transit and the F-150 full-size van.

Ford has a strong and steady relationship with area school districts which are part of the company’s Next Generation Learning initiative. Launched in 2006, that initiative provides mentoring, technical support, coaching, and financial support to 20 communities around the country.

Kansas City Assembly Plant uses interesting and innovative supply chain structure called Automotive Alle…
1 comment
Read more

The most common suspension problems

The most common suspension problems 

The main purpose of the car suspension system is to maximize friction between the vehicle's tire and the road surface, thus boosting passenger comfort and providing steering stability. Over the years, car suspensions have evolved a lot, and as of now, modern vehicles have more sophisticated suspension systems than ever before. However, problems still occur from time to time, in spite of all the improvements in suspension systems. Suspension components, such as anti-roll bars, shock absorbers, control arms, springs, and other parts take a pounding each and every day from railroad tracks, road salt, potholed streets, gravel, snow, rain, dirt and grime, and the usual piece of scrap metal or other types of debris that drivers see in the last possible moment.

Under the aforementioned conditions, it should not come as a surprise that any component of the suspension system can be damaged or worn out over the years. There are various symptoms and nois…
Post a Comment
Read more