PREVENTATIV MEDICINE
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Will you get caught out by the snow this winter? If you follow our routine checklist to prepare your vehicles for the onslaught of the cold weather, hopefully you will have a trouble-free winter.
• British weather is pretty appalling at any time of year — no argument there. Even in mid-summer, those foolish enough to expose their pale skin to the elements are more likely to come away with chronic goose-pimples than a healthy sun tan.
Yet there is a period which is even worse than the rest of the year — winter. Wet gives way to wetter, cold gives way to colder and, while humans struggle to get started in the mornings, trucks have an even harder time, having to manage without the help of bodywarmers like porridge.
So now that the clocks have gone back, and you have blown the dust off your thermal long-johns, and the tortoise is snug in its box under the stairs, it is time to prepare your vehicles for the struggle ahead. As ever, time spent on preventative maintenance now means less valuable down-time later.
With the assistance of Tankfix's Purfleet workshop, we have put together some ideas on winter preparation which we hope will act as a trigger for those without a fixed programme. While all are obvious steps, it is nonetheless true that National Breakdown attends up to four times as many distress calls than average in severe weather. From their Top Ten list shown, it is clear that many of these breakdowns could have been easily avoided.
A final point for those operating artics: do not forget the trailer. Although not included in our feature, trailers are equally vulnerable to the elements, and need regular attention. A couple of tips from those running artics in freezing conditions include: check the brake booster relay valve for moisture, since the brakes can lock if the water freezes; and check for and remove any ice on the exhaust valve of air suspension units.
If the proper precautions are taken, winter need hold no threat to your trucks. With only simple checks to be done, and plenty of products available to help fight off the elements, it is all down to the operator.