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Twenty minutes save failures
Page 126
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After our long spell of mild weather, don't forget the commonsense checks that take a short time but may avert failures. We've also found some new specialist products
• As the long hot summer of '89 becomes a distant memory, workshop managers are once again preparing vehicles for the excesses of a British winter. As the mild weather lasted so long, preparation could easily be overlooked until the inevitable cold snap brings havoc in its wake.
Below is a reminder of some of the items that should be checked in readiness for the cold weather. Most are just commonsense, of course, but they are important nonetheless: 20 minutes spent on these checks could prevent a breakdown. We have also found some new specialist products which may be of use.
Oil companies put low-temperature additives in their diesel during the winter months as a matter of course, but operators who bunker fuel may still be using summer fuel when the severe weather comes. There are many suppliers of lowtemperature additives, hut don't leave it too long before adding it to the bunkered fuel. If the diesel gets too cold the additive will not mix in properly, and waxing will then be more a probability than a possibility.
Fuel-line heaters should be checked to ensure that they are working correctly.
Anti-freeze is an obvious necessity, but check that your vehicles have the correct level of protection. Add-itt markets an anti-freeze 'booster' to replace the anticorrosion and inhibitor additives which tend to evaporate with the water while the anti-freezing element remains. To avoid refilling the system to renew the anti-freeze, simply add the booster to the coolant mixture to restor its level of protection. Add-itt claims that the booster increases all aspects of an anti-freeze, but at much lower cost.
You will also be putting an all-weather windscreen-wash additive into the washer reservoir. Cleaning the windscreen at 96kmh (60mph) with water that instantly freezes could add considerably to the repair bills.
Auto Aftermarket Distributors (AAD) is marketing a range of twin-bladed windscreen wiper rubbers. Prices are said to be on a par with other good-quality wiper blade refills. With your truck lights being used mon and freezing temperatures thickening till oil prior to start-up, the batteries obvious ly take a pounding during the winter. Re member to check your batteries with . drop test, clean the terminals and coa with a water proofing agent. While you'ri at it, give the alternator belts a thorougl inspection and check the tensioning.
If there is a cold-start device on thi vehicle ensure that there is enough of III correct fluid in the reservoir (some hay+ replaceable canisters). The same applies i there is an alcohol injector for the brakini system, but these usually have a switch b turn them off during the summer so it': no good filling the system if it's no switched on. Drivers should be aware o the need to drain the air tanks every da: — including those on the trailer. If auto made drain valves or an air dryer is fittec check that they are functioning correctly.
Heating elements on minors need to be checked after their summer holiday, bu. those who seem convinced that heaten merely bake the dirt onto the glass ma3 find the Mirrorclean system more to theii liking. It uses air from the braking systerr to blast the mirror clean.
How about the driver? A warm, wel ventilated cab is essential because discom. fort will cause lack of concentration. Check that vents are not obstructed b3 rags and the like: poor ventilation ant heating will also mean that a windscreer may not properly demist leaving large blind spots. Do not forget to test the night heater if one is fitted and check thal its vent is clear.
Addit t Turbo 53 AAD Turbo 59 Mirrordean Turbo 5B