Importance of Truck Coolant/Antifreeze Servicing
Keeping your heavy-duty truck's cooling system in good working order is crucial, yet around 28% of the heavy-duty trucks on American roads aren't adequately protected or maintained. Your heavy-duty truck falls into this category if you can't recall the last time you had the coolant changed and the radiator serviced. We'll explain why it's probably time for you to give your heavy-duty truck's cooling system a little care.
What is truck coolant all about?
The purpose of truck coolant, commonly referred to as antifreeze is to transmit heat away from your engine. It is typically ethylene or propylene glycol and water in a 50/50 mixture. There are several different kinds of truck coolants. You need to choose the truck coolant your owner's handbook advises when selecting the proper one for your heavy-duty truck.
While the heavy-duty truck is moving, the diesel engine produces a lot of heat and energy. The cooling and exhaust systems are in charge of keeping the engine cool. In the summer, the coolant prevents the engine water from boiling by absorbing the heat from the engine. Additionally, it prevents rubber or plastic components from corroding and metal parts from rusting.
Why should you focus on truck coolant servicing?
Without the coolant, the heat created by continuous internal combustion would rapidly destroy the engine. Even when water and coolant are combined, the water cannot keep the engine cold on its own. Either the summer heat evaporated the water, or the engine's heat would finally begin to boil it. Your cooling system gains various advantages from coolant flushes. We advise a coolant flush once a year to keep your cooling system operating efficiently since, like every other component of your heavy-duty truck, your cooling system has to be maintained.
- Coolant flushes remove rust and scale deposits that accumulate over time. These deposits must be removed since they may lead to overheating and harm to your cooling system as a whole.
- The new antifreeze has ingredients that lubricate your heavy-duty truck's water pump, which may help the water pump last longer.
- The new antifreeze ingredients also aid in preventing rust from accumulating in the water pump, improving the cooling system's effectiveness.
- The anti-corrosive qualities of the previous antifreeze degrade with time, allowing pollutants to accumulate in the cooling system. These particles may be totally removed from the system by getting a coolant flush.
- Your complete cooling system, including the thermostat, radiator, and all hoses and belts, will likely be inspected when you undergo a coolant flush. Because it checks for leaks and other possible issues, this is advantageous.
To keep the old antifreeze from turning acidic, have a coolant flush. This is crucial because if it begins to degrade and get acidic, it may harm the water pump's bearing, the rubber hoses, and the aluminum engine parts.
More details on how the coolant system of your truck works
The cooling system in your heavy-duty truck uses a circulating process that starts in the radiator to keep your engine cool while it is operating. Simply said, coolant moves from the radiator and circulates through the engine, removing heat from the engine. The coolant then returns to the radiator, cooled by the fan and air passes through the radiator's fins. The cooling cycle then continues when it returns to the engine.
The purpose of the coolant is to prevent the operating engine from overheating while also preventing corrosion in critical cooling system components. The danger of frequently overheating your engine increases as the coolant ages since it cannot perform its function effectively, which may result in lengthy and costly repairs.
Signs of a coolant system issue
Here are several warning signs that your cooling system could be malfunctioning.
- Engine overheating – Overheating may be brought on by various factors, including, to mention just two, a faulty water pump or a broken belt. Suppose the temperature warning light on your engine illuminates. In that case, it's advised to either stop and request a tow or let the engine cool thoroughly before adding 50/50 antifreeze to the radiator and driving slowly to the shop. Driving with an overheated engine might result in long-term engine damage.
- How antifreeze smells - A system leak is indicated by the smell of antifreeze while driving or immediately after stopping your heavy-duty truck. This leak is frequently caused by a broken heater core that causes antifreeze to drip onto your hot engine or the passenger compartment. This issue has to be resolved right away.
- Antifreeze on the ground - Another sign of a leak that prevents the cooling system from protecting your engine from overheating is a puddle of coolant under your heavy-duty truck.
- Coolant level is constantly low - Having to add coolant frequently indicates that the cooling system leaks.
Final words
Regularly inspect the radiator, belts, and hoses, and have them changed if wear becomes noticeable. For replacement information, consult your owner's manual or ask your mechanic for advice. Has the cooling system been maintained appropriately? The system should be cleansed, the fluid emptied, and fresh coolant supplied at least once a year.
