The best time to conduct engine cooling system maintenance is before you need it. Get that maintenance done now, and you won’t have to worry about a vehicle overheating on the road this summer. Fleets keep vehicles an average of 5.7 years longer than in the past because of the rising costs of new trucks. Better maintenance is necessary to keep them running.

Frequently, you won’t even know your engine is overheating until it’s already too late and you see steam rolling out from under the hood.

So, the rainy months in spring are an excellent time to check your engine cooling system.

Early warning signs are there if you look for them. When you come into Ultimate Fleet Repair for services, we check the six primary parts of your cooling system.

The Water Pump

This is your engine cooling system’s heart. The water pump must consistently circulate the engine’s coolant to keep the engine cool and running smoothly.

The Anti-Freeze or Coolant

The coolant should be flushed periodically and replaced with new to cool the engine properly.

The Radiator

Your engine’s cooling system starts and finishes at the radiator. Its job is to transfer outside air to the coolant—it actually cools the coolant.

The Cooling Fan

The cooling fan blows air onto the radiator, so a stuck or inoperable fan will not cool the radiator that cools the coolant.

The Thermostat

The thermostat opens and closes to allow coolant to pass from the radiator into the engine to cool it. A bad thermostat will stick shut and prevent coolant from entering the engine. A stuck thermostat can lead to a too-hot engine quickly.

Rubber Hoses

The engine cooling system depends on rubber hoses to ensure the smooth flow of coolant from the radiator to the engine through the water pump and back. A complete cycle is necessary to keep the engine cool and those 18 wheels turning. If there’s a worn or crimped hose, it must be replaced.

After maintenance, the driver must monitor the temperature gauge to ensure it doesn’t fall into the dangerous red zone. Check the coolant levels during the Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) and top them off when necessary to avoid problems.

Monitoring these maintenance items will keep you out of hot water this summer.

Call the UFR Professionals to Schedule Your Engine Cooling System Maintenance

Call UFR to schedule any of the above services at (651) 454-8775. Use our contact form.