Owning a refrigerated truck is one thing, but making sure that it’s always kept in optimal, well-maintained condition is another. When profits are on the line, regular check-ups and general maintenance of your refrigerated truck become an integral part of protecting your bottom line and avoiding the hassles of unexpected breakdowns.
At Scully RSV, we know how important it is for our clients to be able to depend on their refrigerated vehicles by identifying problems before they escalate and become too expensive to fix. To help keep you informed, we’ve outlined a few of the most basic tips for helping to maintain your refrigerated trucks and keep them running smoothly for years to come.
Step 1: Check and change your fluids
The first (and easiest) step is to check your engine oil and other fluids, which can include everything from coolant to transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Routine fluid checks are one of the easiest ways to avoid the potential for major maintenance problems, since they allow you to identify any rapid drops in fluid levels that may be caused by a consumption or leak problem.
How frequently you change your fluids can depend on different factors, such as the distance you travel, the weight of your load, and the general conditions you drive in (like dusty conditions, off-road driving, highway or city traffic).
If you’re unsure of how different driving conditions might affect your truck’s fluids or how often they should be changed, be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s suggestions regarding your model’s specifications for ideal fluid change and frequency.
Which Fluids to Check/Change
- Engine Oil: Since common contaminants like dust, dirt, and debris can enter your engine oil, checking this first may be the most essential fluid part of your routine truck maintenance.
- Coolant: Engine coolant helps to keep your engine running at an optimum temperature, improve engine performance, and reduce risk when travelling in extreme temperatures.
- Power Steering: Power steering fluid is a hydraulic fluid that is responsible for transferring power between components of your steering system. Simply put, it allows you to turn the truck’s steering wheel easily – which is why regularly checking and changing steer fluid helps prolong the life of critical and costly-to-replace power steering parts, such as the pump and the rack.
- Brake Fluid: Over time, brake fluid absorbs moisture that can impact its ability to effectively apply break force, which can be a huge safety problem if you notice that your truck’s brakes aren’t functioning as tightly as they previously had. This is why it’s essential to regularly replace your truck’s brake fluid to make sure that they’re performing as effectively as possible.
- Windshield Washer Fluid: While it’s not essential for your truck’s running or mechanical systems, keeping your washer fluid changed and topped up helps you remain safe by cleaning the dust and smears that build up on your windshield from long hours on the road.
Step 2: Check Your Tires
Checking Tyre Pressure
While it may seem obvious, taking a check of your tyre pressure is one of the most fundamental steps to keeping vehicles maintained for a reason.
Low tyre pressure can severely impact your overall driving experience, cause uneven wear to your tyres, and reduce your traction, braking, and load-carrying ability – all of which are issues that can be easily avoided by keeping your tyres inflated properly at all times.
Tire Condition
Checking your tire condition and tread depth is also an important part of your preventative truck maintenance. Uneven wear may indicate a suspension or wheel alignment problem. And, worn tire tread may cause difficult handling in wet conditions and puts you at risk of a blowout, which can cause a serious accident.
If your front tires are worn more than your rear tires but are still in good condition, consider rotating your tires. This will help you to maintain even wear on all four tires and will prolong the lifespan of your truck’s tires. Doing this also helps to reduce vibrations on the road which may lead to improved fuel efficiency and a longer lifespan for the suspension of your vehicle.
Checking tyre condition
Tyres can get worn out or damaged from long days out on the road more easily than you might expect, which is why checking the condition of your tyres and tread depth is also an important part of keeping your truck maintained. Simple checks of your tyres like uneven wear may indicate a suspension or wheel alignment problem, while tyre tread may cause difficult handling in wet conditions and put you at risk of a serious blowout.
If your front tyres are worn more than your rear tyres but are still in good condition, consider rotating them. This will help you maintain even wear on all four tyres and prolong the lifespan of your truck’s tyres, and will also help reduce vibrations on the road which may lead to improved fuel efficiency and a longer lifespan for your vehicle’s suspension.
Step 3: Check Your Air and Oil Filters
Checking your air filter
Outside air contains small dust and dirt particles that enter your truck’s air filter as you drive, which can surpass your air filter and impact your airflow to the engine, clog throttle bodies, and pollute spark plugs, cylinders, and piston rings. If this dirt ends up in your engine block, it can damage your truck’s bearings, shafts and other valve components (which will likely cause the ‘Service Engine’ light to turn on).
A good-quality air filter will typically stop up to 98% of microscopic dust particles from passing through, but by ensuring that your air filter is clean through periodic checks, you’ll make sure that you benefit from better fuel efficiency and a smooth driving experience. If you often drive on dusty roads, it’s important to check your filter more regularly to ensure that your engine is safe from common pollution damage.
Checking your oil filter
Your truck’s oil filter is responsible for removing dust and debris from the engine oil – so if your engine oil is unfiltered for an extended period of time, these tiny, hard particles can form and wear down other surfaces in your engine. Changing your oil filter can prevent these particles from damaging your engine and make sure that your oil stays cleaner for longer.
Step 4: Checking your refrigeration systems
Undergoing a truck inspection allows you to catch any safety or mechanical issues early on. By putting in the time to check your truck for issues, you’ll be able to enjoy it for longer!
Checking your refrigeration coolant levels
The engine might be what’s running your truck, but it’s your refrigeration system that is what’s ultimately making you money in the end, which is why these maintenance steps also shouldn’t be overlooked.
Firstly, you should make a check of your refrigeration coolant, since low coolant levels can cause the refrigeration unit to work harder, leading to increased wear and tear and potential system failure. Be sure to always use the specified manufacturer-recommended coolant for your truck to ensure optimal performance and long-term usage of your refrigeration system.
Checking proper door seals
A properly sealed door will help maintain consistent temperatures within your truck and improve the total efficiency of your refrigeration, while damaged or worn-out seals can lead to temperature fluctuations and ultimately spoil the goods inside. Always inspect the seals of your truck’s doors regularly for cracks, tears, or any signs of wear, and be sure to have them replaced if you notice any damage.
Step 5: Have your truck inspected by service professionals
It’s fine to do any of the preventative maintenance steps above yourself, but if you really want to make sure that your refrigerated truck is in the absolute best condition it can be, taking it in for a professional inspection allows you to catch any safety or mechanical issues as early as possible. By putting in the time to bring your truck for professional servicing, you’ll be able to keep it out on the road for far longer without any problems or hassles.
At Scully RSV, we don’t just build trucks and offer fantastic trucks for sale and hire – we also offer repair and maintenance services for all clients, offering the following services:
- Structural welding and modifications on all types of vehicles
- Fibreglass and panel body repairs, alterations, and/or replacements
- Door seals, roller doors, door replacement, and door additions
- Floor repair, floor replacement, floor re-surfacing, and re-gritting
- Panel and paint repairs
- Fridge/freezer curtains, rolling dividers, and freezer mats
- Removal and fitment of fridge/freezer units
- Complete body swap and refits
- Sidestep repairs
- Sidestep manufacture and fitment (fold-down/permanently fixed)
- Manufacturing and fitment of ladders
- Supply and fitment of loaders to suit your applications
Find Out More About Our Truck Maintenance Services.
Scully RSV’s Truck Repair and Maintenance Services
At Scully RSV, we don’t just build trucks and offer fantastic trucks for sale and hire, we also offer repair and maintenance services for all clients! We offer the following services:
- Structural welding and modifications on all types of vehicles
- Fibreglass and panel body repairs, alterations, and or replacements
- Door seals, roller-doors, door replacement and door additions
- Floor repair, floor replacement, floor re-surfacing and re-grit
- Panel, paint and smash repairs
- Fridge/freezer curtains, rolling dividers and freezer mats
- Removal and fitment of fridge/ freezer units
- Complete body swap and refits
- Sidestep repairs
- Sidestep manufacture and fitment (fold down, permanently fixed)
- Manufacture and fitment of ladders, walkover platforms
- Supply and fitment of loaders to suit your applications
Find Out More About Our Truck Maintenance Services
Get in Touch with Scully RSV
Whether you’re after more advice regarding truck maintenance or would like to hire or buy a Scully refrigerated service vehicle, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
