With the coming of colder weather, companies using vacuum trucks need to think about winter safety and preparing both vehicles and workers for the change in season.
Routine maintenance is important for any industrial equipment; however, seasonal changes present specific challenges in the correct use of vacuum trucks.
Winter maintenance should be planned for early so the trucks can keep working as much as possible with zero down time due to cold weather problems.
Winter Fluids and Lubrication One of the main winter maintenance jobs for any vehicle, whether it is a passenger car or the heaviest of all heavy-duty commercial vehicles is changing the fluids to those that will not be affected by low temperatures.
Changing to a lighter weight engine oil and making sure that the antifreeze reservoir and windshield fluid contained are filled with non-freezing fluid is common knowledge.
In vehicles such as vacuum trucks, the rear differential oil should be changed to a lighter weight viscosity as well as lubricating all the bearings.
Cold Weather Vacuum System Care In order to keep a vacuum truck pumping in winter, these vehicles require having the vacuum pump fluid changed to a lighter weight.
A suctioning truck that doesn't work because the pump can't move can cause lost production time and reduced income; it is also a potentially dangerous situation if the vacuum system is not working to its fullest capacity.
Refer to the manufacturer's manual for each vehicle in regard to recommended oil weights and cold weather use.
Besides changing the vacuum pump oil, another extremely important maintenance point for these vehicles is to be sure that the truck is completely drained, which would include the secondary tank, the hoses and the pump itself.
While this may take some extra effort, being sure that the entire truck is empty and the pump and all hoses are clean and blown out so that no water is left sitting can mean the life of that pump or hose.
Water left in either, or in the tanks, can back up and freeze; at the very least, it can render a truck useless until any water trapped inside is unfrozen.
At the worst, it can split hoses and even crack the pump itself since water expands when it freezes; any water sitting inside the pump will have nowhere to go but outward, making for an expensive repair job before the unit will be used again.
General Cold Weather Preparation Besides the more specialized maintenance items that are listed above, the onset of the winter weather season means bad road conditions in many locations.
Being prepared for any cold or snowy weather is equally important, especially when driving a large vehicle that can be weighed down with whatever load is being carried.
Always be sure that the tires are in good shape and that winter tires or snow chains are available.
Do a complete maintenance check to ensure that the tires are holding the right pressure, fluid levels are staying exactly where they need to be, and that the engine cooling and interior heating systems are all properly functioning.
Always flush the radiator and add new fluid as well.
Fall is always a good time for a general tune up to keep vehicles in top running condition while adding any winter weather necessity items as temperatures drop.
With vacuum trucks in particular, being able to work all season completely depends upon the correct care and maintenance and taking special care of the unit's more delicate parts.
Being thorough in giving each vacuum truck the winter care it needs reduces the risk of failure once the cold weather hits - and keeping that vacuum truck pumping!