Seasonal shifts in temperatures can be a welcome change for fleets most prepared for them. Many trucks have spent the last several months battling winter conditions but as Spring settles in, several key maintenance areas need to be addressed before Summer arrives.
HVAC
Since the air conditioning doesn’t get a workout in the winter months, problems with the system may exist and go undetected. Cooling the cabin against hot temperatures is more stressful on the system than heating it, so a pressure test is a good idea and it’s worth looking into a recharge.
Luber-finer​’s Director of Heavy Duty Marketing​ Layne R. Gobrogge​ says replacing filters is also a good summer-readiness practice.
“With warmer weather comes an increase in seasonal allergens such as pollen and mold,” he says. “Higher temperatures also bring about an increase in air pollution and dust mites.”
When these contaminants enter the cabin through the truck’s HVAC system, concentrations can multiply up to eight times higher than normal, resulting in the air a driver breathes inside a vehicle becoming more polluted than the air outside.
“Given the number of hours OTR drivers spend behind the wheel … that’s why it’s so important to maintain a safe, healthy and comfortable environment with a cabin air filter that cleans and purifies the air coming into the cab – especially when temperatures start to rise.”
