Heavy Truck & Equipment Winter Preparation

Preparing Your Semi Truck or Heavy Equipment For Winter

     Living in Canada is great for a lot of reasons, but one of the facts of life here is that winters can be harsh. With temperatures that range from bitterly cold and icy to above-zero and slushy, your vehicle has to put up with some intense environments between October and March every year. While most people take some preventative action for winter, like installing winter tires, there are actually some often-overlooked steps you can take across all your vehicle’s systems to make sure that everything is running in top shape – before the really cold weather hits. Here’s what we recommend at West Tech Mobile:

1. Check your air system. Because so many of the systems in your truck are dependent on the air system functioning properly, it is mandatory that you have good clean air to eliminate contaminations within it.  The air compressor can put contaminants into the air system and it needs an extremely good quality air drier to filter that air so that all air components can work correctly.  This is one of the hardest hit systems that is affected by the cold weather, as it has to process the incoming air – which can be extremely cold, wet, or dirty. That’s why this system is so important to maintain! If your truck is fairly new and has a diesel engine, it has a special air filtration system known as an air drier. This cartridge dries out and filters the air coming into the air system to ensure that no water or contaminants clog up the system. If you have a newer truck, don’t worry – we have Pureguard air driers that work with all kinds of both newer and older units. We just want to make sure your air system works like it’s supposed to!
2. Keep an eye on coolant. This one is critical! Coolant plays a crucial role in regulating the temperature of your engine, and its chemical balance needs to fall within the manufacturer’s specifications in order to avoid causing damage – if not correct, it can create cavitations and internal engine damage! You should check the freeze points and chemical balance of coolant all year long and especially before winter starts.  West Tech Mobile suggests that the coolant system (depending on use) be checked every 3-6 months for optimal performance and engine protection.
3. How are your batteries? Here at West Tech, we can load test your batteries, check your charging system and electrical connections, and perform any necessary service or repairs – before the nasty weather really hits. Your electrical system is strained hard during the winter due to the cold conditions, so don’t leave this one to chance!
4. Block heaters are your friend. While we’re doing a check-up on your truck, we can take a look at the engine block heater to ensure that it is working correctly. This device is a necessity if your unit is stored outside in the extreme cold (and you rely on proper starts and engine performance). At West Tech, we even offer Webasto engine coolant heaters, which are a plug-free alternative to conventional block heaters that efficiently warm up your engine long before you need to start it – not only are they more convenient for you as the driver, but it decreases fuel consumption (due to idling and cold starts) and extends the overall life of your engine.
5. Other general systems checks. How are your wiper blades and washer fluid? You’ll want those in good condition before the slush of winter coats your windshield on a busy highway. Or how about your engine oil? At WTM, we have bulk 5W40 synthetic oil at a very reasonable cost – it will keep things working smoothly and extend your engine’s longevity. Keeping on top of these things will make your winter driving experience much easier, and will ensure that your truck or heavy-duty equipment starts when you need it to and stays running.

     It’s a good idea to get your vehicle inspected to make sure it’s winter-ready. Book in with West Tech Mobile here in Calgary, Alberta, for a quarterly inspection so you avoid any costly surprises over the coming months. With that peace of mind, you’ll be glad you did!