Fleet Maintenance - 16

"Going into winter, it may be [a] good time to
evaluate what oil fleets are using and if it makes
sense to use a lower viscosity oil like a lot of
OEMs are using and recommending for their
engines," Granger says.
He also notes some manufacturers have now
approved 10W-30 and 5W-30 engine oils in both
CK-4 and FA-4 API categories.
Utilizing premium products like synthetic
engine oils, multi-grade hydraulic oils, and
low-temperature greases are also considerations for better cold temperature operation,
Miller adds.

Tires

»If parking vehicles for an extended period of time, make sure to clean
the batteries of dirt and grime to avoid self-discharge.
Photo courtesy of Purkeys

Storing unused vehicles over winter
Considerations prior to parking for the season.
When looking to park commercial vehicles for the winter, whether for a few weeks or a few months, there
are a some items fleets should consider to ensure the vehicles will be ready to go when they are needed.

BATTERIES

Fully charge batteries before parking the vehicle. In addition, turn everything off that
may cause a parasitic draw. This may include computer memory, telematics and tracking systems, or other electrical equipment. Ensure the vehicle is outfitted with low-voltage disconnects, and clean any grime and dirt off the tops of the batteries to avoid self-discharge,
advises Larry Rambeaux, sales application engineer at Purkeys.
Once parked, disconnect the battery cables. Periodically reconnect battery cables and run the vehicle
long enough to replenish the lost charge, then disconnect the cables again, advises Kyle O'Dell, director
of engineering, Optronics International.

AIR SYSTEM

Ensure the air system is dry before parking the vehicle.
The air system needs to be clean and dry, recommends Kevin Pfost, coordinator, technical service at Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake. Fleets should drain the system manually to exhaust
any water that is at the bottom of the tank. He also advises against using alcohol in the system, since
doing so can decay the rubber in the valves leading to valve problems.

ENGINE OIL

Start the vehicle's engine up on a regular basis for about 20 minutes to allow the
engine oil to circulate.
"When an engine sits for a period of time, that oil will have a tendency to drip off the higher surfaces to
a lower level, and after a period of time that surface can become dry," says Stede Granger, OEM technical services manager at Shell Lubricants.

TIRES

Michelin North America recommends placing a barrier such as plastic, plywood, cardboard, or rubber floor mats between the tire and the storage surface. If outdoors,
cover tires to block direct sunlight and ultraviolet rays. If long-term storage exceeds
three months, consider taking the vehicle for a monthly highway drive for about one
hour of operational time, allowing the tires to generate internal heat which will promote longer life.
In addition to the above, greasing any components that may come into contact with snow or ice will
help prevent the potential of corrosion.

16 Fleet Maintenance | August 2020

Along with their regular tire maintenance
program, fleets heading into cold climates
require additional tire preparation. This
includes ensuring correct inflation pressure and
analyzing the tread to ensure proper traction.
With the onset of cold weather, the internal
pressure of the tire will drop.
"We've found that a 10-degree Fahrenheit
drop in ambient temperature will result in a 2
psi drop in inflation pressure," says Phil Mosier,
manager of commercial tire development at
Cooper Tire, a manufacturer of truck tires.
Considering that as temperature drops so does
tire pressure, planning ahead for each trip is
even more important during winter and should
be part of the driver's pre-trip inspection.
If the driver starts their route in a state where
temperatures are 20 degrees F, but then ends
their route in a state where the temperature is
50 degrees F, Mosier advises to "pressure up in
the morning with the low temperature."
It is also important for fleets to check the
amount of tread remaining on their tires prior
to the winter months.
"You should target having at least 50 percent
or more of your tread depth remaining to ensure
good traction throughout winter," Mosier says.
When looking to purchase tires for winter,
both Cooper Tire and Michelin North America
agree Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified
tires are best.
"Tires that have the Three Peak Mountain
Snowflake are specifically designed to perform
well in snow and adverse conditions," says Paul
Tatarchuk, B2BN special services coordinator at
Michelin North America, a tire manufacturer for
heavy duty trucks.
In addition, tread design and tread pattern
play a key role.
"For the best traction in winter, look for design
elements within the tread design," Mosier says.
"Siping, for example, provides better wet-weather gripping. And, pay attention to tread pattern.
There could be similar tread block designs,
but how the blocks are spaced, coupled with
compounding, can make one pattern a good
performer in snow while the other would be
designed for exceptional snow performance."
In extreme winter climates, tire chains may
be necessary.
"Tire chains are sometimes necessary in
certain regions for truly severe winter conditions and are often required as determined by

Fleet Maintenance

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