We love our diesel truck and all the horsepower that those big, beautiful engines put out while we are hauling down the highway, but if there is any one thing we can say we love more… it’s our planet.  That having been said, our favorite trucks aren’t always kind to our planet’s atmosphere when they start aging, so here are some things you can do with that bad boy that can make it better for our eco-system.

1. Change your oil – I know this sounds like a no brainer, but keeping up with regular oil changes will definitely help keep down harmful emissions in your truck, and it will only serve to help keep that beast running for you for a long time.

2. Keep your air filter clean – Once again, sounds pretty simple and it really is.  Standard upkeep of your truck such as changing your air filter is essential for lowering the emissions of your truck.  The harder your engine has to work, the more emissions it produces.

3. Maintain proper tire pressure – If your tire pressure is low, you can see an decrease of up to 20% in fuel economy, which means more emissions per mile you drive. 

4. Reduce Idle Time – If you are going to be waiting for someone or something in your truck for more than a minute, you should shut off your engine.  Many people believe that starting your truck would use more fuel than just leaving it on, but that’s not true.  No need to keep it running unless you are ready to go.

5. Change up your driving style – I know it’s always fun to let your engine rev up high and sound like you’re on a race track going down the highway, but if you want to help keep your emissions down and fuel economy up, don’t rev your engine so high, change gears lower, brake sooner, and slow down.  It will also help increase the life of your engine.

It’s not hard to see that by just doing a little bit of general upkeep and changing a few minor things about how you drive, you can really help reduce your carbon footprint with your truck.  It’s also worthwhile to note that all of these things will also help when it comes to the longevity of your engine’s life.  So make sure you keep your truck in tip top shape and treat it right and that will ensure that you also help keep our environment and atmosphere the same way.

As an extremely important component of your Heavy Equipment’s cooling system, coolant can help prevent cavitation, corrosion, freezing, and rust. A periodic inspection of your Heavy Equipment’s coolant can provide information that is important to performance and health.

Most heavy-duty antifreeze is approximately 95% ethylene glycol and 5% water and additives. Approximately 1% of all antifreeze is manufactured using from propylene glycol, which is less toxic but more expensive than ethylene glycol. When glycol is mixed with water, coolant is created. Most coolant is 30% – 50% glycol. Additives are incorporated to fight corrosion, rust, scale, and they also help to protect wet cylinder sleeves from cavitation.

Choosing the right coolant and periodically inspecting it can work wonders for your cooling system. Follow these recommendations for optimal cooling system health and performance.

Buying Coolant for My Heavy Equipment

• Check to see if the coolant you purchase for your Heavy Equipment states that it complies with ASTM standard D-6210 on the package.

• Deionized water should be used for all Heavy Equipment coolant. Most (if not all) diesel coolants should be prediluted.

• When you find a coolant you are happy with, stick with it. Never mix them. Always follow the maintenance suggestions from the manufacturer.

Coolant Maintenance Recommendations

• Periodically conduct visual tests. The coolant should be clean and free of rust coloration.

• Get a heavy equipment coolant analysis test kit. The recommended interval for testing is 1,000 hours.

• Be sure to note the color changes on the test kit strips as they can indicate freeze/boil point (glycol content) and nitrite levels. Some test strips will also indicate PH balance.

For more information on coolant, ask a diesel technician at your next visit to Flying Wrench Services or call us today at: (360) 638-0044.