Maintaining a clean coolant system in your diesel truck is essential for keeping proper operating temperature and ensuring that the engine doesn’t overheat. The health of a truck’s coolant system becomes even more important in the summer months when outside temperatures rise.
Without proper maintenance, problems can arise that lead to the engine overheating. Here are some of the most common ones to look for:
- Thermostat isn’t functioning properly, preventing coolant from flowing to the engine.
- A blown head gasket will cause coolant to leak. When this occurs, the operating temperature will shoot up quickly and you may notice smoke coming from your truck.
- Worn out radiator hoses and the radiator cap can crack, causing coolant to leak.
- The water pump is leaking or has a defective impeller.
- Cracked, broken, or loose fan belt won’t circulate coolant through the truck’s radiator.
Operating your truck with a defective cooling system can cause further damage to the truck engine and/or the EGR cooler, either of which would require much more involved repairs.
Signs that your coolant system may be experiencing issues:
- Coolant reservoir is low
- Steam is coming from the radiator cap
- There is a noticeable smell of coolant
- The truck’s temperature gauge is running above 185 degrees
If you don’t know what type of coolant system your diesel truck is running, bring it it into our shop. We will help you identify concerns and come up with a proper and effective service schedule. Mechanics can also diagnose and recommend the proper coolant to use. They can also make sure that your vehicle is using the correct concentration of coolant and water in its mix.
Recommended service schedules can vary significantly depending on the type of antifreeze being used in a truck’s cooling system. Knowing the type of antifreeze will help you track the mileage benchmarks for routine maintenance. It is recommended to have mechanics do a basic check of coolant levels during other routine services.
The following are some typical service solutions to address issues in a truck’s cooling system:
- Replacing gaskets, seals, and radiator caps that are worn down or cracked.
- Flushing out old coolant and replacing it with new.
- Changing out cracked and damaged hoses.
- Putting in new fan belts.
- Repairing the reservoir tank for leaks.
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