The Dangers of an Overheating Semi-Trucks
The heat is on and temperatures are rapidly rising here in Melbourne! This year has brought some of the hottest temperatures to Melbourne County, and its surrounding areas, and it hasn’t been easy on anyone, especially semi-truck and big rig drivers. The last thing you want is for your truck to overheat on route to a delivery. Among other dangers, being stranded on the side of the road and even long-term damage to your rig are just part of why semi-trucks overheat. It’s imperative as a truck driver to take extra precautions and maintenance to ensure the safety of you and your truck on the road.
Can’t escape the triple-digit heat? Find out the most common reasons why your Semi-Truck is overheating in this month’s blog.
Common Reasons Semi-Trucks Overheat
Broken Thermostat
It might not even be your truck. It could just be a partially open or stuck shut thermostat giving the wrong temperature. It’s one of the most common reasons why semi-trucks overheat. Double-check your thermostat is working to know your truck’s temperatures are properly regulated and operating smoothly.
Blown Head Gasket
If you see white steam coming out of your hood, it might be time to replace the head gasket. Key things to look for in your truck are your temperature gauge going up and bubbling coolant under the hood. This means compression is mixing with the antifreeze. Take extra caution when checking on a hot engine and have a mechanic review your diagnosis.
Defective Radiator Cap
The radiator cap is such an important part of the engine of semi-trucks. If it is broken, pressure will build up and will not allow for the coolant to vent out or escape the cooling system. Not releasing the pressure could cause the hose to burst and cause the radiator system to leak. When this happens, the engine will fail to work properly and can create dangers on the road for you and other drivers on the road.
Bad Water Pump
A bad water pump is hard to diagnose sometimes because it doesn’t show initial external failure, it’s internal. Water pumps failing is a very common reason for overheating semi-trucks. However, only by removing and replacing it will you be back on the road again driving smoothly.
Coolant Leak
Coolant is essential for keeping the semi-truck engine at the right temperature. But it is also one of the most common problems when fixing overheating. Be sure to drive with enough coolant to get through your drive. Next, check all the hoses if there is a leak in the cooling system. When this happens, the engine will overheat and coolant will not be able to flow properly through the whole system. Check with your mechanic if you notice something to avoid a complete engine failure.
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