So the best way to beat the heat is to maintain the best-running coolant system possible in your heavy-duty truck or van.
To that end, Hard Working Trucks, sister publication of Truck Parts & Service, recently turned to the antifreeze/coolant (AF/C) experts at Prestone for an in-depth conversation on heating and cooling best practices.
That conversation is below.
How often does Prestone recommend testing coolant in HD applications?
For testing, we have to take into consideration what is happening when the vehicle is on the road. Fleets should test the coolant at every oil change. It does not matter which coolant the fleet uses in the vehicle, Supplemental Coolant Additive (SCA)-Precharge or a type of Extended Life Coolant (ELC). The concern is when the vehicle is on the road, what coolant is used for top-off. This is where different coolant technologies are mixed, and if not caught in time, can be an expensive repair later down the road.
Here is a good example of a testing practice to follow, an SCA-Pre-Charge coolant should be tested every 25,000 miles and an ELC at every PM oil change. Cooling system maintenance practices are also listed under TMC and OEM guidelines.
