Winter always comes in like a lion, out like a lamb, or vice versa. Summer doesn’t have such descriptive similes, but this summer is coming in like its own kind of beast. With your pumper truck(s) heading into the peak season, you’re braced for a multitude of portable toilet units waiting for service at customers’ worksites and special events. In potentially record-breaking high temperatures, a heat-related equipment breakdown could mean disaster. Get out ahead of that risk by prioritizing the hot-weather pumper truck maintenance items on the checklist below.
Summer Pumper Truck Maintenance Checklist
Depending on your region of the country and any unique conditions in your state or local environment, you can modify this list of seasonal maintenance tasks. If you haven’t yet made a checklist, you can use this one to build your own. In the meantime, this covers the basics of portable restroom pumper truck summer maintenance everywhere:
Fluid Levels
- Engine Coolant: Flush out coolant and replace it, if needed. Then, check levels frequently throughout the season to protect against engine overheating in hot weather.
- Engine Oil: Top off the engine oil with a grade that provides the appropriate viscosity for summer temperatures in your climate zone.
- Vacuum Pump Oil: Check the vacuum pump oil level frequently during hot months, and top it off as needed.
- AC Refrigerant: Check AC refrigerant levels throughout the season and top it off as needed.
- Tank Deodorizer: Add extra pumper tank exhaust deodorizer liquid to help reduce odor in hot weather.
Cooling Equipment
- Radiator: Inspect the radiator. Clean it out with an appropriate cleaning agent if needed. Or, flush and refill it, if necessary.
- Fan Belt: Inspect the serpentine belt and hoses, and replace any worn ones. These parts are most vulnerable when running long hours in high external heat conditions.
- Air Filter: Replace the air filter, which can clog more quickly when driving daily during hot weather in high-dust areas.
- AC Belt: Inspect the AC belt, cab air vents, compressor functioning, and other air conditioning components.
Electrical and Battery
- Battery Terminals: Examine the condition of the battery terminals routinely for corrosion, and clean these as needed to prevent loss of voltage or disconnect.
- Battery Voltage: Test battery voltage, because high summer heat under the hood can reduce battery life.
- Wiring: Inspect wiring throughout the vehicle for loose connections due to melting or drying out and becoming brittle from extreme heat exposure.
- Fuses: Check the fuses to ensure that all are working. Keep spares on hand for quick replacement if needed.
Vacuum Pump
- Vacuum Functioning: Check the vacuum pressure. Test its performance for ideal functioning to ensure prompt service to all customers during the busy summer.
- Seals and Hoses: Examine hoses and seals. Heat can weaken and destroy these.
- Pump Fittings: Use grease formulated for high temperatures to lubricate the vacuum pump fittings. This helps protect against rapid deterioration of connections in hot months.
- Tanks: Flush both wastewater and freshwater tanks, and clean them as needed, to minimize increasing bacterial growth and odor due to hot weather.
Safety
- Fire Extinguisher: Inspect the fire extinguisher, and have it recharged and otherwise serviced on schedule. Fire risk escalates during hot weather.
- ID and Safety Markers: Inspect license plates, other numbering and ID markers, and safety decals for damage from heat or direct sun exposure.
- Cameras: Check backup and other external cameras and alarms to ensure they’re working.
- Brakes: Again, check brakes for wear more frequently during hot months.
General Inspection
- Daily: Inspect tires for damage from running on hot pavement.
- Weekly: And once again, inspect brakes and check tire pressure, because high heat increases wear on both.
- Monthly: Test engine idle for overheating, stalling, or other symptoms.
- Seasonally: Examine service logs for scheduled maintenance. Adjust intervals to increase frequency as needed in unusually hot summers.
Using Your Summer Pumper Truck Checklist!
Performing routine seasonal maintenance, of course, takes time during already busy days. And, it’s hot. So, it’s especially tempting to skip some of these chores. But, it’s worth it to maintain your equipment properly during the rough heat. It’s the way to greater peace of mind from improved safety and assurance of sustainable profitability during your biggest earning period of the year.