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Essential Summer Maintenance Guide for Heavy-Duty Trucks - AISO Lubricants
Release time:
2026-07-18
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The summer sun blazes down, scorching the earth. The sweltering heat not only tests the endurance of long-haul truck drivers but also poses severe challenges to their trusted heavy-duty trucks. Persistent high temperatures accelerate the aging and wear of vehicle components. Improper maintenance can easily lead to issues such as engine overheating, tire blowouts, and lubrication failure, which not only disrupt transportation efficiency but also create serious safety hazards. As a professional brand with years of experience in the lubricant industry, AISO Lubricants Group has always prioritized the safety of heavy-duty truck travel. Combining the characteristics of summer vehicle use, we have compiled this comprehensive summer maintenance guide for heavy-duty trucks to protect your driving journey with our expertise.
I. Core Maintenance: Lubrication System, the "Protective Shield" in High Temperatures
The engine is the "heart" of a heavy-duty truck, and lubricating oil is the "blood" that ensures the normal operation of this heart. In the high-temperature environment of summer, the temperature in the engine compartment rises sharply. Traditional lubricating oils tend to experience viscosity loss and insufficient oxidation resistance, leading to the rupture of the lubricating film. Direct friction between metal components accelerates the wear of key parts such as pistons, bearings, and camshafts, and may even cause serious failures like engine cylinder scuffing and bearing seizure. These issues not only result in high maintenance costs but also delay transportation schedules.
Tailored to summer high-temperature working conditions, AISO's fully synthetic lubricant series, specially developed for commercial vehicles, builds a solid protective barrier for heavy-duty truck engines with its excellent high-temperature performance. Adopting advanced base oil formulations and high-performance additive technology, it can maintain stable viscosity even in high-temperature environments above 100℃, effectively forming a continuous and dense lubricating film to reduce friction and wear between metal components. Meanwhile, AISO lubricants boast outstanding oxidation resistance and detergency-dispersancy, which can effectively inhibit the formation of sludge and carbon deposits at high temperatures, keep the engine interior clean, extend the oil change interval, and reduce maintenance costs. Whether for long-haul heavy-load driving or frequent start-stop urban transportation, AISO lubricants can calmly cope with high-temperature challenges and keep the engine in optimal working condition at all times.
Summer Maintenance Tips: Regularly checking the oil level and quality is the foundation, while correct oil change procedures and maintenance details are the key to ensuring the efficient operation of the lubrication system. Specific points are as follows:
1. Oil Inspection Standards: When inspecting the oil, park the vehicle on a flat road and wait for the engine to cool down. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with a dry cloth, reinsert it, and then pull it out again to check the oil level, ensuring it is between the upper and lower scale lines of the dipstick. At the same time, observe the color and state of the oil. If the oil turns dark black, becomes thick and lumpy, or contains metal shavings and impurities, it indicates that the oil has deteriorated and must be replaced immediately.
2. Oil Change Procedure: Step 1, preheat the oil. Park the vehicle on a flat surface, start the engine and let it idle for 3-5 minutes to allow the oil to flow fully, facilitating the discharge of internal impurities. Step 2, drain the old oil. Turn off the engine, place an oil drain pan under the engine oil pan, unscrew the oil drain plug, and completely drain the old oil. After the old oil is drained, check if the oil drain plug gasket is damaged. If it is deformed or broken, replace it with a new one, then tighten the oil drain plug. Step 3, replace the oil filter. Unscrew the old oil filter, wipe the surface of the filter mounting seat with a dry cloth to remove residual oil and impurities. Apply a thin layer of new oil to the sealing ring of the new AISO oil filter to ensure good sealing, then tighten the filter with a special tool. Refer to the vehicle manual for the tightening torque to avoid over-tightening or under-tightening. Step 4, add new oil. Open the oil filler cap, add the AISO lubricant suitable for the vehicle model, and check the oil level with the dipstick several times during the filling process to avoid overfilling or underfilling. After filling, tighten the oil filler cap, start the engine and let it idle for 1-2 minutes, check for leaks at the oil filter and oil drain plug. After confirming no leaks, check the oil level again and adjust it to the standard range.
3. Oil Change Interval and Precautions: When changing the oil, replace the oil filter at the same time to ensure filtering efficiency and prevent impurities from entering the lubrication system. It is recommended to replace the suitable AISO lubricant every 5,000 kilometers or in accordance with the requirements of the vehicle manual. If the vehicle is long-term operating in harsh conditions such as long-haul heavy loads, high temperature and high humidity, or dusty environments, the oil change interval can be appropriately shortened, and the oil condition should be checked in advance and replaced promptly.
II. Key Protection: Cooling System, Reject "High Fever" Risks
In summer high temperatures, the heavy-duty truck engine operates under continuous high load, generating a significant increase in heat. If the cooling system malfunctions, it can easily cause the engine to "boil over", affecting the normal operation of the vehicle. Maintenance of the cooling system is the top priority for summer heavy-duty truck maintenance.
First of all, regularly check the coolant level and quality, and do a good job in the maintenance of the cooling system. Specific points are as follows:
1. Coolant Level and Quality Inspection: Coolant is the core medium for engine heat dissipation. In summer, check the coolant level once a week to ensure it is between the MIN and MAX scale lines of the expansion tank. If the level is insufficient, replenish it with coolant of the same grade and brand. Mixing different types or brands of coolant is strictly prohibited to avoid chemical reactions that may cause coolant failure and corrosion of cooling pipes. At the same time, observe the state of the coolant. If it becomes turbid, discolored, or has sediment, it indicates that the coolant has deteriorated and must be completely replaced.
2. Coolant Replacement Procedure: When replacing the coolant, park the vehicle on a flat road and wait for the engine to cool down completely before operation to avoid scalding from high-temperature coolant spray. Step 1, open the expansion tank cap and the radiator drain valve to completely drain the old coolant. Step 2, flush the cooling system pipes with clean water, and rinse repeatedly until the discharged water is clear and free of impurities, then close the drain valve. Step 3, add new coolant until the level reaches the standard scale of the expansion tank, start the engine and let it idle for 5-10 minutes to allow the coolant to circulate and discharge air from the pipes. After operation, check the level again and replenish it to the standard range in time. The recommended coolant replacement interval is once every 2 years or 40,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.
3. Radiator and Cooling Fan Maintenance: In summer, catkins, dust, and sand can easily block the radiator fins, affecting ventilation and heat dissipation, so regular cleaning is required. It is recommended to gently blow the surface of the fins with a high-pressure air gun from the back of the radiator (cold air inlet side) to remove impurities. If there are stubborn stains on the fins, soak them with a special cleaner and then rinse them. Do not scratch them with hard objects to avoid damaging the fin structure. At the same time, check the operation of the cooling fan. Start the engine, turn on the air conditioner, and observe whether the fan can start in time and whether there are abnormalities such as abnormal noise, jamming, or uneven speed during operation. If abnormalities occur, check the fan motor, wiring, and relays in time, and replace relevant parts if necessary to ensure the fan can start normally at high temperatures and accelerate heat dissipation.
In addition, during long-haul driving, arrange rest time reasonably and avoid continuous high-intensity driving. It is recommended to stop and rest for 10-15 minutes every 1-2 hours of driving, open the engine hood for ventilation and heat dissipation, and allow the engine to cool down naturally. If the water temperature warning light comes on while driving, do not turn off the engine immediately. Keep it idling until the water temperature drops, then stop and check to avoid aggravating engine damage due to the interruption of coolant circulation caused by shutting down at high temperatures.
III. Safety Guarantee: Tires and Brakes, Build a Solid Safety Line
Summer road surface temperatures are extremely high. Prolonged driving will cause the tire temperature to rise sharply and tire pressure to become too high, which can easily lead to tire blowouts. Meanwhile, the braking system is also prone to performance degradation at high temperatures, affecting driving safety. Therefore, the maintenance of tires and braking systems is directly related to summer driving safety.
For tire maintenance, daily inspection and maintenance should be done well. Specific points are as follows:
1. Tire Pressure Inspection and Adjustment: Summer road surfaces are hot, and tire temperatures will rise significantly after prolonged driving, which can easily cause excessive tire pressure and blowouts. Regular tire pressure checks are required. It is recommended to check once before driving every day. In summer, the tire pressure can be slightly lower (0.1-0.2bar) than the standard value marked on the vehicle to avoid excessive pressure at high temperatures. Note: Do not release air when the tires are hot, as this will cause a sudden drop in tire pressure, damage the internal structure of the tires, and shorten their service life. If abnormal tire pressure is found, find the cause in time, eliminate air leakage hazards, and then adjust the tire pressure.
2. Tire Wear and Damage Inspection: Regularly check the tire tread depth and surface wear. If the tread depth is lower than 1.6mm (national safety standard), or there are problems such as uneven tread wear, bulges, cracks, or nail punctures on the tread, replace the tires in time to prevent tire blowouts. At the same time, check the tire sidewalls. If there are scratches, bulges, or other damages, even if they do not affect use, pay close attention and replace them if necessary to avoid blowouts during driving.
3. Daily Tire Cleaning and Maintenance: Regularly clean stones and debris from the tire treads to avoid increased tire wear caused by friction between debris and the road surface, and prevent debris from puncturing the tread. After long-haul driving, if the tire temperature is too high, park in a cool place to cool down naturally. Do not rinse the tires directly with cold water to avoid cracks caused by thermal expansion and contraction. In addition, regularly check the tire dynamic balance and four-wheel alignment. If the vehicle pulls to one side or the tires wear abnormally, adjust them in time to extend the tire service life.
For braking system maintenance, focus on the inspection and maintenance of brake pads, brake discs, and brake fluid in summer to ensure stable braking performance. Specific points are as follows:
1. Brake Pad and Brake Disc Maintenance: Regularly check the thickness of the brake pads. It is recommended to check once every 10,000 kilometers. After removing the tires, observe the thickness of the brake pad friction surface. If the thickness is lower than 5mm (safety standards vary slightly for different models, refer to the vehicle manual), replace them in time. When replacing the brake pads, clean the dust and oil on the brake caliper guide pins, apply special high-temperature lubricant to ensure smooth movement of the caliper and avoid brake jamming. At the same time, check the surface of the brake disc. If there are obvious scratches, uneven wear, or deformation, perform grinding treatment, and replace the brake disc if severe to prevent problems such as brake jitter, abnormal noise, and reduced braking effect during driving.
2. Brake Fluid Inspection and Replacement: Brake fluid is hygroscopic. In summer high temperatures, water in the brake fluid will evaporate and produce bubbles, causing air resistance in the brake pipes and affecting braking effect. It is recommended to replace the brake fluid every 20,000 kilometers or 2 years, whichever comes first. When replacing, use special equipment and adopt the "bleeding method" to completely drain the old oil and air from the pipes, and add new brake fluid that meets the vehicle model requirements. After replacement, step on the brake pedal several times to check the stroke and hardness of the brake pedal, ensure there is no brake delay or pulling to one side, and the pedal rebounds smoothly. During daily inspections, if the brake fluid level is lower than the standard scale, or the brake fluid becomes turbid or black, replenish or replace it in time.
3. Brake Pipe and Daily Use Precautions: Regularly check the brake pipes for leaks, aging, or cracking. If oil leakage at pipe joints or pipe cracking is found, replace relevant parts in time to ensure good sealing of the braking system. During long-haul driving, avoid continuous braking for a long time to prevent brake pad overheating and braking failure. When going downhill, downshift in advance to use engine braking to assist deceleration. If problems such as weak braking, abnormal noise, or pulling to one side occur while driving, stop and check immediately, do not drive reluctantly, and continue the journey after troubleshooting.
IV. Detail Maintenance: Small Details, Big Effects
In addition to the maintenance of core components, the detail maintenance of heavy-duty trucks in summer cannot be ignored. These seemingly insignificant small details can effectively improve the service life of the vehicle and driving comfort.
For the air conditioning system, it is used frequently in summer. Good maintenance of the air conditioning system can improve cooling effect and ensure the air quality inside the vehicle. Specific points are as follows:
1. Air Conditioning Filter Replacement and Daily Maintenance: The air conditioning filter is the key to filtering the air inside the vehicle. It is recommended to replace it every 10,000 kilometers or 3 months. If the vehicle is long-term operating in dusty or poor road conditions, the replacement interval can be appropriately shortened. When replacing, find the air conditioning filter installation position (usually behind the passenger glove box or on the firewall of the engine compartment), open the filter cover, take out the old filter, clean the dust and debris in the filter box, insert the new filter according to the arrow direction, and tighten the cover. In daily use, the filter can be taken out regularly and blown with a high-pressure air gun to remove surface dust and extend its service life.
2. In-depth Cleaning of the Air Conditioning System: It is recommended to perform an in-depth cleaning and maintenance of the air conditioning system every year before summer to remove dust, mold, and peculiar smells inside. Specific operation: Use a special air conditioning cleaner, pour it into the air conditioning air inlet, start the engine, turn on the air conditioning external circulation, adjust to the maximum air volume, and let the cleaner circulate in the system for 10-15 minutes to fully clean the evaporator, condenser, and air conditioning pipes. After cleaning, turn off the cleaner switch, continue to run the air conditioning at maximum air volume for 10-15 minutes to discharge residual cleaner and peculiar smells. You can also go to a professional repair shop for cleaning with special equipment for better results.
3. Correct Use of the Air Conditioning System: After getting on the vehicle, open the windows for ventilation and turn on the air conditioning external circulation to discharge the hot air accumulated inside the vehicle. After the temperature inside the vehicle drops, close the windows and switch to internal circulation, which can not only improve the cooling effect but also reduce the engine load. Before parking, turn off the air conditioning compressor 3-5 minutes in advance, keep the fan running to blow dry the water in the air conditioning pipes, prevent mold growth, and avoid peculiar smells when using it next time. In addition, turn on the air conditioning external circulation regularly to let fresh outside air enter the vehicle and avoid turbid air inside the vehicle.
For battery maintenance, summer high temperatures accelerate the evaporation of battery electrolyte and shorten the battery service life. Good battery maintenance is crucial. Specific points are as follows:
1. Daily Battery Inspection: Regularly check the battery electrolyte level. It is recommended to check once a week. Open the battery cover and observe the electrolyte level in each cell. If the level is 10-15mm lower than the electrode plate, replenish distilled water in time. Do not add tap water, mineral water, or electrolyte to avoid impurities affecting battery performance and damaging the electrode plates. At the same time, check the battery terminals. If they are loose or oxidized, rinse the terminals with hot water to remove the oxide layer, apply a layer of petroleum jelly or special battery terminal protectant after drying to prevent re-oxidation, and tighten the terminals with a wrench to ensure good contact and avoid difficult starting caused by poor contact.
2. Battery Charging and Maintenance: If the vehicle is parked for a long time, it is recommended to start the engine and let it idle for 20-30 minutes every 15-20 days to charge the battery and avoid battery discharge. If the battery is discharged, use a special charger for charging. Follow the principle of "small current, slow charging", control the charging current at 1/10 of the battery rated capacity, and avoid fast charging with large current to prevent damage to the battery electrode plates. When parking, turn off all electrical equipment, including lights, air conditioning, radio, and car chargers, to avoid battery discharge and extend the battery service life.
3. Precautions for Battery Replacement: If the battery has been used for more than 3 years, or has problems such as weak starting, frequent discharge, or bulging, it indicates that the battery has aged and needs to be replaced with a new one in time. When replacing, disconnect the negative battery terminal first, then the positive terminal. When installing a new battery, connect the positive terminal first, then the negative terminal to avoid short circuit and damage to vehicle electrical appliances caused by reverse connection. After replacement, start the engine and check the battery charging status to ensure normal charging.
In addition, summer is rainy and hot, and the maintenance of other detailed parts of the vehicle cannot be ignored. Specific points are as follows:
1. Chassis and Body Maintenance: Summer rains are frequent, and rainwater can easily corrode the vehicle chassis and body components. After rain, clean the vehicle chassis and body in time, rinse the chassis with clean water to remove sand and stains, and avoid corrosion of the chassis by corrosive substances in rainwater and sand. At the same time, check whether the chassis guards and suspension components are loose or damaged, and tighten or replace them in time. The body surface can be waxed regularly to form a protective layer, prevent rainwater and ultraviolet rays from corroding the paint, and avoid paint aging and fading.
2. Wiring and Electrical Appliance Maintenance: Summer high temperatures easily cause vehicle wiring to age and break, posing safety hazards such as short circuits and spontaneous combustion. Regularly check the vehicle wiring, especially the wiring in the engine compartment. If aging, cracking, or breaking of the wiring is found, wrap or replace it in time. At the same time, check the vehicle electrical appliances, such as air conditioning, radio, and lights, to ensure their normal operation and avoid wiring problems caused by electrical appliance failures. When parking, avoid parking the vehicle in the hot sun for a long time to prevent damage to vehicle electrical appliances due to high temperatures.
3. Other Detail Inspections: Regularly check the vehicle wipers. If the wiper blades are aged or cannot clean the glass clearly, replace them in time to ensure clear driving vision on rainy days. Check the windshield washer fluid level. In summer, add special windshield washer fluid, which can not only clean the glass but also prevent deterioration at high temperatures. In addition, check the sealing of the vehicle fuel tank cap to avoid gasoline volatilization at high temperatures and prevent rainwater from entering the fuel tank and affecting fuel quality.
V. AISO Escort: Professional Quality, Accompany You All the Way
For summer driving, maintenance comes first. As a trusted partner on your transportation journey, the maintenance quality of heavy-duty trucks directly affects transportation efficiency and driving safety. AISO Lubricants Group has always adhered to the concept of "professional, reliable, and efficient", deeply engaged in the commercial vehicle lubrication field, and created exclusive lubrication solutions for summer high-temperature working conditions. With excellent product quality and professional maintenance suggestions, we escort your heavy-duty trucks.
From engine lubrication to whole-vehicle maintenance, AISO lubricants always walk with you, helping you fearlessly face high-temperature challenges in the sweltering summer and complete every transportation task safely and efficiently. Choosing AISO means choosing professional protection. Let's take good care of heavy-duty trucks together and embark on every wonderful journey!
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