First PM

[merrick4]

Ok I've posted this in two other places and have yet to get a response, but I know this will be the best place for it:

Just had my first PM and I'm not sure what some of these numbers mean. Any explanation for this stuff would be appreciated.

Coolant Freeze Point -60 (obviously I know what this means but is this good?)

Coolant SCA level 1200

Record air restriction gauge reading 1200
Record engine oil pressures @ idle 48 @ 1200 55 it was at 42 and 48 at Pre-Service

Are these numbers good? Also I was going to change the air filter too but they said it wasn't needed. I guess I can do this myself as this is the only thing I do with confidence on my own car. Do I just wait til that little red thing comes up or change it more frequently?

Thanks

[Doghouse]

Coolant SCA level =Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCA) or the distilled water used to add to the coolant. Using distilled water helps keep the pH to a normal safe level(When pH is less than 8.0, coolant should be drained and flushed). that won't become too acidic and eat at your engines metal parts (cylinder liners especially).
The SCA level you have is 1200, and I have not seen it put into that scale before usually. You need to find out from your engines manufacturer if this is an acceptable level.
Your freeze point is good, unless you are going to Yellowknife to be on Ice Road Truckers season 2.

Your oil pressure is good, as you can see it improved when the filters were changed, so that means it was due,..but even your pre-change pressure was good.

Air restriction at 1200, my truck has a limit of 700 (I think), so that means that your air filter should have been replaced(if it was at 1200). If you don't, it causes low engine power, and if it gets too bad,...the filter can crush in on itself, and then all the crap caught in it can go into your engine.

[merrick4]

Thanks Doghouse. I got an oil analysis too so I'll be back when that comes in.

[Doghouse]

I never did catch what kind of truck/engine you have.

[merrick4]

I have a 2005 Freighliner Columbia with a Detroit engine. It was a Covenant fleet truck. It has now 340000 roughly miles. It had 324,000 on it when I got it. It runs well though the past couple of days I notice the steering wheel shake a bit. I brought it up to 80 to see if it was speed and it ran smoother at that speed (I drive around 63mph) I am mechanically stupid, even retarded compared to you but I will do everything possible to keep this thing going and repairs to a minimum.

[Doghouse]

80mph,.....my truck might go that fast if I drove off a cliff ,
Your vibration might go away with a set of centramatics, how many miles on your steers?

[merrick4]

I don't know how many are on the tire as they came with the truck but they look new. The trailer are obviously new. I was wondering, the tires say 110psi cold but I've had them on 100 and 110 on the steer. Someone said as it's summer to keep them under the max psi as the air will expand. Make sense?

[allan5oh]

Tires usually say max load X at 110 psi, not max 110 psi.

That psi is cold rating too, takes into account air expanding.

I run 105 all the way around. I find 95 and lower my steers really wear bad.

[merrick4]

Yes Allan you are right it is max load . Do you keep them at 105 throughout the year?

[allan5oh]

Yup, every so often it needs a topping up.

I always put in air in the shop where it's warm.

Filling up tires below freezing is useless.