Road Salt and Diesel Engine Trucks: Tips for Protection This Winter

Road salt is important for keeping vehicles safely on the road as snow and ice create dangerous driving conditions, but the benefits come with a toll without diesel maintenance to prevent corrosion.

Road salt is a combination of many ingredients, but the ones you have to worry most about eating away at your truck are sodium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, as these create an electrochemical reaction on metal vehicle parts that lead to the formation of rust.

Risk Factors to Consider

The most frequently damaged areas of a vehicle from road salt include the exhaust system, wheel wells, fuel tanks, electrical connections, brake lines and the undercarriage of the vehicle.

Whether you’re cruising down the road in an 18-wheeler or in your personal diesel engine truck, the constant splatter of road salt onto the various metal parts of your truck can lead to some substantial financial implications. Safety risks must also be considered, particularly if a brake line malfunctions.

Preventative Action

One of the most important maintenance tips for winter is to regularly wash your diesel engine truck, especially the undercarriage. This will rinse away salt deposits and prevent ongoing corrosion.

You can also apply protective coatings, which will prevent the salt from ever coming into contact with the metal on your truck. Generally referred to as anti-rust spray, it acts as a barrier against moisture and salt.

You can take a more thorough approach by having zinc or aluminum, two metals that are not damaged by salt, installed in specific areas of the undercarriage, which also acts as a barrier.

Another advanced method for diesel maintenance and corrosion prevention is cathodic protection, a process where the metal on the truck is a cathode of an electrochemical cell, which stops iron oxidation (rust).

Maintenance Steps

Don’t forget about the other parts of your truck that need to be maintained for quality performance during the winter months. Consider the following:

• Tire Inspection
  Are your tread depths acceptable or is it time to replace your worn tires? Be sure to check the air pressure, as cold temps can have an impact. Keep your tire chains handy, too.
• Battery
  Look at your battery terminals and check for corrosion, then clean as needed. Check that your battery is fully charged and holds a charge. Ensure your battery cables are not damaged.
• Wiper Blade Replacement
  Maintain top visibility by replacing old blades with new ones. While you’re at it, top off your washer fluid with a product made for maintaining its liquid form in freezing weather.
• Heating System
  Your heating and defrosting system will function better with new, clean air filters.
• Brake System
  Winter weather can also affect your brakes, so check your brake pads for wear, make sure your brake fluid levels are perfect and examine your brake lines for damage.

There are many areas to inspect to keep your diesel engine truck in tip-top shape this winter, so be sure to make an appointment with Gray Diesel & Equipment Services. Our team of diesel professionals know exactly what to look for and how to address any issue your truck might have.