You always need to make sure that you’re taking proper care of your vacuum truck, the same way you would with any other vehicle. Most consumer cars that you purchase come with a handy checklist of items that you should be taking care of on a regular basis to prolong the life of your vehicle–unfortunately, vacuum trucks don’t.
But, just like any other vehicle, there are set time periods during which you should change your vacuum truck’s fluids, rotate your tires, and more, just on a larger scale. Most vacuum trucks are durable machines designed for heavy work. So, long as you take proper care of it and follow our maintenance checklist, you’ll be able to keep your machine running perfectly.
Daily Maintenance
- Open up all drain valves – Shutting down the truck consists of emptying the water system by opening all water system drain valves and opening the debris body to allow air circulation. Doing so will also allow for debris to break free of the internal system.
- Check to make sure systems are completely free of water – At times when the truck is going to be stored during temperatures below 32 F, it is important that the water system and debris body are free of water.
- Prop open the tailgate – If the truck is being stored longer than overnight, the tailgate should be propped open with the rear door support and the debris body partially raised.
Monthly Maintenance
- Check Fluid Levels & Air Breather – One of the most important maintenance steps that you can take with your vacuum truck involves checking both your fluid levels and your air breather on a regular basis. You should perform these tasks at least twice a month, if not more. Make sure that all cylinders on the truck are in the proper position. If any of the fluid levels are reading as low, be sure to refill them as quickly as possible. If they are consistently low, your vacuum truck may have a leak in one or more areas.
- Clean the Debris Body & Inspect the Air and Water Separator Cyclone Unit – Other steps that you’ll need to take involve cleaning the debris body and performing an inspection of the air and water separator cyclone unit. Cleaning the debris body can be done with water, similar to the way you might clean your car. Inspecting the air and water separator cyclone will involve properly cleaning the screens, checking the air access areas, and wiping away dirt from the boom enclosures.
- Check the Electrical Wiring System – You’ll also want to take care to check the electrical wiring system in your vacuum truck for any loose connections, frayed wires, and other signs of damage.
Yearly Maintenance
- Change the Hydraulic Filters – This is something you’ll want to do with your vacuum truck at least once a year. You’ll need to remove the filter elements, replace them with new ones and refill the new filters with the proper type of hydraulic oil.
- Flush the Hydraulic System – Changing your hydraulic filters will also be a good opportunity to flush the hydraulic system. Doing so involves properly draining all fluid from both the hydraulic tank and the fluid reservoir. You can do this by removing the drain plug. Once everything has been drained, replace the drain plug and fill the tank with fresh fluid.
- Change Fluids – To make sure that your new fluid is properly integrated into the system, turn on the engine and perform all hydraulic functions. Doing so will help get the new fluid pumping through the system and will help make sure that everything is running as smoothly as it should be. Once you’ve performed all hydraulic functions, shut down your vacuum truck and check the fluid levels again. Depending on your specific model you may need to add fluid again.
Reach Out to Tiger General
We hope you found this article helpful and interesting. If you need a new piece of equipment, fill out the Tiger General Truck Inquiry Form today!