My 94 Freightliner with a Detroit 2 million miles with one overhaul You have to love your truck more than anything else it's your partner in the highway our job is very dangerous over a thousand trucks do not go back home a year
Yes, ECM’s are very costly. I’ve replaced a couple over 18 years, but not from mixing up battery cables. I don’t use DEF, so no worries there. My truck is currently caked in salt BIG TIME but it’s so cold out now if I wash the truck, it will ice over and the locks will freeze. It will get warmer in a couple days and it WILL be washed then. One thing I did notice the other day driving in -7 degree weather were the number of guys on the side of the road with their flashers on and the ones going 15-20 mph sputtering white smoke. Why? Because their fuel had gelled! Just adding a bottle of Howe’s or Power Service could have prevented this. Your engine is not going to produce ANY HEAT in that -7 degree weather if it won’t run! Spend the $25 and save a LOT of hassle AND discomfort!
I always used shell oil in all my rigs. In winter time I would do a wash once a week. Another tip is if letting truck sit for a day or two is to put in fuel conditioner while doing post trip and engine is running to get it in fuel system.
Dave I think you bring up a good point about washing the truck but you know what a lot of companies don't want to pay to wash the truck like maybe once every 40 days it's hard enough to get them to pay for the reefer washouts that are mandatory
Dave your absolutely correct I Leased a 2021 Frieghtliner at the beginning 2020 and took it home and she died on me. I had to use my pick up to charge the batteries. I gave it back and bought a older 2017 evolution 10 speed and haven't had any problems ever besides minor up keep and oil change, 600k and still pulls like a champion. I ain't going back to leasing or automatics if I can ever help it👌🏾
Hey there Driver. So glad you took the time to drop by to catch today's upload? How about you? *What's the NUMBER ONE thing* you see drivers do to their truck that *_really MAKES you cringe?_* 😏 Love to hear from you.
The liquid brine spray used on the roads is also causing problems with electrical distribution equipment on the power poles. I've seen several fires start up with the insulators get wet. The electrical workers blame the liquid sprayed on the roads.
Guy at work confused the def tank and hydraulic tank on a skid steer. 3 Months later and $25,000 later it was back and running. IT destroyed most of the hydraulic components on the machine. Valve bodies, drive motors, hydrostatic drive, all junked.
Something else that will do serious damage is trying to jump frozen batteries. Also, getting in a cold truck and starting it up and putting the throttle to the floor to warm it up faster. That is probably the most common thing I have seen that can cause serious damage to the engine.
All good advice... especially the last two. Clean your truck regularly and keep lots of good quality oil and grease to it. You won't regret it and it saves money over time.
Every time I change my batteries I put red tape on positive and green on negative it doesn't matter if if I just put the tape on there 6 months ago I retape it
I like that you brought up about the drivers who speed shift and torque the hang out of the trucks. I see that quite a bit around our area from some younger bucks. Like you said, that’s a reason why fleets are going to automated transmissions.
As always------Great info. I got to the point after so many years ,I could hear a very slight drag in the starter when a battery was beginning to fail. I saved myself a lot of hassle and expense by IMMEDIATELY taking her into a shop and having the batts tested and doing it that way saves another one from losing a cell. So instead of replacing multiple batts Id replace maybe one a year. Catch'em early.
Shell and AMSOIL are two of the tops that you can use. They both have great longevity with the trucks. AMSOILs biggest downfall is availability when you’re on the move. They’ve gotten better with 3 day or less shipping, but when you need it…you need it. Thank you for all of the advice over the years. Between you and a couple of others on here, I’ve avoided some costly screw ups.
A few weeks ago I ran across the guy That thought the glass fuel filter Was for Coolant. He poured coolant in it. Was on the phone with his company Trying to figure out why his truck wouldn't start. I helped him out got him going
Good stuff Dave. Hope the drivers are listening. Thanks again Hard to shift standard in flip flops. OMG Saw it coming when the sneakers, and basketball shoes started to show up,what's next??
The best advice ever. Jump starting is fraught with danger and electronics is the no 1, casualty. Wrong fuel, did that, gasoline instead of diesel. Best oil for longevity. Engine abuse ? Chicken 🐔 always comes home to roost and always on a long journey !!
I’ve been using mobil delvac 15w40 in my paccar 579. I usually do pms between 12,000-15,000 miles. Has 1,129,800 miles on it. Doesn’t lose oil in between changes and oil pressure stays between 62-70 psi under load. Word of advice don’t listen to the manufacturer when they say they recommend oil changes 35,000-45,000 miles. Lately I’ve been skipping out on truck washes. Usually do the undercarriage every chance I get but since it’s winter I’ve been avoiding the snow.
I read a news article somewhere where the def or dpf is extremely corrosive and that's what is ruining the concrete. According to the article they were doing something different in Europe because of it.
I ran fleets of oil field trucks for years generally equipped with full lockers and one spin and a hop and i was buying an axle shaft ...i had one driver that broke 3 and a 46k locking pumpkin being stuck
I am not a trucker but your instructions are very valuable for every trucker. By the way WHAT IS A DEF tank. Is DEF fluid the same as AD BLUE tanks in European trucks
On your topic of batteries also keeping the terminals tight because if the positive terminal pops off and your running down the road and it grounds out on anything like most battery boxes have metal connecting boxes to frame it'll have a chance to ground out and do the same thing your describing
I'm drive the yard mules and my hub has a bunch with DEF and it's amazing to see how many times I've seen or heard swapping diesel and DEF in our tractors. Do semi trucks go into D-rate when it runs out of DEF? And then the truck only crawls with no throttle response
One thing I was taught about drivelines was never shift in a turn. I don't know if it matters so much with automatics because there isn't as much of a shock but, with manual transmissions, shifting while turning can break drive shafts. I've seen it happen. Merry Christmas to you and yours Dave!
Really? Ive only been driving for a year class A but shit id be crawling through turns if i wasn't shifting. Thought that was just a safety thing they told you in school and had nothing to do with protecting your truck.... What about turns at stop lights? so you start off in the low gear and just snail through the whole turn till your straight before shifting???? doesn't seem to make much sense to me.... enlighten me please.
One more thing... stop playing with the range selector, because it will break and you'll be stuck in high or low range! And make sure your wipers aren't frozen to your windshield. These aren't expensive but could be enough to ruin a deadline.
Battery series are crossed though. Neg to pos. Like loading a flash light with batteries. Positive first, then negative, - Positive, neg. However, I know you were talking about jumpstarting. Shouldnt I Hook up the Positive to the battery and the negative to the frame? Not the battery negative terminal?
My work had a driver put windshield washer fluid in his def tank on accident because someone was reusing an empty def box for windshield washer fluid (company bought it in bulk barrels) and the driver didn't realize it and saw the bottle said "Blue DEF" on it and didn't think anything of it
Make sure to disconnect batteries on the truck before you let anyone weld on it, I've damaged electrical systems at the battery recycling plant I worked at for 18 years. First pro welding job I got out of tec school. Wish that would have been covered by the school
Def in diesel. What about windshield washer fluid in the def tank? It happened at a place I used to work. 15 gallons of washer fluid man that thing has a big tank 😅😂
Hi Dave.... Just wondering what you're take.... is about using "LUCAS" products,,,,,, Oil Stabilizer ,,,,,, Injection Cleaner..?? and "Thanks for the video's" keep em comin...
Oh hey Dave, I got a question for ya. When are you going to take back this Arctic air that you sent down here? The windchill is -45°C here, it’s the touch on the cold side if you ask me. You want to talk about hard on a truck, this weather will break the truck if you’re not careful.
Every time I leave on terrible I wash my truck or I just don't run in the winter don't have Def issue truck is too old that's why I bought it and my clutch has been in for five years but I'm old school I know how to shift the truck
When i hauled container one of the guys started bottling his urine and dumping it in the def tank. This was before def was at the pump and you had to buy all those little boxes. He figured it smelled the same so what's the difference? 😳 The mechanics didn't like him after that. He was a strange man.
About crossing the battery cables; what do you think we are, electricians? No, we’re truckers, so we ain’t gonna call an electrician half way in the middle of nowhere to come and install a battery. Just kidding. 😊
I'm old and not very smart. I try to do things that my dad (whose been dead for 34 years) I can still hear him, he didn't yell because he didn't have to, telling me what a disappointment I was to him in a passive aggresive manner. I really try, and no I'm no dummy, it's just so humiliating to be talked down to. I don't make mistakes but if you're alive long enough you see the errors in your ways and will kick yourself for the rest of your life. Dad told me there were no accidents only weak people who didn't pay attention. No excuses for failure. I make way more money than he ever did but I still feel like a pos because I'd never be good enough for him.
Mixing def and diesel is plain stupid. It’s not covered under warranty because it’s a boneheaded thing to do. 100% preventable. Don’t get in a rush. Identify which tank nozzle is which before you touch anything. I’d be willing to bet drivers do it on purpose to get back at their company for some perceived offense. The company has every right to charge the driver for the repair.
Fuel nozzle will not fit in def tank,unless some has removed blue insert in def tank ,all these comments are very helpful but if you don't already know these 5 things you probably shouldn't be on the road in the first place...simple common sense! Some thing the new generation is lacking....automatics are trouble period.
The worst thing you could do to a truck...? Putting an idiot in the driver seat.
I don't even understand how someone can put fuel into the wrong tank... pay attention people, it's really not that difficult
Dude come on you know what it’s like after runnin like an animal for hours and hours you’re just out of it. Anyone can make a mistake like that
The company was probably messing up the drivers paycheck when they discovered Def in their fuel.
My 94 Freightliner with a Detroit 2 million miles with one overhaul
You have to love your truck more than anything else it's your partner in the highway our job is very dangerous over a thousand trucks do not go back home a year
Yes, ECM’s are very costly. I’ve replaced a couple over 18 years, but not from mixing up battery cables. I don’t use DEF, so no worries there. My truck is currently caked in salt BIG TIME but it’s so cold out now if I wash the truck, it will ice over and the locks will freeze. It will get warmer in a couple days and it WILL be washed then. One thing I did notice the other day driving in -7 degree weather were the number of guys on the side of the road with their flashers on and the ones going 15-20 mph sputtering white smoke. Why? Because their fuel had gelled! Just adding a bottle of Howe’s or Power Service could have prevented this. Your engine is not going to produce ANY HEAT in that -7 degree weather if it won’t run! Spend the $25 and save a LOT of hassle AND discomfort!
Rest Up Big Dave. Your a OG tripple OG a Godfather of trucking… thank you for your wisdom. Lettuce 🥬 King 👑 this guy had mad love for you.
I always used shell oil in all my rigs. In winter time I would do a wash once a week. Another tip is if letting truck sit for a day or two is to put in fuel conditioner while doing post trip and engine is running to get it in fuel system.
Dave I think you bring up a good point about washing the truck but you know what a lot of companies don't want to pay to wash the truck like maybe once every 40 days it's hard enough to get them to pay for the reefer washouts that are mandatory
Dave your absolutely correct I Leased a 2021 Frieghtliner at the beginning 2020 and took it home and she died on me.
I had to use my pick up to charge the batteries. I gave it back and bought a older 2017 evolution 10 speed and haven't had any problems ever besides minor up keep and oil change, 600k and still pulls like a champion. I ain't going back to leasing or automatics if I can ever help it👌🏾
Hey there Driver. So glad you took the time to drop by to catch today's upload? How about you? *What's the NUMBER ONE thing* you see drivers do to their truck that *_really MAKES you cringe?_* 😏 Love to hear from you.
Running the engine hot🥵🔥 or letting the engine overheat.
The liquid brine spray used on the roads is also causing problems with electrical distribution equipment on the power poles. I've seen several fires start up with the insulators get wet. The electrical workers blame the liquid sprayed on the roads.
Guy at work confused the def tank and hydraulic tank on a skid steer. 3 Months later and $25,000 later it was back and running. IT destroyed most of the hydraulic components on the machine. Valve bodies, drive motors, hydrostatic drive, all junked.
Something else that will do serious damage is trying to jump frozen batteries.
Also, getting in a cold truck and starting it up and putting the throttle to the floor to warm it up faster. That is probably the most common thing I have seen that can cause serious damage to the engine.
I believe shell rotella keeps my ol Detroit oil pressure higher than other brands for sure!
All good advice... especially the last two. Clean your truck regularly and keep lots of good quality oil and grease to it. You won't regret it and it saves money over time.
I recommend Rotella T6 5w40 Full synthetic in winter for easy starting
So it's ok to switch to a from synthetic in winter to regualar in the summer?
I own a 2019 RAM pickup with the 6.7L Cummins diesel engine. My RAM Dealer ONLY uses Shell ROTELLA motor oil.
Start up in cold and immediately drive off, let it warm up.
If u work for a company u can’t the truck only idles for 120 seconds then cuts off
Every time I change my batteries I put red tape on positive and green on negative it doesn't matter if if I just put the tape on there 6 months ago I retape it
How can you even fuel diesel in def tank. Nozzle is to big to even fit
Yes sir my farm family been using shell oil for all equipments on the farm and big rigs
I like that you brought up about the drivers who speed shift and torque the hang out of the trucks. I see that quite a bit around our area from some younger bucks. Like you said, that’s a reason why fleets are going to automated transmissions.
3:57 why even replace clutch if most of the time all you do is float the gears
As always------Great info. I got to the point after so many years ,I could hear a very slight drag in the starter when a battery was beginning to fail. I saved myself a lot of hassle and expense by IMMEDIATELY taking her into a shop and having the batts tested and doing it that way saves another one from losing a cell. So instead of replacing multiple batts Id replace maybe one a year. Catch'em early.
Shell and AMSOIL are two of the tops that you can use. They both have great longevity with the trucks. AMSOILs biggest downfall is availability when you’re on the move. They’ve gotten better with 3 day or less shipping, but when you need it…you need it. Thank you for all of the advice over the years. Between you and a couple of others on here, I’ve avoided some costly screw ups.
A few weeks ago I ran across the guy That thought the glass fuel filter Was for Coolant. He poured coolant in it. Was on the phone with his company Trying to figure out why his truck wouldn't start. I helped him out got him going
Good stuff Dave. Hope the drivers are listening. Thanks again
Hard to shift standard in flip flops. OMG
Saw it coming when the sneakers, and basketball shoes started to show up,what's next??
I use rotella t4 15w40 year around, just let er' warm up good and I always use Lucas in my oil!
Everyone of your videos are gold. Thank you for the continued guidance and encouragement.
Respect 🇯🇲👊🏾
The best advice ever. Jump starting is fraught with danger and electronics is the no 1, casualty. Wrong fuel, did that, gasoline instead of diesel. Best oil for longevity. Engine abuse ? Chicken 🐔 always comes home to roost and always on a long journey !!
I’ve been using mobil delvac 15w40 in my paccar 579. I usually do pms between 12,000-15,000 miles. Has 1,129,800 miles on it. Doesn’t lose oil in between changes and oil pressure stays between 62-70 psi under load. Word of advice don’t listen to the manufacturer when they say they recommend oil changes 35,000-45,000 miles. Lately I’ve been skipping out on truck washes. Usually do the undercarriage every chance I get but since it’s winter I’ve been avoiding the snow.
See ya on the back haul brother. 👊
Make a next list of the next possible things that can go wrong. This is a good and funny video to listen to
Buy Howe’s Anti-gel in October! They all run out of this in January when you need it.
Some basics for all road users.
Mat on Diesel Creek uses Shell Rotella 6 too.
Merry Christmas up there boys.
My brother in law tested oil at the power plant he retired from. Mobil1 always out performed all other oils.
Always providing great information thanks for your great information vedios
I was told by Blue Beacon they will not wash between the frames, isn't the front and rear between the frame.
Ain’t that the truth… “they never quit at home” So true!👍🏾. Thanks for these videos!!
I'm team rotella! 15w40
I read a news article somewhere where the def or dpf is extremely corrosive and that's what is ruining the concrete. According to the article they were doing something different in Europe because of it.
I ran fleets of oil field trucks for years generally equipped with full lockers and one spin and a hop and i was buying an axle shaft ...i had one driver that broke 3 and a 46k locking pumpkin being stuck
I got a 20L bucket of T4 at Canadian tire for 85 bucks! 👍🏽
I am not a trucker but your instructions are very valuable for every trucker. By the way WHAT IS A DEF tank. Is DEF fluid the same as AD BLUE tanks in European trucks
Series is actually negative to positive and positive to negative these batteries are set up in parallel which is pos to pos and neg to neg.
Thanks my friend for those tips papa
Spot on! You the man! Thanks for the video! Have a Merry Christmas!🤟🤟
On your topic of batteries also keeping the terminals tight because if the positive terminal pops off and your running down the road and it grounds out on anything like most battery boxes have metal connecting boxes to frame it'll have a chance to ground out and do the same thing your describing
Great advice!!!
I'm drive the yard mules and my hub has a bunch with DEF and it's amazing to see how many times I've seen or heard swapping diesel and DEF in our tractors. Do semi trucks go into D-rate when it runs out of DEF? And then the truck only crawls with no throttle response
Merry Christmas driver that truck does a lot of sitting as of late 10 4 😊
One thing I was taught about drivelines was never shift in a turn. I don't know if it matters so much with automatics because there isn't as much of a shock but, with manual transmissions, shifting while turning can break drive shafts. I've seen it happen.
Merry Christmas to you and yours Dave!
Really? Ive only been driving for a year class A but shit id be crawling through turns if i wasn't shifting. Thought that was just a safety thing they told you in school and had nothing to do with protecting your truck....
What about turns at stop lights? so you start off in the low gear and just snail through the whole turn till your straight before shifting???? doesn't seem to make much sense to me.... enlighten me please.
One more thing... stop playing with the range selector, because it will break and you'll be stuck in high or low range! And make sure your wipers aren't frozen to your windshield. These aren't expensive but could be enough to ruin a deadline.
Yea i can say i almost made a misteak i almost put def in my diesel tank im use to old school
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and knowledge
Penny pinching or cutting corners on maintenance will wind up costing double, triple, or worse in the long-run!!
Now I gotta go wash the truck. 😊 I always enjoy your videos!
Battery series are crossed though. Neg to pos. Like loading a flash light with batteries. Positive first, then negative, - Positive, neg.
However, I know you were talking about jumpstarting. Shouldnt I Hook up the Positive to the battery and the negative to the frame? Not the battery negative terminal?
My work had a driver put windshield washer fluid in his def tank on accident because someone was reusing an empty def box for windshield washer fluid (company bought it in bulk barrels) and the driver didn't realize it and saw the bottle said "Blue DEF" on it and didn't think anything of it
Thanks for your channel!
Make sure to disconnect batteries on the truck before you let anyone weld on it, I've damaged electrical systems at the battery recycling plant I worked at for 18 years. First pro welding job I got out of tec school. Wish that would have been covered by the school
True words 👍
Best regards Form Germany 😉👍
i have a progressive dynamic onboard charger like an RV i just plug it in 😁
I've seen "drivers" try to float the gears but clang it in regularly....ouch!
So very tru Brother Dave..good video good presentation..merry Christmas driver!!
happy holidays my friend.
Rotella T6 is the best oil!
Can be used in cars motorcycle, lawnmowers and your truck!!!!
Hmm! OK then good tips on preventative maintenance! #keepontruckin 😉👌
You should do something about a welder/fabricator for 13 years trying to get a grip on this industry and not get written up.
Lol...in the days of split rims, spinning your tires was not good! If you tires grab hold...say goodbye to your valve stems!!
Merry Christmas!! 🎄🎁
this truck stop is in the county I live in, disturbing eye opener
Def in diesel. What about windshield washer fluid in the def tank? It happened at a place I used to work. 15 gallons of washer fluid man that thing has a big tank 😅😂
You got to be a complete moron to do that! funny as hell!
You are right oil makes a difference but I found she'll roteala breaks down really fast so do your research with your oil company
#1) Don’t let me drive your truck!
Hi Dave.... Just wondering what you're take.... is about using "LUCAS" products,,,,,, Oil Stabilizer ,,,,,, Injection Cleaner..?? and "Thanks for the video's" keep em comin...
Any proof on the shell oil?
My cousins brother in law put DEF in his fuel tanks! Haha his truck was older Freightliner
Shell Rotella or Chevron Dello?
Whats better fellas
They both are excellent, but i prefer rotella.
What’s the back haul?
Hauling In California I-5
Oh hey Dave, I got a question for ya. When are you going to take back this Arctic air that you sent down here? The windchill is -45°C here, it’s the touch on the cold side if you ask me. You want to talk about hard on a truck, this weather will break the truck if you’re not careful.
10-4 Happy New Year
Never extinguish your cigarette in the fuel tank.
I use Walmart oil in all of my rigs. Never had a problem
Oh, I never knew positive had to go to positive and negative goes to negative 🤔
Kendall & Valvoline ✌🏻
When I hear a commercial saying, “essential oil,” I aways think “Rotella T 15W40”.
Every time I leave on terrible I wash my truck or I just don't run in the winter don't have Def issue truck is too old that's why I bought it and my clutch has been in for five years but I'm old school I know how to shift the truck
Start it up when it's frigid and floor it !!!!!!!!!
When i hauled container one of the guys started bottling his urine and dumping it in the def tank. This was before def was at the pump and you had to buy all those little boxes. He figured it smelled the same so what's the difference? 😳
The mechanics didn't like him after that. He was a strange man.
About crossing the battery cables; what do you think we are, electricians? No, we’re truckers, so we ain’t gonna call an electrician half way in the middle of nowhere to come and install a battery.
Just kidding. 😊
I'm old and not very smart. I try to do things that my dad (whose been dead for 34 years) I can still hear him, he didn't yell because he didn't have to, telling me what a disappointment I was to him in a passive aggresive manner. I really try, and no I'm no dummy, it's just so humiliating to be talked down to. I don't make mistakes but if you're alive long enough you see the errors in your ways and will kick yourself for the rest of your life. Dad told me there were no accidents only weak people who didn't pay attention. No excuses for failure. I make way more money than he ever did but I still feel like a pos because I'd never be good enough for him.
Mixing def and diesel is plain stupid. It’s not covered under warranty because it’s a boneheaded thing to do. 100% preventable. Don’t get in a rush. Identify which tank nozzle is which before you touch anything. I’d be willing to bet drivers do it on purpose to get back at their company for some perceived offense. The company has every right to charge the driver for the repair.
Fuel nozzle will not fit in def tank,unless some has removed blue insert in def tank ,all these comments are very helpful but if you don't already know these 5 things you probably shouldn't be on the road in the first place...simple common sense! Some thing the new generation is lacking....automatics are trouble period.
💯💯💯❗❗❗
If you can't jump start a truck...this may not be for you.