Apu service intervals

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by D.Tibbitt, Mar 28, 2020.

  1. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    I only had this truck since thanksgiving 2019 so havent gotton to test it out during summer. I did run the ac once already this year in california a couple weeks ago but it was only 80 degrees lol last couple years as company driver i just idled all summer.

    How hard are the belts to get off ? Was going to watch a youtube video before i dive into that
     
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  3. JonJon78

    JonJon78 Road Train Member

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    Not sure how different the tripac is to my Dynasys.

    For the Alternator belt its super easy just loosen 2 bolts on the alternator so it moves enough to slide the belts on/off...

    Tensioner belt a little more of a PIA.
     
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  4. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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    Something else you should do is blow out the radiator and condenser while you’re at it. Be very careful with the radiator if it’s like the one I have. The fins are paper thin. The condenser should be able to take a full blast of air.
     
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  5. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    I have a 2015 carrier but have had tri paks also going back to 2008 .
    The biggest things these units require just like a reefer is some maintenance and TLC.
    Carrier says 1000 hour oil changes but I just do it at every truck oil change and it will have around 5 to 800 hours on it .
    I use full synthetic 5w40 oil in it ...usually rottella .
    Change the air filter every other oil change.
    I check the oil a couple times a week and look over the belts etc .
    About every 60 days I wash out the housing, engine , condenser coil and radiator.
    The belts go away at around 2500 hours but this is more crucial on a carrier .
    Neither brand is perfect but some TLC goes a long way with them and I know of owners of both brands who have maintained them pushing 30,000 hours .
    My biggest issues have been electrical and circuit boards .
     
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  6. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Thats a great idea i bet the rad is full of junk
     
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  7. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    1k hour oil changes.

    The biggest issue I've noticed was the exhaust getting plugged up with soot. Non DPF versions... I think it spent most of the time just idling to charge the battery. It would start to choke up and bog down after the second or third year.

    If you ever see soot turds on the ground below the APU exhaust then expect diminishing performance and a lighter wallet in the future.

    Maybe you can flush out the exhaust if it gets to that point?

    Another thing they don't like, tripak or rigmaster, is being overfilled with oil. It tends to blow out the main seal and start leaking. Ouch...
     
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  8. shatteredsquare

    shatteredsquare Road Train Member

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    Would it do anything to give the exhaust a colonoscopy with a wire snake
     
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