Is it ok to turn off a refr unit while it is in defrost mode?

Every new reefer driver should have to prime a unit out of fuel before they ever leave with a load. They will be more carefull.
Another thing to do,cut off a dipstick and rotate around your units. You'll find out who really checks them over. Get that deer in the headlight look when they check the oil in front of you for the second time.

 

Yeah some random guy at a t/s told me you should probably wear gloves when priming a reefer that just ran out. Might raise a blister on the hot parts.

 

Also witnessed a few that just as they get the reefer up and running the tractor sputters and dies.

 

If you get an extra cap you can add a valve stem and pressurize the tank a little, it will save you some time.

 

Our reefer guy told me you Pump till you get a blister then pump 100 more times and you should be good.

 

That's about right. I ran a TK out of fuel once. Set to -20 they will burn about a gallon an hour in the Texas heat maintaining that temp. Luckily it ran dry while getting unloaded. Our mechanic told me exactly what you said and he was right. That thing coughed, gagged, and sputtered but it was real nice when it finally started idling smooth after a minute or so.

I will NEVER run a reefer or anything out of fuel again. Shouldn't have happened in the first place but it did.

 

Loosen Red nut and pump till no more air bubble straight fuel and it will take no time at all. If you dont loosen red nut you will be pumping for a while sucking in more air

 

The only reason to leave the unit running after you empty would be if you had the next load lined up and needed to pre-cool the box such as ice cream or other frozen load.
The defrost cycle is there to help remove the frost and ice build up on the cooling coils. If you shut down while on defrost the ice will melt on it's own, though the outside temperature will determine how quickly this happens.
You won't damage anything by doing so.

 

This has the too be the one thing that made me mad , more then once , while dropping and hooking these trls, the last driver dropped it, he didn't care , it wasn't his anymore, lot's times i make it back too the truck stop , to fuel and just in time after i got loaded ,with gallon too spare ,fill those trl's up before you drop em, as i told my boss, so he made some papers and dropped the papers in all the truck's, if no paper , in paperwork, you got a talking too