Why you should idle your engine while doint a Pre or post trip inspection

Schneider also has a sticker on the front of the vans on how to hook up a trailer.
They don't want idiots with the engine on and pay for workmans comp when they get a limb taken off, ( It's not about saving fuel )

Nothing negative towards your employer, Read between the lines
----------------------------------------------

OP great suggestion. Most company policies is the motor off.
Thankfully my company doesn't baby sit us and thankful we even do a proper pre-trip lol

 

I just thought of this - my fan doesn't turn at idle, hardly ever anyway. All the other rotating parts are spinning, no load. Wondering if that fan pulley would rattle if the fan wasn't turning? Total agree that you got to look in there while it's running, at least a few times/week. Or, if you heard an unexplained noise, immediately until finding the source.

 

Hi Starboyjim, the fan shouldn't be turning at idle ( unless you just came up a big hill). Many are air operated and could go on at any time. With the engine off, I used to grab the fan, and see if there was any play in the fan clutch, as those bearings went south from time to time, causing a rattle., and eventually would put the fan into the radiator.

 

Many trucks will indeed spin the fan at idle, if your air pressure is less than a certain point (for our W9's it's 90 psi). So, if you've done your engine-off portion of the pre-trip, drained your air tanks of all moisture etc, your system pressure should be low enough to cut in the fan.

 

Good catch! I just had to put a new fan hub on myself. Was delivering in Denver and heard a slight noise. Got to Commerce City TA and the slight noise turned into a scream. Bearing burned up, and had only been on about a month. I always check the oil and water levels first, then wiggle the hub. After that, fire it up and check for drips, squeals, knocks, etc.

 

Hi Al, why is that truck going through so many fan clutch hubs? I think of all the trucks I drove, I only replaced 1 ( on my truck after years as a company driver, of course)I've always been wary of rebuilt stuff, that the workers that rebuild these things, don't know what they're doing. It's almost like you have to get 2, and take back the 1 that doesn't work. So I tried to stay with new stuff, if I could. Might cost a little more, but saves you from doing the job twice ( I hate that)

 

Yeah Semi. It was a rebuilt hub. The bearings pretty much disintegrated, so they were either improperly installed or just flat out bad bearings. I agree, I hate having to do things twice.

 

yeah, I did most of my own work on my trucks, not real big stuff, but found there's a big difference in stuff like bearings. The rebuilder's use these cheap China bearings, terrible junk, shouldn't even be allowed on our shores, but it's all about money. I pay extra and get the good stuff.

 

I disagree with leaving the engine running during a pre-trip, completely. In fact, you need to have the keys in your pocket. I have seen drivers loose limbs when their co-drivers inadvertently started the engine.

Checking for play in the belts by pulling on them is part of the pre-trip.