It’s fast, easy and always worth the effort.

You’re halfway through a long haul, and suddenly your temperature gauge starts climbing. Before you know it, the engine is overheating, and you’re stuck on the side of the road, waiting for a tow. One of the most common culprits? Low or contaminated coolant.

Maintaining your truck’s coolant is crucial for keeping the engine cool and preventing downtime––and costly repairs. In this post, we’ll walk through the basics of checking and replacing coolant, along with key factors to look for and when to take action.

Why Checking Your Coolant Matters

Coolant acts as your engine’s lifeblood, keeping temperatures stable and preventing overheating––which can lead to costly damage. Regularly checking and replacing coolant prevents common issues like corrosion, cavitation, pitting, and scaling on metal components. Making sure your coolant is clean and effective is essential to avoiding breakdowns and maintaining your engine's health.

When and How to Check Your Coolant

For best long-term performance, you should monitor levels daily, and thoroughly test your coolant every six months or every 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Checking the coolant level and quality is a straightforward process, something you or your maintenance crew can do with ease. Here’s how to stay on top of it.

Checking Coolant Level:

• Engine Cool Down: Always check your coolant when the engine is cold to avoid injury from high-pressure steam or hot fluid.
• Inspect the Reservoir Tank: Open the hood and locate the coolant reservoir tank. This translucent tank will have a "min" and "max" mark indicating the appropriate coolant level. If the level is low, top it off with a compatible coolant type.
• Check Regularly During Colder Months. In cold temperatures, the coolant can contract, leading to a noticeable decrease in the reservoir’s coolant level. This might cause the level to drop near or below the "LOW" level line on the coolant reservoir.

Checking Coolant Quality:

• Color: Compare the fluid to a known good sample. A significant color change could indicate chemical breakdown or contamination.
• Clarity: The fluid should be free of particles, metal shavings, or cloudy discoloration.
• Other Signs of Contamination: Cloudiness or oil/fuel residue often points to more significant engine issues, such as a failing head gasket.

Parts to Inspect Along the Way

While you’re checking your coolant, take the time to inspect other parts that work in tandem with your cooling system. This includes hoses, belts, the radiator cap, and the reservoir tank itself. These components can wear over time and should be replaced if you see cracks, leaks, or signs of deterioration.

Choose a Coolant Designed for Your Engine

At Road Choice, our broad range of high-quality coolants are designed especially for heavy-duty trucks. Each coolant formula ensures efficient heat transfer, corrosion protection, and compatibility with a variety of engine metals. Backed by a minimum one-year warranty, our coolants provide reliable performance and peace of mind. Whether you need “extended life” or a “standard” option, Road Choice coolants will help keep your fleet running smoothly.

Maintenance Today Saves Money Tomorrow

Proper coolant maintenance is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep your engine running smoothly and damage-free. Make coolant checks a regular part of your daily walkaround, and choose Road Choice for dependable performance.

Road Choice offers a complete selection of high-quality coolants and cooling system components. For more information or to schedule a service appointment, call the experts at your nearest Road Choice retailer. You can also order fan clutches online, anytime through PartsASIST™,delivered directly to your doorstep or available will-call at parts pickup.