Weekly Pretrip Inspection

The following Weekly Pretrip Inspection should be completed before starting the unit and loading the truck. While the weekly inspection in not a substitute for regularly scheduled maintenance inspections, it is important part of the preventive maintenance program designed to head off operating problems before they happen.

Leaks: Inspect for refrigerant leaks and worn refrigerant lines.

Battery: Terminals should be properly tightened and show no signs of corrosion.

Belts: Inspect for cracks, wear, and proper belt tension.

Mounting Bolts: Verify bolts are properly tightened.

Electrical: Electrical connections should be securely fastened. Wires and terminals should be free of corrosion, cracks, or moisture.

Structural: Visually check for physical damage.

Coils: The condenser and evaporator coils (evaporator coils in multi–temperature units) should be clean and free of debris.

Coils: The condenser and evaporator coils should be clean and free of debris.

• Washing with clean water should be sufficient. The use of cleaning agents or detergents is strongly discouraged due to the possibility of degradation of the construction. If using a power washer, the nozzle pressure should not exceed 600 psi (41 bar). For the best results, spray the coil perpendicular to the face of the coil. The spray nozzle should be kept between 1 inch and 3 inches (25 to 75 millimeters) from the coil surface.

  Important Models V–500 and V–800/V–1000 feature a high efficient micro channel aluminum condenser coil, in these cases the spray nozzle should be kept 300mm away from the coil and aimed perpendicularly to the coil surface to avoid damaging the aluminum fins.
  If necessary to use a chemical cleaner or detergent use a cleaner that does not contain any hydrofluoric acids and is between 7 and 8 on the pH scale. Ensure dilution instructions provided by the detergent supplier are followed. In case of doubt about the compatibility of the detergent with the type of materials listed above, always ask the supplier a written confirmation of the compatibility. Should a chemical cleaner be required, it is MANDATORY that all components are thoroughly rinsed with water even if the instructions of the cleaner specify that it is a “no rinse” cleaner. Failure to comply with above mentioned guidelines will lead to a shortened life of the equipment to an indeterminable degree. The repeated transportation of meat and fish waste can cause extensive corrosion to the evaporator coils and evaporator section tubing over time due to ammonia formation and can reduce the lifespan of the coils. Appropriate additional measures should be taken to protect the coils against the aggressive corrosion that can result from transportation of such products.

Load Compartment: Inspect the interior and exterior of the truck for any damage. Any damage to the walls or insulation should be repaired.

Defrost Drains: Check the defrost drain hoses and fittings to ensure they are not blocked.

Doors: Verify doors and weather seals are in good condition and seal hermetically.

Sight glass: Check that the refrigerant charge sight glass on the running unit is totally full (the cargo compartment temperature must be approximately 0ºC).