Winter is here and the cold weather and snowstorms have arrived. Now is a good time to review a few winter maintenance necessities for your fleet. When it comes to ensuring your Blue Bird buses are dependable, and in safe working order, here are a few maintenance tips to complete.
- Check the battery condition/state of charge to ensure clean and proper connections.
- Consult with fuel providers to ensure they are providing you properly treated fuel for cold weather.
- Propane fuel should be treated with Methanol at the start of cold weather.
- Diesel fuel should be treated to prevent gelling in the extreme cold temperatures.
- Test coolant for low temperature rating to make sure it does not freeze.
- Inspect wipers for good working order to clean windows.
- Top off washer fluid and make sure sprayer is working properly.
- Inspect tire tread for proper tread depth for winter driving:
- Colorado Law states that tire tread should have a 3/16-inch depth minimum.
- Inspect tire chains and ensure they are present in vehicle.
- Auto chains should be inspected for proper operation and torque of mounting hardware.
Many fleets are now complete with our Blue Bird Electric buses. Please read the following article from School Bus Fleet Magazine to prepare your electric buses for the cold winter months by clicking HERE.
Following the steps above will ensure that your fleet is ready for the return of students after the long break. Colorado/West Equipment, Inc. and Nebraska/Central Equipment, Inc. make child safety on our Blue Bird school buses our top priority. As a reminder, our new office location in Colorado offers in-house service. We look forward to serving your bus needs, contact us today.