Because it is too hot in summer, people’s sleep quality is usually not good. Semi-trailer drivers are prone to fatigue and dozing off while driving. Therefore, they should ensure adequate sleep in summer and try to avoid driving at noon. Semi-trailer drivers should also pay attention to the following points in hot summer to avoid accidents.
01
Prevent engine overheating
In summer, strengthen the inspection and maintenance of the semi-trailer engine cooling system, promptly remove the debris embedded in the radiator, check the working performance of the thermostat, water pump and cooling fan, and repair damaged parts in time. When driving in high temperature weather, the engine’s antifreeze consumption is accelerated, so the coolant amount should be checked frequently according to the mark on the antifreeze storage tank, and it should be added in time when it is insufficient.
Pay attention to the water temperature gauge while driving. If the water temperature is too high, stop the car immediately and open the engine compartment to dissipate heat; if the engine has “boiled”, be careful not to add water immediately to avoid bursting the engine cylinder; when opening the radiator cap, be careful and slow to allow the steam inside the cooling system to be slowly discharged to prevent burns.
02
Prevent poor engine lubrication
When the temperature is high, the viscosity of the engine oil drops quickly, and the lubrication ability decreases. You should choose lubricants suitable for summer use, check the quality of the lubricants frequently, and add or replace them in time.
03
Prevent fuel “gas blockage”
In summer, the heat dissipation speed in the engine compartment is very slow. If the car often drives in places with poor road conditions and the driving speed is slow, the engine is prone to “gas blockage” in the fuel system, which will cause the vehicle to fail to start or poor acceleration. Once “gas blockage” occurs, the driver should immediately park the car in a cool place to cool down.
04
Prevent the battery level from being too low
In summer, the temperature is high, and the water in the battery electrolyte evaporates quickly. The liquid level will drop rapidly, and even the plates will be exposed, causing early damage to the battery. Therefore, the height of the battery liquid level should be checked frequently in summer, and the electrolyte should be added in time.
05
It is not advisable to turn on the air conditioner for a long time
Vehicles equipped with air conditioners have better sealing. Most people will feel dizzy and tired after staying in this environment for a few hours, and their memory will also decline. That is because when the engine is idling, the gasoline is not completely burned, which will produce carbon monoxide. At the same time, the people in the car exhale a large amount of carbon dioxide, which will sharply reduce the oxygen in the car; on the other hand, using the air conditioner for a long time after getting in the car will cause the condenser pressure to be too high, causing damage to the refrigeration system. If the temperature in the car has reached a comfortable temperature, you can turn off the air conditioner for a while and then turn it on again, or open the car window every once in a while to ventilate.
06
Don’t wear sunglasses with too dark colors
In summer, the sun shines directly, and the strong light can easily make people unable to open their eyes. Many drivers like to wear sunglasses when driving. Sunglasses can be worn, but you must choose sunglasses with good quality and light colors.
It is understood that the dark color of sunglasses can delay the time for the eyes to send images to the brain, resulting in “visual disparity” and “illusion”, especially when encountering traffic lights and entering dark places from bright places. This visual delay will cause distortion of speed and distance sense, causing drivers wearing sunglasses to make wrong judgments and react untimely in emergencies, leading to accidents.
07
Prevent tire bursts
In summer, tire temperature and pressure will increase with the temperature, and rubber will soften easily. In severe cases, sintering or melting may occur. When the vehicle is driving at high speed, the tire may burst easily if it encounters a hard object. Therefore, it is necessary to check the tire pressure frequently or at any time during long-distance driving. When the tire is overheated and the tire pressure is too high, the vehicle should be parked in a cool place to rest and cool down. Do not use cold water to cool down, and do not deflate the tire to reduce the pressure when the tire temperature is very high. Otherwise, the temperature difference between hot and cold tires will be too large, which will cause tire bursts or early damage to the tire.
08
Prevent the deterioration of braking performance
Brake fluid is easy to evaporate in a high temperature environment, air blockage is formed in the brake pipe of the vehicle, and the brake shoe is also easy to burn, resulting in a decrease in braking performance. Therefore, in summer, the brake fluid should be added or replaced in time, the air in the hydraulic brake system should be completely discharged, and the brake hose and brake shoe should be kept intact. When going down a long slope, you can also use a lower gear and use the engine to brake to prevent the brake from overheating and causing insensitive braking.
