FAQ's

Within your engine, there’s a component called the electronic control module, or ECM. The ECM is responsible for governing hundreds of different parameters that determine the functioning of your engine. Using specific software, which is either provided by the engine manufacturer or from a recognized third party, a trained technician can modify these parameters to achieve different outputs from your truck’s engine.

Concerning ECM programming, this involves using the aforementioned software to set different parameters that aren’t normally activated by default on your standard diesel engine. Keep in mind that certain software can access more parameters compared to others. For example, if programming is being done on a Cummins engine then Noregon JPRO software can alter five parameters while TEXA IDC5 software is capable of handling over one hundred. Additionally, only certain brands allow programming with their engine’s ECM. Mack and Volvo engines are fully programmable while Cummins engines can only be programmed using Cummins software or Cummins-approved aftermarket software; this is the same with Detroit Diesel. Before investing in ECM programming, make sure to check whether your engine’s brand allows it freely or not.

On the other hand, ECM tuning involves modifying the parameters that are already set rather than adding new ones. This doesn’t have the same restrictions as programming and has plenty of benefits. By tuning your engine’s ECM, you’ll be looking at improvements like lower fuel consumption and greater engine response alongside greater engine power overall.

Your heavy-duty truck’s engine produces significant heat while running, and this may initially escape your attention due to the presence of a coolant system. It circulates a coolant that absorbs heat from your engine and helps dissipate it via a radiator. The purpose of a coolant is to control the temperature within the engine block and cylinder head. From here, the radiator absorbs the heat from the coolant and releases it into the air, cooling the engine in the process. Over time, the coolant loses its ability to absorb heat effectively, requiring it to be replaced.

Preventive maintenance (or preventative maintenance) is maintenance that is regularly performed on a piece of equipment to lessen the likelihood of it failing. It is performed while the equipment is still working so that it does not break down unexpectedly. In terms of the complexity of this maintenance strategy, it falls between reactive (or run-to-failure) maintenance and predictive maintenance.

While it may seem obvious that keeping up good maintenance practices for your bus fleet is a no-brainer, buses have their own special circumstances to consider. First and foremost is the vehicle’s role as a form of public transportation; they’re responsible for ferrying hundreds of people daily rain or shine, no matter the weather. As such, the two primary important points of keeping up good maintenance are preventing breakdowns and maintaining safety.

You, your drivers, and the general public all rely on buses for different reasons, so preventing sudden and unexpected breakdowns is paramount. Not only can these impact you financially, but unreliability can also impact safety and reputation in equal measure. Of particular importance to keep an eye on are sensitive and easily breakable or commonly stressed components like belts or bus axles and suspension. Keeping on top of regular oil and fluid changes is equally important to ensure there’s as little chance of overheating and lubrication failure as possible.

Tying into preventing breakdowns, keeping up with and improving the bus’s safety standards are also vital. Ensuring that every inch of the vehicle is operating at peak performance, and performing preventive maintenance to catch any issues before they occur and potentially place passengers at risk, is key to maintaining proper safety. It should also be noted that maintenance and inspection should also be performed after the bus in question has been in an accident; this is important as anything not immediately visible but that might cause future problems can be immediately caught and remedied.