Pit & Quarry, August 2013

MAINTENANCE TIPS FROM EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS AND OUR READERS Cabin air filters Todays heavy duty cabin air filters can help with HVAC system efficiency and create a more pleasing environment for the operator T he intense heat of summer means ventilation and air conditioning systems HVAC are operating at full strength to cool the cabin and keep operators comfortable and safe from outside contaminants such as seasonal pollen diesel soot and dust The cabin air filter plays a huge role in protecting A cabin air filter works the driver over the within the incoming air HVAC system of a cab This illustration demonstrates how a long haul of summer Whether it is simply incoming fresh air or air entering the cabin during the use of the HVAC system the environment inside the cabin of a heavy duty vehicle is subjected to constant assault pleated and treated filter catches debris A poorly ventilated cabin can become covered in a fine layer of dust as the contaminants settle on all the surfaces allowing them to remain in the cabin even longer A cabin air filter will provide the operating cabin space of a vehicle with a filtering barrier much like the barrier provided by heating and air conditioning filters in a home Operator health Today there is also an increasingly growing focus on the health of the operator in the cabin According to Michael Herald director of PC engineering for Fram Filtration It was about 1995 that the big push came in the United States for heavy duty cabin air filters It started in Europe first and was adopted by the U S later Located in the HVAC system of a vehicle most cabin air filters are found at the outside air intake where outside air goes through the filter before it comes into the cabin The typical signs that the cabin air filter may have become saturated with contaminants or plugged with debris can be found in windows that easily fog up or are hard to defrost In addition to contaminated air cabin air filters that are plugged and have become moist may create an environment that encourages the growth of mildew and odors that can be circulated throughout the cabin by the HVAC system No matter who manufactures a cabin air filter every filter eventually needs to be changed says Gary Bilski chief engineer for Fram Filtration It is important to change a filter every 15000 miles or according to the original manufacturers recommendations The good thing is that replacing a heavy duty cabin air filter is a job that does not require hours but only a matter of minutes Most cabin air filters can be changed in 15 minutes or less Bilski says P Q JoÚ Gaither is the director of heavy duty engineering for Fram Filtration For more on Fram Filtration visit www fram filtration com BY JOHN GAITHER 44 PIT QUARRY August 2013 www pitandquarry com