Pierce Enforcer, Operator'S Manual

Page: 150 / 196

MAINTENANCE
6-28 / Driveline
© 2018 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fire trucks are defined as severe vocation due to retarder use and similarity to transit coach operation. Fluid should
be changed every 12,000 miles, 6 months, or 500 hours.
Conditions that indicate water and/or glycol in the fluid are:
•
Rust or pitted transmission parts.
• Oil spewing out of the breather.
• Oil in the radiator.
• Gaskets blistered or wrinkled in uncompressed areas.
• Appearance of oil. Presence of water in oil when dispersed is a cloudy or gray, pink, or strawberry color.
• Steam from the breather.
Should the user suspect contamination, an oil sample should be obtained when transmission oil is at normal
operating temperature to assure contaminate, if present, is thoroughly dispersed in the oil as sampled. The analysis
of oil sample (by the oil supplier or any qualified laboratory) will provide the degree of contaminate and possibly a
clue as to its source. A minimal amount of water may be due to uncovered oil drums or an open transmission filler
tube or, in the case of glycol, the use on an all-purpose fill container or a defective transmission oil cooler. Any glycol
contamination requires a complete disassembly and cleanup of the transmission and replacement of seals, gaskets,
clutch plates, and bearings. The vehicle cooling system should be pressure tested as a possible source of
contamination.
Nelco Company offers a kit that detects presence of ethylene glycol in oil. The kit is identified as “GLY-TEK” Test Kit
and can be obtained from:
Nelco Company
1047 McKnight Road South
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55119
Telephone Number: (651) 738-2014
Refer to the transmission manufacturer’s operator’s manual for additional information concerning maintenance
schedules, lubrication recommendations, and inspection procedures. Have transmission serviced only by a
manufacturer’s authorized service facility.
6-22.3 External Transmission Coolers
The use of external transmission coolers has become very popular with many transmission applications, especially
those equipped with retarders. These components have a limited lifetime and should be considered a consumable.
Customer environments with high retarder usage or high ambient temperatures are more likely to experience a
shorter cooler lifetime. One of the failure modes of these coolers allows for water and coolant from the radiator to
be transferred into the transmission fluids. Water and ethylene glycol can quickly deteriorate and eventually destroy
the transmission. This type of transmission failure is not covered by the transmission or cooler warranty.
Daily inspections of the transmission fluid indicating a higher than normal level or showing a change to the normal
physical appearance, might indicate a possible problem. Please refer to
“Transmission Fluid Analysis” on page 6-27 .
Pierce Manufacturing recommends you replace the cooler every 3-5 years depending on the in-service demands
you put on your vehicle.
6-23. Transfer Case (All Wheel Drive)
Refer to the transfer case operator’s manual, included in the Pierce Service Manual, for maintenance schedules,
lubrication recommendations, and inspection procedures.