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An Award-Winning Diagnostic Leak Detector

Learn why using Redline Detections Diagnostic Leak Detector can save fleets money, while also increasing safety.

Episode 87: This is a replay of a recent live interview. In this episode, we discuss with Alex Parker, the CMO and Executive Vice President at Redline Detection, what makes their diagnostic leak detector an award-winning tool, and how this tool saves fleets money on costly aftertreatment repairs.

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Diagnostic Leak Detection

HD PowerSmoke

Redline Detection originally started in the automotive industry, however, with the onset of aftertreatment systems in commercial vehicles it has moved into the heavy-duty trucking industry as well. With even more emission regulations on the horizon, the costs related to aftertreatment systems are likely to only continue to increase which means fleets will need to use leak detection tools to diagnose and repair upstream leaks.

“If vehicles have an upstream component leak, it’s going to cause a dramatic uptick of aftertreatment system maintenance, repair, and downtime. This is a tool that effectively addresses that rising cost,” said Alex Parker, the CMO, and Executive VP at Redline Detection.

The Economic Cost of Leaks

Causes of DPF Failures

Component leaks are not always big and expensive. Sometimes it can be a housing or gasket. However, with leaks comes problems down the line which are more costly. A ten-minute test done with Redline Detections diagnostic tool, the HD PowerSmoke, during routine maintenance can help fleets eliminate these small upstream component leaks. The elimination of leaks can not only decrease repair costs it can also increase fuel economy. For large fleets, even a small increase in fuel economy can create huge cost-savings.

But the largest cost of all is always downtime. Unscheduled repairs cost on average between $448 – $749. For a small fleet or an owner/operator, this can mean a day and a half or two days out of commission. Now we are talking about real loss of money. This tool can help prevent these unscheduled repair events and help fleets small or large to have more uptime.

How the Leak Detector Works

The HD PowerSmoke Adaptors expand to seal off every intake and exhaust port. After sealing off the system, it then injects a very high-flow, harmless, visible vapor to simulate the boost of a running engine. The system allows the technician to use variable pressure and flow as they diagnose any leaks. Modern day engines are very complex and it can be very difficult to spot these leaks on your own. With the leak detector though the process is simple.

HD PowerSmoke Kit

“It takes about 5 minutes to setup, less then 10 minutes to run the test, and is so clear, you can see exactly where the problems are”, explained Parker. Rather than just guessing and replacing expensive components, fleets can now accurately pinpoint exactly where the problem is, repair it and quickly get the truck back on the road.

An Additional Safety Benefit

Carbon monoxide in the cab of a truck can be very dangerous, potentially even life threatening if not addressed and solved right away. Often times, these leaks can be very difficult to find because of not being easy to visibly detect. The HD PowerSmoke is being used as an effective strategy to detect these intrusions and eliminate carbon monoxide leaks in the cab.

A Recommended Practice

TMC (Technology Maintenance Council) is made up of some of the most brilliant minds in the heavy-duty industry. One of the most important parts of TMC is that they develop recommended practices (RP) for the industry as a whole. The process to develop an RP has been in place for about 30 years, and is incredibly rigorous, well researched, and vetted.

“RP 375 specifies that it’s important, and really an essential practice to be using diagnostic leak detection in the maintenance of commercial trucks for the long-term health of the system, as well as to cut costs… This has the most impact for owner/operators and fleets,” said Alex Parker.

Issues Diagnosed by HD PowerSmoke

Recommended practices cut through the noise, and tell fleets what is really important, what’s going to impact the bottom line, help them make more money for the fleet, as well as for the individual owner/operators who are trying to provide for their families. That is why RP375 recommends that leak detection tools like the ones from Redline Detection are used when diagnosing aftertreatment and exhaust systems.

Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy-Duty Parts Report may receive a small commission. 


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