Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Flashcards

A fleet vehicle's engine oil analysis report shows elevated silicon levels. What does this most likely indicate?

Answer: Dirt/dust ingestion from a compromised air filtration system

Elevated silicon in oil analysis is a primary indicator of dirt ingestion, commonly caused by a damaged or improperly seated air filter.

What is the function of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in a fleet diesel vehicle, and what maintenance does it require?

Answer: Captures soot from exhaust; requires periodic regeneration or cleaning

The DPF captures particulate matter from diesel exhaust and requires regeneration (burning off trapped soot) or periodic forced cleaning to prevent plugging.

A fleet manager is evaluating whether to repair or replace a vehicle with 180,000 miles that needs a $4,500 engine repair. The vehicle's market value is $6,000. Which framework is most appropriate for this decision?

Answer: Replace if repair cost exceeds 50% of vehicle market value

The common fleet industry rule is to replace a vehicle when a single repair exceeds 50% of the vehicle's current market value, as ongoing repair costs typically escalate.

Which of the following best describes 'predictive maintenance' in a fleet context?

Answer: Using condition monitoring data to predict and prevent failures before they occur

Predictive maintenance uses telematics, oil analysis, and sensor data to identify deteriorating conditions and schedule repairs before a failure occurs.

A fleet vehicle experiences repeated electrical shorts in the same circuit. After replacing the fuse multiple times, what is the appropriate next diagnostic step?

Answer: Trace the circuit wiring for chafing, damage, or improper grounding

Repeated fuse failures indicate an underlying short circuit; the wiring must be physically traced to find damaged insulation, pinched wires, or poor ground connections.

What is the purpose of a 'fleet maintenance benchmarking' program?

Answer: To compare fleet maintenance costs and performance metrics against industry peers

Benchmarking compares a fleet's cost per mile, downtime rates, and PM compliance against industry averages or peer fleets to identify improvement opportunities.

When using telematics data to manage fleet maintenance, which metric is most useful for scheduling engine oil changes on vehicles with highly variable duty cycles?

Answer: Engine hours accumulated

Engine hours account for idling time which degrades oil without adding mileage, making it a more accurate service trigger for vehicles with significant idle time.