Coolant Study Underway on Putnam School Buses With Fleetguard

The Putnam County School System working with Fleetguard to understand how its coolants work in school bus engines.

The study being conducted with the local car filtration and coolant company on ten school buses. The goal of the study is to analyze performance in real-world conditions. William Huff is Fleetguard’s Material Science Engineering Chemist.

“We are going to pull samples monthly, and then we’re going to monitor the condition of the coolant or antifreeze,” Huff said. “We have a full analysis line in Cookeville for coolants, so that makes it quite convenient for both parties.”

Fleetguard contacted Putnam County to conduct the study, but both will benefit from the results. Fleetguard will have the opportunity to optimize their products, and the county’s buses will function more efficiently.

“Forty percent of engine issues can actually be identified in the coolant first before they turn into a major issue,” Huff said.

The study began in August. It is scheduled to last for one year, but there will be an option to extend the duration of the project if both parties agree to it. The data found will also simplify maintenance on the buses, saving the county time and money in the future.

Two of the ten buses being studied are electric buses introduced at the start of this school year.