Despite how efficient and well-built they may be, trucks require care and maintenance even though they’re juggernauts on the road. Like other vehicles, they need regular maintenance, service, and check-ups, which are even more crucial if you use your truck for business. Therefore, a proper maintenance plan is necessary to keep your truck’s maintenance low.
How To Keep Your Truck’s Maintenance Low
Fortunately, maintaining your truck’s value is less daunting than you may think. In fact, it is very similar to how you’d service any other kind of car. However, if you’ve ever wondered whether you’re on the right track, look no further. Here are eight tips to help ensure your truck remains in top shape.
1. Regular Oil Changes
Engines need fresh oil every few months to prevent overheating. Unfortunately, oil breaks down over time, and when it does, the friction between the moving parts of an engine increases, putting the engine at risk of failure.
Fresh oil is necessary to cool engine components and remove engine wear particles and sludge that could hinder your engine’s functionality. In addition, changing your oil maintains your truck’s fuel consumption and consequently improves its gas mileage. The standard period you should change your truck’s oil is after every six months or every 7,500 miles driven.
Simply put, f you don’t change your engine oil regularly, the accumulated dirt will lead to engine corrosion, affect its efficiency, and decrease lifespan. So don’t take oil changes lightly!
Pro tip: it would be best if you changed the oil filters of your truck engine according to your truck manufacturer’s recommendations.
2. Inspect Your Truck Engine
Ensure your engine is in good shape whenever you’re about to hit the road for a long trip. First, check the engine for signs like loss of power, vibrations, excessive exhaust smoke, and knocking noises. These signs indicate something is wrong with your engine’s functionality. In addition, assessing your engine coolant, oil pressure, and exhaust temperature is necessary, so create a routine checkup of all of the above.
Additionally, make sure to conduct a regular compression test. This will show you the condition of your engine’s valves, valve seats, and piston rings, giving you an idea of how they are wearing down. Or ask an auto technician to look at your engine’s air filter to ensure it’s not clogged with debris and dirt. If it is, get it replaced immediately.
If the engine air filters of your vehicle are clogged, it won’t get enough fresh air, hindering its performance and increasing the risk of engine failure. On the other hand, the air filter supplies enough airflow to your engine to run effectively and prevents contaminants from entering the engine, ensuring it remains unharmed. Hence, it is crucial to keep a check on it and replace it when necessary.
3. Wash Your Truck
Washing your truck is often ignored when it comes to truck maintenance, but believe it or not, cleaning your truck can extend its life and efficiency. The dirt that collects on your truck’s body can cause paint scratches, but it can also make its way into your truck’s oil, fuel, or engine components and affect your truck’s efficiency.
Use a gentle cleaning agent for the interiors of your truck, and regularly clean and wax the exterior body so that it has a topcoat to protect your paint. In addition, invest in good quality paint for the truck’s body; a well-sealed paint coat will help increase the durability of your truck’s exterior.
4. Check Your Tires
Truck tires tend to wear down unevenly. This is caused by several factors, such as unequal alignment, harsh weather conditions, and over/underinflation. Misaligned tires can increase the likelihood of such problems, but you can prevent this by rotating your tires.
Rotating your tires regularly will make sure your tires wear evenly. The auto technicians you consult will solve any misalignment problems faced by your tires; ask them to give them a look whenever you get your truck’s oil changed.
Driving aggressively over roads at high speeds increases the possibility of misaligned tires, resulting in higher wear and tear, poor handling on the road, and worse gas mileage.
5. Lubrication
Several parts of your truck, like its hinges, latches, suspension parts, gear, and steering, are prone to friction-induced wear and tear. Make sure to lubricate these parts regularly to elongate their lifespan.
6. Test and Inspect
Several components of your truck can be tested for efficiency now and then. Inspections are mandatory if you want to keep your truck’s maintenance low. For instance:
Brakes
Make sure your brakes are functioning perfectly by conducting a periodic test. This will prevent any chance of brake failure and accidents or vehicle damage.
Fuel/Storage
Employ your truck manufacturer’s recommendations for moisture control treatment and check your truck’s basic fluid levels, like engine oil and coolant. Make sure your engine oil is cool before reading the levels, and if it’s dirty or smelly, it’s time you change it. Likewise, check coolant levels by opening the cap when the engine is cool and refilling as needed.
Electric Systems
The motor, alternator, and battery are the main electrical systems necessary to start your engine. Check them routinely and make sure the wires are fixed in place. If they aren’t, call an expert to fix them as soon as possible, as loose wires can cause several hazardous complications.
7. Assess Your Trip Condition Beforehand
Knowing your trip condition is one of the most necessary aspects of caring for your truck long-term. Depending on your usage, your truck needs different extents of care. How you manage and maintain your truck defines the kind of maintenance and care it requires.
Some vehicles require special maintenance if used in dusty conditions, harsh weather, offroading, or heavy loads. Hence, consulting a mechanic to know what course of action you should take would be ideal.
8. Check On Other Components
Believe it or not, more basic components, like lights, brakes, etc., are worth checking now and then. After all, oil changes are just one of the things you need to do regarding truck maintenance; monthly check-ups on basic parts will alert you of any problems before they turn into full-blown issues.
Check on your exterior and interior lights; dim lights can indicate an electrical issue, and burned-out lights can be dangerous. Go the extra mile and put some spare fuses in your glove box, too – they’ll come in handy during the most unexpected situations.
Conclusion
Trucks are made to withstand harsher weather conditions and driving environments; hence they are used for longer, weightier trips. However, it is crucial to remember that you can extend the lifespan of your truck by following just a few maintenance tips. Looking out for your truck and keeping it in top shape will benefit you in the long run.
If you’re looking to service your truck, you can opt for a vast range of services at Auffenberg Chrysler of Herrin, IL. In addition, you can keep your truck in safe hands with our team of professionals.
