Owning a truck in a perfect condition must be a top priority in the trucking industry.
Preventative maintenance is a great way to keep the truck and equipment acceptable and running smooth.
Any sort of issue with the truck can put you behind the scheduled time and cause you stress and money.
Regular check-ups and inspections can help spotting the minor problems on time and repairing them before they become major damages.
There are a few maintenance measures that can be used to put the truck in a perfect shape for the road:
1. OIL CHANGE
One of the most important truck maintenance is to check the levels of the oil. It can easily become contaminated with dust and dirt from the engine and environment. Oil changes clean out sludge and grime, and without them, the engine could overheat and cease its normal functions.
The oil filter is a part that also needs to be changed so the dust and dirty particles can be removed. Without implementing that, it would slow down the engine’s efficiency. The general rule is to change the oil every 25,000 miles.
It’s also recommended to change the oil more frequently if you often carry heavy loads, drive in dusty conditions, or drive at low speed for long period of time.
2. RADIATOR MAINTENANCE
The best way to maintain the truck running strong is to check the radiator before each new route.
If there are any small leaks and fluids that look low it’s very important for them to be repaired so that engine overheat can be prevented.
Cleaning truck radiators regularly off of the truck ensure better cooling by allowing more air flow to pass through the fins and increase the cooling capacity of the radiator.
Engine damage is one of the most expensive repairs.
3. TIRES REPLACEMENT
Driving with worn tires can cause a lot of dangerous situations like popping a tire on the route, damage of the truck or pose a massive safety risk. It`s important to recognize when the tires a worn down too thin. A good standard to follow is to reassess every 100,000-150,000 miles. There are also “tread wear indicators”, so if they become visible the tire needs to be changed!
Also a few things need to be taken into consideration:
Tire rotation – Rotating the tires is essential for maintaining an even amount of tread wear on all four of truck’s tires. It improves gas mileage and prolongs the life of vehicle’s suspension components by reducing vibrations.
Tire pressure – It can be extremely dangerous to drive on low tire pressure or too much tire pressure.
Tire tread – Heat makes the rubber on the tires to break down faster.
In our company we provide general or routine maintenance on trucks and trailers to ensure that they operate efficiently and to prevent breakdowns and unnecessary repairs.
