Trucking is important to the economy of many countries worldwide, and to keep it that way, you need to make sure that these big heavy vehicles are up-to-date on all their required services. Although we might not always think about it, trucks are similar to any other regular vehicle – they can break down anywhere and might need a lot of maintenance to operate optimally. As an owner or operator of such a truck, part of your responsibility is to ensure routine truck servicing from specialists who know what they're doing. However, as these services can be quite costly as maintenance fees fluctuate based on the study data, we thought about sharing a few tips for you to know how to save some money where you can.
Combat Brake Wear And Failure
Brake failures are a major cause of car accidents. That is why drivers must schedule regular vehicle maintenance to ensure that their brakes are always in working order. Brake services can be scheduled based on the average distance you drive in one week because they expire after 2 years.
Tip: Check the brake paw indicators built into the pads to know when you need to have them replaced. 60 psi or more is acceptable, but the best braking pressure is between 100 and 125 psi to stop smoothly. When replacing your brake pads, be sure that new brake springs, pins and bushings are installed. Also, make sure to grease up all of your slack adjusters and your S cams and linings. Your hoses should also be checked for signs of wear and placed under too much pressure for too long a time, which is bad for them.
Avoid engine problems
Engine failures can quickly break your truck and put you out of commission on the open road. Appearing soon after a breakdown, loss of oil pressure, excessive smoke, or a fall in power are often signs of taking your vehicle in early for preventative care. Avoiding these conditions means keeping an eye on low fuel lights or gauges to avoid running out of gas while driving, which is potentially dangerous if you're far from a fueling station.
Tip: Be sure to arrange for regular compression tests, monitoring coolant and exhaust temperature and oil and boost pressures.
Body Problems
Trucks rust out so quickly because they're on the roads so much and exposed to elements that can damage their bodies over time. Salt and chemical fusion can lead to rustiness, which (if you're driving in a state where this happens a lot) may choke up vital parts of your vehicle's interior!
Tips: Consider washing them once every 10-15 days for large vehicles that are frequently used. This will help reduce the amount of damage to the surface coat caused by outside pollutants. Lubricating hinges with a spray lubricant can also enable you to keep moisture locked out without compromising performance.
Electrical System Issues
The newer trucks are outfitted with several wires that work to distribute power and serve as a conduit for communication through computers and control modules. Thus it is essential to keep all the wires able to operate efficiently or run into problems.
Tips: Brands know how to maintain and diagnose the electrical components of their vehicles.
Change oils
Trucks that are constantly on the road face engine failure issues very commonly. To avoid it, engines are fed with fresh oil as it maintains the friction in the engine. Oil-related engine failure issues are a clear message of the unexpected trip and repair bills for you.
Tip: Manufacturers recommend changing your oil every 5,000 or 7,000 miles. However, the frequency depends on what type of vehicle you drive and how you treat it (i.e., whether it's a race car).
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