3 Tips to Keep Your Trucks Well-Maintained

Like many other things in life – including other vehicles you’ve owned – a truck gives back as much as you put into it,then some in a few casesIf you depend on your vehicle to deliver results for work, it’s only fair that you put in the effort needed to care formaintain it well.

However you came to own your truck – maybe you found an international semi truck for sale, for example, or a friend in the trucking business helped you get it – remember that a little maintenance goes a long way into making sure it keeps on functioning wellHere are some of the top tips to help you get started!

Have a Vehicle Maintenance Log 

It’s important that you keep track of the truck’s conditionany repair work that’s been done, hence the maintenance logThis will help you tell if you need to have any preventative checks done or if you need to schedule maintenance servicesYou’ll also be able to tell if there are any issues that need to be resolvedhow important they are, such as a part that’s been showing signs of weartearneeds to be replaced as soon as possible versus a routine brake check

InspectTest the Vehicle Periodically 

Testinginspection doesn’t have to be complicated,they’re instrumental in helping you determine if the truck is safe to drive.

For the engine, besides checking if all the fluids are topped offthere aren’t any cracked or leaking hosessupply lines, you’ll want to conduct a compression testThis will tell you if the engine’s valves, valve seats,piston rings are functioning properlyif they’re wearing evenly.

For the brakes, simply test if the brakes engage with as little delay as possible, as faulty brakes are a possible cause of accidents.

Tire blowout is another possible cause, so make sure to test tire pressure, preferably beforeafter every tripOverinflated tires are more likely to blow outare more prone to premature tread wear, which affects how well the tires grip the roadOn the other hand, underinflated tires force the engine to work harder, therefore consuming more fuel.

Other parts to check include the fuelstorage tank – they should be free from rustdecay –the batteryalternator, to ensure that no wires are loosethe truck will start in the first place.

Don’t Miss an Oil Change

No matter the composition of the engine oil you use, it breaks down over time, which will mean a steady increase in friction on the engineThis can eventually lead to severe engine failure,that’s not something any truck owneroperator wants to have to deal withRegular oil changes can keep this from happening, as fresh oil prevents premature weartear of the engine’s various parts.

There are a few other maintenance tips you can use, such as being sure to replace parts when needed,washing the body of the vehicle to keep dirtgrime from building upBut the ones mentioned are particularly important for truck ownersdrivers.