Are you keeping up with your truck’s servicing? Routine maintenance like regular oil changes, tyre rotations and air filter replacements can significantly extend the life of your truck. We all know that repairing trucks can be costly, so here is our thorough truck maintenance checklist that will give you all you need to know about keeping your vehicle in good condition!
Check, maintain and clean the engine
Engine maintenance and cleaning are important and rewarding. Keeping your engine clean will extend its life, saving you money in the long run by lowering repair expenses that were caused by clogged components or oil leaks. Essentially, cleaning dirt and grease unclogs parts and components and keeps contaminants from causing damage.
If your engine is clean, leaks are easy to find and repair too. When you detect and treat engine problems on time, you save a lot of money on maintenance because there are fewer repairs. The more frequently you clean the engine, the longer it will last.
Perform an inspection of the fluids and oil for truck maintenance
Truck engines require oil and fluids to operate efficiently and properly; otherwise, key components could be damaged. Engine oil, transmission fluid and coolant must all be checked and refilled regularly. Simply checking the levels of each regularly is enough.
If the oil is low, add more. If it is dirty or blackened with dirt and grime, replace it. Make sure there are no leaks from any of these components, as these issues can quickly escalate and become costly repairs later on!
Replace air and oil filters during truck maintenance
Air filters keep dust, debris and filth out of your engine. They must be kept clean – and replaced regularly – since they will restrict airflow into the engine if they become clogged. When this happens, your vehicle’s horsepower and fuel economy suffer significantly.
The oil filter is another critical component that must be kept clean at all times since it keeps contaminants out of your engine. If your filter becomes dirty or broken, particles can enter the engine and cause harm. The filters should be changed regularly, about every 20,000 kilometres.
Regular tyre rotation and balancing
Due to the side force of turns and the weight distribution required for driving, truck tyres wear unevenly. This can result in imbalanced tyres, which can cause plenty of safety problems and hazardous driving conditions. Regular tyre rotations avoid this by providing even wear across all tyres, saving you money on truck tyre repairs.
When rotating your tyres, you should also balance them. When a set of tyres is imbalanced, it causes your suspension to wear down faster. It is also necessary to do wheel alignment. Potholes and unevenly inflated tyres might cause your truck’s wheel to become misaligned. Misalignment causes your tyres to wear down faster.
Schedule a complete truck maintenance
Even if you do the basic maintenance yourself, your truck will still require a thorough inspection from a heavy diesel mechanic regularly. A qualified truck mechanic can detect flaws before they cause major problems meaning you will be able to avoid unnecessary truck repairs.
The MK Equipment Services in Brisbane, Queensland is made up of qualified mechanics, boilermakers, exhaust fitters and welders who all deliver superior workmanship. Contact the team at MK Equipment Services today at (07) 3272 9519 if you have any questions regarding our heavy vehicle services, including any brake repairs or maintenance.