Top Tips For Maintaining Commercial Trucks
Posted in: Fleet Driver News.
Trucking is one of the most critical industries in the world – however, it takes a smart business owner to run a successful one. Effective commercial truck maintenance is essential to ensure your fleet is safe and cost-efficient. Properly maintained trucks reduce the risks of breakdowns and increase the lifespan of your assets, keeping your fleet on the road for many years. Here are some important maintenance tips commercial trucking companies should know.
- Check the tires
The tires are the only parts of your trucks that make constant contact with the road. Retreading and replacing them regularly is vital for safety and optimal performance. If you have watched a commercial trailer blow out a tire on the highway, you probably know how dangerous it is. You must monitor your tires and ensure they maintain their treads, particularly in winter. While at it, address defects in long haul vehicles right away, as a stitch in time saves nine. Modern truck tires often last 50,000-60,000 miles on average with good maintenance. But to be on the safer side, you should replace them once you see signs of significant wear and tear.
2. Inspect the engine, gearbox, and PTO pump
The combination of high-torque engines and heavy weights stresses your gearbox every time you hit the road. A regular inspection of the engine, gearbox, and PTO pump will help you identify performance issues that may arise. As a tip, use high-quality options for your commercial truck. This would give it versatility beyond the regular function of transporting goods. Many engines with PTO capability feature a drive spline on the side or rear, and you can use them to power external implements. Additionally, If you use trucks with manual transmission, ensure that the clutch isn’t slipping, as that can impact the fuel economy.
3. Prioritise oil changes
An oil change is another crucial maintenance tip. Most trucks require a lube every 15,000 miles, but you can reduce that to 10,000 miles. Oil may burn quickly when the engine has to constantly pull massive loads regularly. Likewise, a lack of proper lubrication in the pistons can create friction and result in overheating. Unfortunately, engines don’t often last longer under these conditions. Pistons fire thousands of times per minute so that the rings may deteriorate fast with old oil that has become sludgy and accumulates debris. Therefore, replacing the oil is crucial to protect the engine for much longer.
4.Check the battery
Truck batteries can last for three to five years, so you may not have to replace them every six months. Testing your batteries to know their output is important. You probably don’t want to go into the winter with a low-quality battery, as your truck may not start swiftly when you need it. Occasionally, rev up trucks that park for long periods to refresh the batteries. This is because leaving discharged batteries inactive for longer periods can damage them. Run the vehicle for ten minutes to charge the battery and evaporate condensation accumulation in the engine.
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