Truck Care Tips

For people who depend on their vehicle, every day to do their job, care and maintenance go a long way. While every make and model will have its own special needs, you can use these simple maintenance tips to keep your truck running like it’s brand new for years to come.

Your user’s manual, like Detroit Diesel Do It Yourself shop manuals, is a good starting point to learn how best to care for your vehicle and keep your logistics running smoothly. You can also use these tips to make truck maintenance easier. 

Never Miss An Oil Change

This one is an easy thing to do, but is one of the most important things that you can do to make sure your truck has a long life, or any vehicle. It is recommended that you do this every 7500 miles, or every six months, whichever comes first, for newer trucks. For older trucks with higher mileage, you can always change your oil filter when you change your oil. Make sure you always pick up the best oil for your needs. There are lots of varieties of oil out there and a wide range of high mileage options tailored to increase the life of older engines. . Check your truck’s owners manual to make sure you choose the right viscosity-index for your truck. Double-check before you buy. Having to go back to the same auto chop because you made a mistake is embarrassing and a waste of your time. 

Rotate Your Tires

Changing your oil is a good time to check on some other routine maintenance steps too. Rotating your tires every time you change your oil will help to ensure your tires wear evenly. Tires will wear unevenly according to the drivetrain of your truck. Tire rotation is very important. Truck owners often just think that they need to change the oil at a prescribed interval, and that’s it, but it’s a good idea to rotate your tires every time you have your oil changed so that your tires can wear evenly. This will depend on how you use your truck, but usually, the front tires will see the most wear. Rotating them can extend the life of the actual tires, but it can also make for a smoother ride and reduce the burden on your truck’s suspension that can come from unevenly worn tires. If there are issues with the alignment you should be spot this when you rotate the tires. Check for your owner’s manual for the recommended tire rotation pattern.  

Keep Your Tires Balanced

When you get your tired rotated, it’s also worth having them balanced. A tire is balanced when the weight of the tire is equally distributed around the axle. With every bump, pothole, and off-road mission, your tires will get more and more out of balance. An unbalanced set of tires can lead to vibrations on the road and cause more wear on your suspension and uneven wear on the tires. If you need to have a tire replaced or patched, this is a good time to get them balanced. 

Alignment Is Key

If you find that your truck is pulling to one side or other the next time you have your oil changed, it’s probably time for a wheel alignment. When you drive over rough roads at high speeds and driving aggressively can both increase the likelihood of misalignment. If your wheels are out of line, you will end up with higher wear and tear on tires, get worse gas mileage, and experience poor handling on the road. Getting your wheels aligned will pay off in the long run. Vehicle pulling can also happen when your tires are unevenly inflated or you have got your truck bed weighed down heavily on one side. Inflate all your tires to the correct pressure and keep your load evenly secured and spread across the bed of your truck to reduce the pull. 

Check Your Lights

It's easy to get complacent so that you’re only thinking about maintenance around oil changes, but there are some monthly checks on a few basic components that are well worth the time they take. That way, if there are any issues with your truck, they will be on your radar before they become larger issues. For example, check that all of your interior and exterior lights are working correctly. A dim light can indicate a problem with your electrics, while a burned-out light can be dangerous and lead to a large fine. While you’re making your checks, make sure you have a few spare fuses in your glove box. You don’t want to call a tow truck when all you really need is a very cheap replacement fuse. 

Make Sure Fluid Levels Are Up

Check your essential fluid levels. The most important one to check is the engine oil. Just make sure it’s cool before you check, to make sure that you get an accurate reading. Check the oil itself too. If it’s dirty or smells like gas, it’s time to change the oil. 

Next check your engine coolant. Truck engines make a lot of heat, and the coolant is what stops them from overheating. Check the levels by popping the cap, which you can usually spot by the warning and matching illustration indicating that you should never open it when the engine is hot. Refill as needed with the coolant specified in your owner’s manual. 

Check your windshield washer fluid. It’s a smart idea to keep an extra jug of it somewhere in the truck, especially in the winter when there is salt and sand on the road. 

Give Your Engine A Breath Of Fresh Air

In order to work at its best, your engine needs clean air. Over time, air filters can become clogged with dust, debris, and chemical contaminants. Swap in a fresh engine air filter every 15000 to 30000 miles or more often if you often have to drive on dirt roads. A clean air filter will help your engine to last longer. It will also optimize your engine’s efficiency and acceleration.