Commercial & Heavy-Duty Truck Maintenance
Your commercial or heavy-duty truck helps you to transport cargo over long distances. Whether you’re a fleet manager or an independent contractor, it’s important to make sure your truck is well-maintained and in good shape before driving it. Fortunately, there are many easy checks that you can perform to tune up your truck.
McCandless Truck Center, with locations inColorado and Wyoming, is your local heavy-duty and commercial truck dealer. Here are some basic truck maintenance tips to help you keep your vehicle in peak operating condition.
Read Your Owner’s Manual
The intricacies of your truck are outlined best in your owner’s manual, which is always the first place you should consult when performing truck maintenance. The manual will tell you what types of products to use with your truck, what tire pressure your tires should be aired up to and other important information. You can keep records of maintenance performed in your owner’s manual as well, which will prove useful should you ever sell the vehicle.
Oil Changes
The oil in your engine helps to lubricate all its moving parts and keep it functional. Oil gets dirty and sludgy over time, so you’ll want to check it and make sure you get your regular scheduled oil changes. Remove the dipstick, wipe it with a soft cloth, reinsert it and remove it again to check the color and consistency of your oil. If it’s clear and opaque, top it off and move on. Sludgy? Time to change your oil and the oil filter at the same time.
Tire Checks
The tires on your truck maintain constant contact with the road and carry massive payloads, so they can wear out more quickly than tires on a car. Having the correct tire pressure helps to lengthen the lifespan of your tires, improves your fuel economy and makes for more efficient driving overall. Use a tire-pressure gauge to check the pressure in the tires and air them up to the recommended psi levels in your owner’s manual.
While you’re down there.
Radiator Concerns
Preventing your engine from overheating is essential with a commercial truck. Check your radiator to ensure that it has enough coolant, which you can always top up yourself. You should also look for leaks while you’re filling up your coolant, which can lead to overheating if they aren’t addressed properly.
Brake Examination
Brakes are vital on any moving vehicle, and the brakes on your heavy-duty truck take a lot of abuse with how heavy their load is. If you ever hear any squealing sounds or feel strange vibrations, make sure you get a professional to take a look. In general, stick to a regular maintenance schedule when it comes to replacing the brake pads and other parts that wear down with time and usage.
Cleaning Your Truck
A clean truck is going to be easier to maintain and it’s going to last longer because dirt and grime can do damage to your truck’s parts over time if left to accrue. Try to keep your glass clean in particular so that you can always see clearly out your windshield and windows. As you clean your glass, check for any chips or cracks that need to be repaired before they destroy the whole sheet.
Remember: if you need professional assistance with maintaining your heavy-duty truck, you can always get in touch with your local McCandless Truck Center service department. Our team of mechanics can fix up your truck in our body shop to keep you on the road. Browse our website to check out the wide stock of new and used heavy-duty and commercial trucks for sale at our dealership locations. McCandless Truck Center proudly serves the states of Colorado and Wyoming.