Truck owners and operators spend around $15,000 every year on maintaining and repairing their vehicles. This is essential not only to prevent costly repairs, but also for road safety. Ignoring heavy truck maintenance for long periods can lead to expensive repairs or parts replacements.
Most truck owners don’t know about the maintenance mistakes they are already making. Besides the above-mentioned negatives, these mistakes can also shorten your truck’s lifespan. Here are 7 preventive maintenance mistakes you must not make.
1. Ignoring Warning Lights
Dashboard warning lights are early signs of problems with the engine, brake, or transmission. The underlying problems will not go away if you ignore the lights. On the contrary, they will get worse with time and cause damage if you wait longer.
If you pay attention to the warning lights and have them checked by a professional, you can:
- Increase your safety
- Save the engine
- Avoid spending big money on major repairs or replacements
2. Delaying Oil Changes
Engine oil lubricates the engine components and protects them from wear and tear. If you delay oil changes, it can cause engine overheating, damage, and potentially expensive repairs.
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended oil change intervals. The frequency is affected by factors such as engine type, oil quality, and driving conditions. It is important to keep track of when the next oil change is needed. While it may seem like a small job, it can save you thousands.
It is not just engine oil, but brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant also need regular checking, top-up, and replacement.
Low or old fluids can cause:
- Overheating issues
- Transmission slippage
- Brake failure
Just like engine oil is required for the engine’s smooth operation, brake fluid is required for safely stopping the truck, and coolant is needed to prevent overheating.
3. Not Maintaining the Braking System
It is common for many drivers to delay brake system maintenance because they think it is not urgent. The longer you delay maintenance, the more unreliable your brakes can become. Regular brake checks are cheap and take no time. It is important to check the brake fluid. If it becomes dirty or its level falls, you will find it difficult to stop the truck.
Regular brake maintenance goes beyond saving money on costly repairs. It can also save life and limb.
4. Ignoring Tire Maintenance
Many fleet managers or truck drivers take tire maintenance lightly. If you are driving a truck with worn tires, it can not only reduce fuel efficiency but also increase safety risks. It is recommended to check the tire pressure every month. Additionally, the tires must be rotated every 5,000 miles to 7,500 miles. This can help ensure even wear, adding more years to the tires’ life. The tires should be replaced when you notice worn-down tires.
5. Using Low-Quality & Cheap Replacement Parts
Cost saving is a big concern for truck and fleet owners. However, using cheaper replacement parts to achieve this goal can often lead to more problems and increased costs. Low-quality parts, especially when used in heavy-duty vehicles, can wear out faster, damage other systems, and break easily.
Poor-quality spark plugs can cause your engine to misfire and lose power. Cheap drive belts can break at any time. Using such truck parts can also affect the warranty. It is recommended to always use OEM parts designed specifically for your truck.
6. Delaying or Ignoring Battery Care
Many truck drivers and owners ignore battery care entirely. This can often lead to situations involving dead batteries that leave you stranded. When left unmaintained, battery terminals can corrode. Old batteries tend to create various electrical issues.
It is recommended to have your truck batteries tested yearly. Make sure the terminals are cleaned and replaced every three years.
7. Not Assigning Maintenance Responsibility
Fleet operations where different drivers can be assigned to the same truck, a problem often arises. No one is assigned the responsibility of maintaining a truck. This situation can leave your business where no brake issues are reported, no oil checks are made, and no one tracks tire wear. Make sure a specific person or a team is in charge of taking care of maintenance tasks.
So, these are some of the most common maintenance mistakes that can affect your truck’s service life. It is important to create a company-wide maintenance policy and implement it strictly.
