s a successful business owner, maximizing both the life of your work vehicle and the return on your investment is going to be top of mind. Preventive maintenance will do just that. Performing preventive maintenance on your work trucks lower your operating costs by minimizing those costly repairs, as well as increasing the time your vehicle will be fully operational. A high level of safety for your operators will also be a huge benefit.
You need to consider a preventative maintenance cycle to maximize the vehicle’s life and your ROI. Performing preventative maintenance on your work truck will lower operating costs by minimizing costly repairs, increase the vehicle uptime and maximize productivity, and maintain a high level of safety for the operator. Review the list of preventative maintenance tips below to keep your work truck up and running.
Oil
Oil acts as a lubricant to many of the mechanical components within your engine. If there is an insufficient amount of oil within your engine or if the oil is beyond its’ maintenance interval, the risk of engine component wear dramatically increases. There are many factors to consider when deciding on an oil change interval. For example, utilizing synthetic oil can extend change intervals far beyond conventional oil. Typically synthetic oils have a recommended change interval anywhere between 7,500 miles and 15,000 miles while conventional oil change intervals are commonly rated between 3,000 and 5,000 miles. Other factors can come into play, including whether your work truck has a diesel or gas engine. Diesel engines tend to generate more contaminants so more frequent change intervals are recommended in comparison to gas engines. High engine mileage, extreme temperature environments (hot or cold), and severe operating applications (heavy towing or off-road) will shorten the oil change interval. You should check the engine oil level at least once a month. Always follow the truck manufacturers recommended oil change interval to retain important warranty coverage.
Coolant
Coolant and transmission fluids are most often neglected, as the interval cycles are longer in comparison to oil and tire rotations. These fluids are vital to your vehicle’s longevity and performance. Ensure you check the levels of both once a month. For safety concerns, always allow the engine to cool down prior to checking coolant fluid levels. Coolant and transmission fluid change intervals should be determined by the truck manufacturer which can be found within the owner’s manual.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid
Diesel exhaust fluid is comprised of urea and deionized water. It prevents the exhaust of unburned fuel into the environment (NOx). These days, you can find DEF just about anywhere, including most gas stations. If your work truck has a diesel engine, always pay close attention to your DEF level. Letting the DEF tank run dry results in your truck to enter a “limp” mode or prevents your engine from starting altogether, depending upon the manufacturer.
Tires
Your tires are the rubber that meets the road. Keeping them properly inflated and rotated will not only extend their useful life but also assist with maximizing fuel economy. Rotating your tires is vital and most tire manufacturers recommend a rotation interval every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Most truck tires are rated to last 50,000 or more miles. Checking your tire tread depth will help you determine when it is time to purchase new tires. A simple way to check tread depth is to place a penny with Lincoln’s head pointing down towards the tire. If you are able to see his entire head above the tread (2/32” of tread or less) it is time for new tires. Never exceed the tire manufacturer’s mileage rating as doing so will increase the risk of an accident due to tire blow-out or insufficient tread.
Brake Wear
Brake wear is heavily dependent upon the operating environment of the work truck. If your normal driving includes heavy traffic and a lot of stop and go cycles, your brakes will require more frequent preventative maintenance. If your everyday is more rural with open roads and less stopping, your brakes should suffer less wear. A good rule of thumb is to have the brake pads and rotors checked each time you rotate tires, as this gives you or the mechanic an opportunity to easily access and assess those components. Rotors, if worn evenly, can typically last longer in comparison to brake pads. It is not uncommon for brake rotors to last through two or three brake pad change intervals. Never neglect preventative maintenance on your commercial vehicle’s brake system as it can decrease the ability to stop quickly or at all, leading to an unnecessary safety risk.
Truck Wash
Although it is obvious when the exterior of your work truck needs a wash, it is often ignored. Work trucks, especially those that commonly venture off-road or operate in the snow belt, should be regularly washed. Chemicals utilized to treat roads after snow and ice are very corrosive and can create rust that is unsightly and lead to structural damage to your cab and truck body. Take the time to not only clean the front, sides, and rear of your work truck but also the undercarriage as this is a common location for rust to cause issues.
Cranes, Buckets, or Diggers
If you have equipment on your work truck like a crane, a bucket, or a digger, it’s important to regularly inspect the equipment to ensure it is in safe, working condition. Set a weekly date to examine any hoses for leaks and cracks, and carefully monitor the equipment for any excessive slack in the device when it is in use. If you hear any popping or unusual noises as the unit operates, be sure to halt operations and investigate the noises before continuing to use the equipment.
Taking care of your work truck is essential to maximizing its longevity and making the most of your investment. Consider requiring your drivers to fill out a daily or weekly inspection report to ensure their compliance with whatever preventative maintenance cycle you establish. Many organizations do this to confirm that their trucks and equipment are in safe, working condition.
Here at Utility Equipment Service, we know exactly how to take care of each truck you have in your fleet with the level of quality and care that you need and can expect. Call us today at (931) 489-0900 or visit our website to learn how we can help you maximize the life of your work vehicle.
