If you’re like many truck owners, your pick up holds a special place in your heart. It probably means much more to you than simply being a mode of transportation.
After all, your wheels play an essential role in your life. They take you where you need to go and help you to get there safely. And, they can be pretty costly.
For most car and truck buyers, a vehicle is a substantial investment. According to USA Today, the average cost of a new car or truck rose to over $33,000 in 2015. Prices for full-sized trucks jumped 4.5% that year.
Luckily, most trucks are built to last. And, you can extend the life of yours if you take the necessary steps to maintain your vehicle.
Read on to find out what you should know about essential truck maintenance!
Your Ultimate Truck Maintenance Guide
Most trucks on the road today are designed to last at least 100,000 miles. With proper upkeep and truck maintenance, there’s a good chance that your vehicle will last much longer.
Want to know how to keep your truck going strong?
Our maintenance guide has the steps you don’t want to miss.
1. Check and Change Your Oil as Recommended
Nothing will destroy your engine faster than driving without oil. That’s why is crucial that you regularly check your oil. If you find that the level is below the marker on your oil stick, then you will need to add oil.
If you find that the oil is often low, there may be a reason for this. In this case, you should have your mechanic take a look.
Also, having the oil changed as recommended in your owner’s manual is vital to the longevity of your truck’s engine and its overall performance. These specifications tend to vary depending on the make and model of a vehicle, so be sure to check your manual for appropriate mileage guidelines.
2. Flush the Coolant
Once a year, you should flush the cooling system and change your coolant.
A 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water is best for your truck’s performance.
This essential step will prevent corrosion and deposits from building up in your cooling system.
3. Check Your Transmission Fluid
Although you will rarely need to add transmission fluid as long as your truck is in good shape, you still should check it periodically.
If you do find it low, always top it off with the correct type and viscosity oil that’s suggested for your vehicle.
5. Rotate and Balance Your Tires
Generally, most trucks’ tires need to be rotated and balanced about every 7,500 miles. If you drive the average 15,000 miles per year, then that’s about every six months that you’ll need to do this.
A set of new tires for a truck can easily set you back well over 1,000 dollars. But, if you rotate and balance your tires, it will help them to last and allow you to hold onto your hard-earned cash for longer.
6. Keep Your Truck Clean
You probably want to keep your truck fairly clean because of the improvement it makes to the appearance. But, there are other reasons why you should not let your truck collect excess mud and muck.
Sometimes, debris can get caught in the undercarriage or might even seep under the hood. Making sure that you hose your truck down after it’s been exposed to rough elements can ensure that everything stays clear and in good working order.
Of course, a clean truck does look nice, too.
7. Protect Your Truck Inside and Out
In addition to cleaning your truck, there are some things that you can do to protect the body and interior. For example, you might use a protective coat of wax. This minimizes the appearance of scuffs and scratches and make your truck shine.
There is also a spray coating that is designed to protect your truck’s interior. Keep in mind that if your truck has a leather interior, this requires you to use specific cleaning materials that won’t cause damage.
Often, the truck bed is one area that runs the most significant risk of wear and tear. Not only is it exposed to weather and debris, but truck owners tend to haul all kinds of things in the beds of their vehicles. This is one of the great aspects of owning a truck, but these things can also wreak havoc on your truck bed.
Speedliner provides an easy remedy for this. This company specializes in spray-in liners for all types of trucks.
8. Perform Regular Inspections
You can extend the life of your truck if you are aware of issues and fix them promptly. Many issues will go unnoticed until progressing into a major expense. But, regular inspections can help keep potential problems under control.
Inspections help you to know when to replace essential car parts, such as engine belts. And, an inspection ensures that lights, wipers, and other truck functions are working properly.
By having your car inspected for potential problems, you might avoid more expensive repairs down the road, citations, or having your truck break down.
Want More Auto Maintenance Tips?
If optimizing the performance of your truck and maintaining its engine life are essential to you, this guide is just the beginning of a long list of things that you can do to make sure your truck lasts.
There is a multitude of truck maintenance tips that can help your truck stay road-ready for years to come. Many of these are so simple that you can perform them yourself. Yet, you would be surprised at the impact easy do-it-yourself maintenance can have on your truck’s condition.
Want to find out more?
Check out this post for more simple auto maintenance tips that every truck owner should know!
