Keeping Trucks On The Road And Out Of The Repair Shop
Years ago there was a TV commercial in which an auto mechanic looked into the camera and said, "Pay me now, or pay me later." The message was, that you can pay him to maintain your car now, or you can pay him a lot later to repair it. It was good advice then, and it's still good advice today--especially when it comes to maintaining a big rig.
Sure, they're built tough. In fact, when it comes to an engine that's a real workhorse they're about as tough as they come. They can run for hundreds of thousands of miles and with incredible reliability-- if they're regularly and properly maintained. For all their strength and brute power, big rigs can be quite demanding. That is, they can be taken out of commission if they don't get the attention they need.
That attention comes in the form of preventive maintenance. To keep that big rig on the road, preventive maintenance and a pre-trip checklist should become a ritual. Before turning a wheel, be sure to check:
- All fluid levels including oil and coolant
- Tire pressure
- Coolant, hydraulic, and vacuum hose leaks
- Brake fluid and a visual check of brake drums and brake lines
- Visual inspection under and around the tractor and trailer for leaks, puddles, or loose fittings
Because diesel engines operate at a compression rate about three times that of a gasoline engine, they generate a lot more heat. It's an efficient system that provides a lot of power and as much as a 40% increase in fuel efficiency. But generating all that heat comes with a price. It puts some big demands on the engine's cooling and lubrication systems. A breakdown in these systems can mean a breakdown on the road and an expensive trip to the repair shop. The good news is, that nearly all those problems can be prevented with regularly scheduled maintenance. It all comes down to the basics.
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