Here at Nick’s Truck Parts, we understand how much of an investment a truck can be. For many Americans, a truck can represent more than just your means of transportation. A truck can play a vital role in your livelihood and, therefore, your security and comfort.
This is why we are committed to providing high quality truck parts for as low a price as possible.
But in addition to this, we’ve gathered some top tips for truck maintenance because we want you to do all you can to make sure your truck stays running for as long as possible.
Check the oil
One of the best steps you can take to make sure your truck will last you as long as possible is to change the oil regularly – either every 6 months or every 5,000 miles, depending on which comes first). Ensuring your oil is changed is important in maintaining engine lubrication and keeping components cool and reducing dirt.
This improves your gas mileage and means your truck will last longer, making the hassle well worth it in the long run.
Look after your tires
To make sure your tires last as long as possible make sure they are rotated as regularly as the owner’s manual recommends, as this ensures they wear evenly and last as long as possible.
While getting your tires rotated, consider having them balanced. When tires become unbalanced over time increased strain is placed on your suspension, so balancing your tires is worthwhile.
To be as efficient as possible, consider having your oil changed and your tires rotated and balanced at the same time, which should be roughly twice a year.
Wheel Alignment
Over time your wheels can become misaligned, which leads to higher wear on your tires, and means you’ll be getting worse gas mileage. If you notice your truck pulling to either side, it may be time to get the alignment checked.
Change your filter
If your engine isn’t getting enough clean air, it will start functioning less and less efficiently. This is why it is important to replace your air filter roughly every 15,000 – 20,000 miles, with more frequent changes required if you often drive on dirt roads.
Clean air not only keeps your engine running more efficiently it will also keep your engine in the best condition possible.
Visit a mechanic
There’s a lot of steps you can take at home to make sure your truck runs for as long as possible, but you can’t just rely on home solutions to keep your truck in top shape. As a rough guide, you should book your truck in for a check-up with a licensed mechanic every 25,000 miles (check your owner’s manual to get a more specific guide for your truck).
The mechanic will be able to spot any hidden or internal issues an untrained eye could miss. Having a regular check-up means you could catch something before it becomes a much larger issue, saving yourself money and stress and prevent avoidable damage to your truck.