How do you go about choosing the right jack for your truck? A jack is a device that raises your truck off the ground. They come in various designs. Some are hydraulic, while others are mechanical. The mechanical jacks have a screw or lever that they crank as they lift your truck. At the same time, hydraulic jacks have a hydraulic cylinder under pressure to lift huge and heavy objects.

The primary role of an automotive jack is to raise your truck but not to keep it there. If you want to maintain the suspension level of your truck, you will need two jack stands. 

Factors To Consider When Choosing the Right Jack For Your Truck

When choosing the right jack for your truck, consider these few factors.

Weight

Consider the weight of your truck when choosing the right jack. If you need a jack to perform simple jobs, a 2-ton jack is the best option, but you can invest in one with more capabilities. An ideal jack for your truck should reach ¾ of the overall weight of your truck. Usually, the weight of your truck is on a sticker on the driver’s side door jam. 

Clearance

A clearance factor is essential if your truck is modified, slightly close to the ground, or has delicate side skirts. There are low-profile jacks. They are about 2 to 3 inches and can easily roll under your truck. Most trucks have the standard 5 inches and above-ground clearance, which means even the floor jack can easily roll below them. 

Reach

Lifted trucks have maximum lifting heights. For this reason, a jack that is serving a Volkswagen golf well may not reach to lift a ford F 150 truck and get its wheel off the ground to perform a tire change. 

Types of Jacks For Your Truck

You will need a jack when changing your tires, looking for leakages below your truck, changing brake pads, and changing oil. There are various jacks suitable for your truck in the market. Here are some of them.

Bottle Jack

It looks like a cylindrical container. It is a hydraulic jack that uses pascal’s law to function. It has two cylinders, a smaller one with a piston inside and connected to a hinge from the outside. It has a lever that lifts your truck when turned. 

Floor Jack

It is a hydraulic jack whose working principle is similar to a bottle jack, but they differ in design. The bottle jack transmits the force vertically, while the floor jack has an arm in which the lever pushes the hydraulic fluid to turn upwards, and the force is transmitted from horizontal to vertical. 

Scissor Jack

It has two arms connected with a hinge with a screw running on them. When the screw turns clockwise, the hinges move closer, lifting your truck. 

Conclusion

Jack is an essential tool for truck owners. You will need it for various basic and complex truck maintenance. There are various jacks in the market. Consider the above factors before buying one. This guide has outlined all you need to know when choosing a truck jack. 

Truck maintenance is a routine that every truck owner must consider performing more regularly to increase productivity. Most truck breakdowns result from poor maintenance. The simplest way to prevent breakdowns is to consider areas prone to regular wear and tear. After identifying such areas, consider checking them before going on a trip.

Truck Maintenance to Increase Productivity

Trucks have various parts that work jointly and independently. General truck maintenance is necessary for your truck’s well-being and good health. However, specific areas need regular maintenance for your truck to keep running smoothly. Here are some parts worth considering.

Tires

Tires are the part of your truck that is in contact with the road. The entire weight of the truck also rests on them. Tires are made of rubber for various reasons. The condition of your tires will determine the time you take to and from delivery.

Before going for a trip, consider checking your tire pressure, as poor tire pressure interferes with your truck’s fuel economy. Inspect the treads of tires. Tires with good tread increase safety on the road. Worn-out tires can lead to other issues, such as alignment problems and making your truck hard to control.

Battery

The battery is a part of the electrical system responsible for power storage and starting your truck. Changes in seasons affect the health of your battery. Consider checking your battery before winter and summer. 

Apart from seasons, ensure the terminals of your battery are clean and properly fixed. Before going for long hauling, ensure your battery is fully charged.

Brakes

When it comes to controlling your truck, brakes play an essential role. Ensure your braking system is in perfect condition. Brake lights should be functional as they will alert other road users when you are on the brakes. Inspect and fix leaking brake fluid. Consider testing your brake pedals. If they are softer than usual, check the possible issue and fix it as soon as possible.

Clutch Cables

The Clutch is important when changing gears and temporarily switching off the engine. The regular use of clutch cables wears them out due to the high pressure. It is, therefore, necessary to check the clutch cables before going for a trip and ensure they are working perfectly.

Alternator

The alternator is the main source of electricity in your truck. You will notice alternator issues when your battery is not charging perfectly, or your lights have a problem. It is essential to know the signs of a faulty alternator and replace it as soon as possible.

Distributor Cap

Accumulation of moisture and dirt can crack your distributor cap. When this happens, there will be no ignition to spark. Regularly service and clean this part to remove dirt and moisture.

Conclusion

Using trucks to run your enterprise is an investment that fetches you good profits. But sometimes, trucks can be problematic and become a liability. Consider performing the maintenance of the above areas to increase the productivity of your truck. You can check and fix some of these parts, but some, like the alternator, will need an expert to check and fix.

Do you know the truck sensors in a truck? Modern trucks have several control modules to ensure everything functions smoothly. The sensor’s responsibility is to ensure that the ECM gets information about how each part of the truck functions. Here are 10 common sensors in a truck.

The Oil Level Sensor

The oil level sensor is within the engine and is one o the common sensors. Its primary role is checking the level of oil in the pan. This sensor triggers the oil check light when there is inadequate oil.

The Oil Pressure Sensor

It is similar to an oil sensor but notes the pressure in the oil pump. Such a sensor is usually on the engine block next to the fuel filter. The appearance of the red oil pressure light signals a bad oil pressure.

Coolant Temperature Sensors

It checks the temperature of the coolant and the overall engine temperature. When the temperatures are too high, it will shut off your engine.

Mass Airflow Sensor

The mass airflow sensor checks the quantity of air flowing into the engine. MAS is between the intake manifold and the air filter box. 

Intake Air Temperature Sensor

The temperature of the air that flows inside the engine is essential to maximize the engine’s performance. The IAT sensor will tell the ECM the air temperature to maximize the engine’s performance.

Oxygen Sensor

The oxygen sensor plays the role of measuring the air-to-fuel mixture from the exhaust and the efficiency of the catalytic converter. Its primary function is to show how effectively combustion occurs in the cylinders.

Knock Sensors

Knock sensors monitor the engine and ensure it does not knock. Engine knock is fatal and expensive to repair. Broken engine components and misfires can lead to engine knock.

Camshaft and Crankshaft Position Sensors

The engine has camshaft and crankshafts whose primary role is ensuring that both the inlet and outlet are open to enable the engine to function effectively. If the camshafts and crankshaft do not function timely that is one closes and the other opens the valves, your engine will not function smoothly. These sensors’ role is to notify the ECM when the positioning of the cam and crankshaft do not line up.

Throttle Position Sensor

The throttle position sensor is found on the throttle body and takes note of the angle at which the throttle flaps. It tells the ECM the condition of the throttle and will trigger a check light if it is sticky and does not function effectively.

Fuel Pressure Sensor

The fuel pressure sensor notes the fuel’s pressure along the fuel lines. You will find this sensor on your fuel pressure rail and sometimes also at the fuel pressure line. It gives the engine control module the pressure of the fuel. An increase in pressure can cause a richer fuel mixture. On the other hand, lower fuel pressure results in a learner mixture. 

Conclusion,

The engine control module relies on the signals from these sensors to function effectively. When the sensors sense any issue with your engine, they will send the signal to the ECU, which triggers the check light on your dashboard.

Do you know the difference between tire rotation and wheel alignment? Tires affect how your truck accelerates, steers, and brakes. However, your tires become worn out and misalign with time, wearing out, and tire misalignment interferes with the ride quality and safety. 

Servicing your tires gives your truck a better performance. Tire rotation and wheel alignment are some of the wheel servicing methods. After reading this guide, you will understand wheel rotation and alignment. 

What is Tire rotation?

Tire rotation involves switching the front and rear tires. When doing this for all-wheel or rear-wheel drive trucks, you will change the positions of tires without switching sides. Tire rotation aims to prevent uneven tire wear.

Importance of Tire Rotation

Smoother Ride

Tire rotation leads to even tire wear, contributing to a smooth and comfortable ride.

Enhances Safety

It prevents uneven wear-out that will enhance your driving experience by giving you better control of your truck when tackling sharp turns, making abrupt stops, or even traveling on wet roads.

Fuel Economy

Unevenly worn tires do not maintain uniform road contact. Your engine will work harder and consume more fuel to move your truck. Tire rotation ensures the tire has even road contact.

What is Tire Alignment?

Tire alignment involves adjusting tires for your truck to travel straight. The suspension system your wheels link to should function adequately to offer you a smooth ride. The suspension system misaligns when driving on bad roads. As the suspension system ages, it becomes fatigued, leading to a change in the ride height, and this also leads to wheel misalignment.

When your truck pulls sideways, the steering wheel is off the center when driving on a straight road, or uneven tire wear are all common signs of poor wheel alignment. When performing wheel alignment, the technician will adjust your suspension system. The suspension system adjustment ensures that the wheels are in proper contact with the road. 

Importance of Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment is worth performing because it is cheap and beneficial. Here are some benefits of wheel alignment. 

The Best Driving Experience

When your wheels are well aligned, your truck will not pull towards one side, making it easier to control. Wheel aligning gives you an enjoyable and relaxed driving experience.

Improves Safety

A bad wheel alignment reduces your truck’s maneuverability, exposing you to crushing risks. Aligning your wheels improves your safety on the road.

Lengthens Your Tire Life

Aligning wheels make them work together with less road friction. Working together makes your tires wear out slowly and serve you for a long time.

Reduces Expenses

Other parts of your truck will experience premature wear out when you drive with poor wheel alignment for a long. Good wheel alignment protects other parts of the truck from premature wear out.

Conclusion

Both tire rotation and wheel alignment play different roles in your truck. Your truck may need either or both of them at some point. Consult an expert who will determine what to do for your wheels. It is advisable to perform wheel alignment whenever you perform any service that tampers with the wheels, such as fixing the suspension system, the brakes, or new tire tires. 

What are your truck maintenance tricks? Being stuck along the road due to truck problems can be stressful and frustrating, especially if your truck breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Maybe you went for a faraway road trip and then experienced a tire burst in the forest with a history of wild animals or even carjackers. Besides time wastage, truck problems while on a road trip can also put you in danger.

Before going on a road trip, it is necessary to prepare and maintain your truck. Here are some essential truck maintenance checklists before going on a road trip.

Oil Inspection

When planning to go for a trip using your truck, you must perform an oil change and a general inspection. This should be part of your regular truck maintenance. Fresh oil cleans the moving parts within the engine, reduces friction, and absorbs the heat generated from the engine.

Oil usually serves for a given duration before becoming exhausted. If you note that it is time to change your oil, consider doing it before heading for a road trip. When changing the oil, consider installing new oil filters.

Check Other Truck Fluids

Trucks have several fluids that make them work efficiently, such fluids as coolant, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid. Inspecting these fluids’ condition before taking your truck for a road trip is essential.

When checking the condition of the fluids, give brake fluid top priority. The brake fluid operates in a sealed system to prevent moisture and contaminants. When checking the brake fluid, it is essential to check how other components of the braking system work. 

Coolant is another fluid you should consider checking. Check the coolant reservoir, and ensure the coolant is within the required levels. If the levels are okay, check for impurities within the fluid. 

Lastly, check the condition of the windshield washer fluid. It comes in handy when dirt accumulates on your windshield.

Check the Air Conditioning System

The AC system comes in handy despite the weather condition. This is yet another crucial truck maintenance issue. Before leaving for a road trip, check if your AC is working perfectly. Ensure the AC is blowing cool air effectively, and check if the refrigerant is leaking from the hoses.

Tire Inspection

Tires are the most critical part when it comes to safety. Before going for a road trip, check the condition of your tires and ensure they have adequate pressure and that the treads can give your truck adequate traction.

Ensure your tires have proper pressure. Tire pressure is critical as it determines the wearing pattern of the tire. Over or underinflated tires are dangerous when driving in bad weather. Lastly, ensure you have a functional spare wheel.

Road Trip Toolkit

When going on a road trip, ensure your toolkit has jumper cables, duct tape, a wheel lock key, a cell phone and a charger, gloves, and emergency blankets. You might require any of these tools anytime. 

Conclusion

Road trips are enjoyable, especially when using a truck, due to comfort and good ground clearance. When preparing for a road trip, keep the above tips at your fingertips for the success of your trip.

What are some of the common pick-up truck problems you know? Pick-up trucks, especially diesel-powered engines, have various benefits ranging from efficiency to towing capabilities. They also last longer compared to their petrol counterparts. Generally, driving a diesel pick-up truck gives a thrilling feeling. 

Pick-up trucks, just like other vehicles, require service in time. Apart from regular servicing, you should bond and know the way your pick-up truck functions. Such knowledge will enable you to identify various issues as soon as they develop. Here are some of the common pick-up truck problems you will encounter.

Black Smoke

The emission of black smoke is a common problem for all diesel engines, whether heavy or light-duty pick-up trucks. The emission of black smoke commonly signals over fueling but sometimes can also be a sign of a serious issue worth not ignoring.

If your pick-up truck is regularly emitting black smoke, check the condition of the injectors, air filters, valves, valve stem seals, and cracks on the cylinder. Consulting a technician to perform regular preventive maintenance will prevent such parts from wearing out.

Faulty Fuel Injectors

Modern diesel pick-up trucks use rail fuel injectors that feed more fuel than the old diesel engines. They are likely to wear and tear the fuel injectors with time. It is not easy to determine a faulty fuel injector, and this is because your pick-up truck will still run fine.

When your pick-up truck takes time to crank is an indication of a faulty injector. Sometimes, you will also note fuel dilution by the rise of oil levels. Fuel dilution happens when you shut down your engine and fuel starts to drain from the fuel lines and the rails to the tank.

Decrease in Power

Reduced power when starting the engine or pressing the gas pedal is another one of the pick-up truck problems to consider. Several issues, such as dirty fuel filters or faulty fuel injectors, can make your truck lose power.

Faulty Glow Plugs

The glow plugs generate the heat necessary for igniting the mixture of oxygen and diesel in the cylinders. If it becomes faulty, you experience difficulty starting your engine, especially when it is cold. 

When replacing glow plugs, ensure you buy and install premium ones, as the cheaper and after-market ones sometimes swell or break. Swollen and broken glow plugs can damage the piston cylinder valve.

Fuel Contamination

The high viscosity of diesel fuel can lead to its contamination more easily. The common fuel contaminants are water, soot, debris, and microorganisms. When parts such as seals, caps, or gaskets are faulty, contaminants will find their way into the fuel. 

Another instance of pick-up truck problems is when diesel engines sit for a longer duration without functioning can also lead to fuel contamination. Contaminated fuel can cause major engine problems that will be expensive to fix. 

Conclusion

The above are just a few common pick-up truck problems you will experience while using your truck. Pay attention to these pick-up truck problems and address them as soon as your pick-up starts to experience them. Ignoring the above problems can lead to costly repairs. 

What are some of the crucial preventive maintenance checklist for diesel engine trucks? Diesel trucks are big, reliable, and fuel-efficient as compared to petrol-powered vehicles. They offer greater torque with minimal fuel burn. Consider a diesel engine when buying a truck for commercial or heavy duty. As much as diesel engines are efficient, they need proper care and maintenance, they are susceptible, and a little ignorance can lead to a costly repair. They need regular preventive maintenance. Performing regular maintenance helps in reducing the overall cost of running your truck. 

Before starting any trip, it is healthy to perform basic preventive maintenance. Basic preventive maintenance includes checking the condition of your tires, lights, and levels of various liquids. Pay attention to your truck’s basic warning signs, and funny noises would be best. 

What Makes up Routine Preventive Maintenance For a Diesel Truck?

The only way you can reduce the daily running cost of your truck is by performing regular maintenance. Abrupt mechanical breakdowns are always expensive to repair, but you can avoid them. 

Performing preventive truck maintenance varies depending on the age of your truck. It is essential to refer to the truck’s manual for recommendations about performing preventive maintenance. When doing it, pay attention to these areas.

Tires

Make a regular inspection on your tires. Before beginning any trip, ensure your tires have the right pressure and minimum tire tread per DOT requirements. Apart from tire pressure, perform a general inspection on your tires. If you note any physical damage, consider repairing it. If it is beyond repair, consider buying a new tire.

When the temperature changes, your tire pressure will also change, increasing the rate at which your truck consumes fuel, and your tires can fail when speeding. Underinflated tires can lead to alignment, steering, and braking issues.

Brakes

Brakes are life savers, and they are essential for stopping and controlling the speed of your truck. Consider checking the condition of your brakes. Check if you have the correct brake fluid levels and well-working brake pads. To ensure your brakes are in good condition, never forget the last time you changed your brake pads and shoes, as these are the main areas that wear out more often.

The steering System

Inspect for steering wheel play, which is the major indication of steering system problems. Check for leakages, as the power steering fluid is prone to leakages.

Battery

Consider inspecting your battery at the begging of winter and summer. Check if your battery is well secured and if the plugs are tight on the terminals. Batteries have a life span of 72 months. Consider replacing yours after serving you for this period. 

Mirrors and Lights

Mirrors are essential when planning to overtake, give way, or check how close the traffic behind you is. Check if the mirrors are well positioned and if you see cracks, consider replacing them.

Lights, however, are necessary to signal other road users. Ensure your brake lights, hazard indicators, and headlights are working.

Conclusion

It is easy to perform preventive maintenance for your truck. Doing this does not require prior mechanical knowledge, as you must use your eyes or touch them. Preventive maintenance reduces cases of unnecessary breakdown. The above are some areas to focus on when performing preventive maintenance for your truck. 

How seriously do you take regular truck maintenance? You probably have seen a truck or two sitting by the side of the road, maybe with the smoke coming from the hood or life savers. The smoke is not a result of meat roasting on the hood. Such trucks have mechanical issues and need help as soon as possible. It is not easy to tell when and where your truck will break, you can avoid regular breakdowns and increase the reliability of your truck.

Several unnecessary breakdowns result from paying little or no attention to your truck when it needs a check-up and even skipping regular truck maintenance. The engine has basic parts which have to be monitored regularly. It is essential always to check and replace your engine within the right time frame. Here are some of the reasons you should never skip regular truck maintenance.

Identify the Problem Early

Most truck problems begin slowly and advance as you ignore them. On rare occasions, you will notice that your truck has a mechanical issue worth checking. But you will realize when it is too late, making you spend a lot to maintain your truck. 

Taking your truck for regular maintenance helps you notice the developing issues and address them as soon as possible. Such issues include leakages or brake problems. Doing this will also reduce the probability of causing accidents.

Improves Gas Mileage

Regular truck maintenance improves fuel economy and efficiency. For instance, less tire pressure causes a 3% increase in fuel consumption after driving for a long. If you have several trucks to manage, 3% is a difference you will always notice.

Consider performing tire rotation and wheel alignment after a given duration. Regular maintenance will also help you catch up with issues such as dirty air, fuel and oil filters that can lead to an increase in fuel consumption.

Safe Driving

Regular truck maintenance enhances the safety of your truck on the road. Good brakes and tires increase the control and handle of your truck.

It is dangerous to drive on balding tires with tiny wires protruding, as such tires can blow out anytime. Therefore, it is essential to keep an eye on your tires and change them whenever you notice any piece of wire protruding or defective with them. 

On several occasions, it takes work to determine faulty tires. When you take your truck for regular maintenance, the technician will check your tires and advise when to replace them.

Saves Money

Maintaining regular truck maintenance will safeguard your bank account. Minor problems are less costly to fix but can escalate into significant issues that can be expensive. For example, an oil leak repair is $ 100 and, if left, can cost more than $ 4,000 to fix. 

Regular maintenance is a form of preventive maintenance. Performing it is less costly but very essential for the well-being of your truck. 

Conclusion

Regular truck maintenance has several advantages, such as improving road safety, giving your truck a long-life span, and saving you money. Regular truck maintenance entails common activities such as performing basic engine maintenance and taking care of your tires and other vital truck parts. 

Do you know how ride stability has an effect on your vehicle? Everything about trucks revolves around the bottom line. Anything affecting the bottom line will impact how your truck will consume fuel. Truck owners and operators strive to ensure that their fleets are fuel economical. They do this by driving at lower speeds and fixing tires less resistant to rolling. 

So, have you heard about ride stability? It greatly impacts your fuel economy. Continue reading this guide to learn more about ride stability and its effect on fuel consumption on big trucks.

What is Ride Stability?

Ride stability is the ability of your truck to insulate you and the cargo from various road surfaces. It, therefore, offers a smoother and more comfortable ride. When the ride stability is low, your truck will feel uncomfortable. Ride stability is mainly affected by tires and the suspension system.

Effects of Tires on Fuel Consumption

For heavy-duty trucks, tires are significant regarding ride stability. Your wheel diameter, width, rigidity, and pressure are vital for ride stability.

All these wheel factors greatly impact how your truck consumes fuel. For example, fuel-efficient tires have less resistance to rolling due to the less tread depth. Such tires are less stable and comfortable compared to regular tires.

Wider tires offer more comfort and stability, although they are heavy. The weight of tires affects fuel consumption. Trucks with heavy tires will thus consume more fuel. When it comes to stability and fuel economy, consider your tire pressure.

Before going for a trip, ensure your truck has the right tire pressure. This will assure you of safety and increase fuel economy. Your ride will also be very comfortable. 

Effects of Suspension of Fuel Economy

The main duty of the suspension is to prevent your truck from shaking and rambling as you drive on various surfaces. When your suspension works perfectly, your ride will be very smooth.

As the suspension system is vital for stability and rides comfort, it also affects the rate at which your truck consumes fuel.

A failing suspension offers a bumpy ride, and your truck will move up and down. Your engine will work harder to maintain the desired speed when such happens. 

As your engine works harder, it will need more air and fuel to burn. For this reason, most commercial trucks have an air suspension system. Such ensures that the driver and the cargo are stable. The load will not bounce. Therefore, the engine will not need to strain. The air suspension system offers the best driving experience and a smoother ride.

Conclusion

As you drive on various road surfaces, your truck should offer you a very comfortable ride. Ride stability does this by offering you and your cargo a smooth and comfortable ride despite the surface you are driving on.

Your tires and the suspension system affect your ride stability. Tires with less roll resistance offer the best fuel economy and the least comfort. Wider tires provide good stability although heavy and lead to high fuel consumption.

The air suspension system in heavy-duty trucks offers a comfortable ride and fuel economy. Your engine will not strain to produce power to maintain the desired speed. 

Belts and hoses are essential parts of the engine. Belts connect various parts that require the engine’s energy to run, including the alternator. The engine has various fluids that facilitate smooth operation.

The engine oil and coolant are some of the fluids within your truck’s engine. For fluids to reach various parts of your engine, they must travel through hoses. Hoses and belts are sensitive engine parts that change in seasons and can damage. Here are tips for maintaining belts and hoses.

Hoses

Checking and fitting the belts and hoses of your truck is one of the basic truck maintenance worth knowing. Coolant hoses are relatively unique because they wear out from the inside. When you note that the hoses of your truck are worn out from the outside, the inner part is in a worse state. 

The coolant hose develops weak points as it wears out, and debris can enter the heater core during this process. Hoses start to wear out from bent, clamped, or connected areas. Follow the below procedure to inspect your hoses.

1. Use your hands to inspect all hoses in your truck.
2. Touch the coolant hose to feel its condition.
3. Turn the engine and squeeze the hoses between your fingers. If they feel soft, consider replacing them.
4. When inspecting the hoses, you can notice grime, bulges, and abrasions that you cannot see with your naked eyes. You can also feel for moisture, seepage, or dirt around the hoses.
5. The bends on the coolant hoses should be relaxed. Any tension on the bends generates pressure that weakens it.
6. A truck’s engine has over 40 clamps at various areas within the system. Consider using a clamp that offers uniform sealing, tension, and the right size for cooling system hoses.

Belts

Most engine systems use serpentine belts, single belts driving various engine parts. This means that you have only two belts to inspect, and this is how to do it.

1. Your hands are the best tools to inspect the belts.
2. The inspection should focus on wear on the outer edges that are sensitive even to small misalignments.
3. Check for belt plays, as they can lead to premature wear of the belt’s body.
4. Check for outer edge fries, as such wear signifies that you need to replace your belts.
5. Belts should be able to bend. If you note that yours are brittle and resist flexing, think of replacing it as soon as possible.
6. Check if the belts have proper tension. Newer engines are fitted with spring loaders whose primary role is to ensure that belts have adequate tension. Belts should not be very tight as this puts tension on the bearings, which can lead to misalignment or belt failure. You can feel how tensed your belt is by pressing it.

Conclusion

Belts and hoses are the truck engine parts that do not need special tools to inspect. If you haven’t inspected your belts and hoses, consider checking them today. Your engine cannot function without or with faulty belts. Damaged belts and hoses are stressful, especially if it happens on the highway. It is thus necessary to service them before taking your truck for a trip. 

How do you make your truck last long in winter? Winter temperature is usually accompanied by extreme cold, ice and snow. Cool temperatures can lower your gas mileage and also reduce the fuel energy content of the diesel your truck uses. Such changes are because most diesel manufacturers usually change the composition of diesel to make it relatively thicker and gel-like.

Winter can interfere with the performance of your truck, but there are ways of limiting the effects of winter on your diesel truck. Here are some of the tips you can rely on to make your truck endure the winter season.

Making Your Truck Last Long in Winter

Here are some of the best ways that one can make their truck last long in winter season when it is snowy and temperatures are in their extremes.

Use Additives

Diesel fuel has more energy as compared to petrol, and this is the reason why most heavy-duty trucks use diesel-powered engines. But when it is freezing, the rate at which diesel burns go down, and it also loses some energy. 

You can use additives to reduce the rate at which the extreme winter weather interferes with diesel fuel. If you add additives to your diesel, the cetane levels will decrease. Additives, on the other hand, lubricates and protect the fuel injection system.

Your Location

Your location matters a lot when it comes to ensuring your truck endures the winter season. There are areas you will never find winter diesel, especially if such regions that do not experience the acute winter season. 

If you are living in a relatively warm area and you are planning to move to a place that experiences the winter season, consider filling your tank as soon as you start experiencing the winter weather. Doing this will enable you to get the right diesel fuel that suits your truck’s current season, making your truck more fuel efficient. 

Check the Glow Plugs

Glow plugs play a vital role in starting your diesel truck. Sometimes you might experience starting difficulties. In such an event, consider checking your glow plugs. It is essential to check the condition of your glow plugs as soon as the cold temperatures start to show up.  Change the glow pugs if you realize they are becoming faulty and cannot operate efficiently during winter.

Let Your Truck Idle

Letting the truck idle can help contribute towards making your truck last long in winter. Winter season is usually accompanied by various diesel truck issues, such as difficulty starting. When your diesel engine is cold, starting it can give you a headache. 

Diesel engines are relatively different from petrol engines which rely on spark plugs to initiate combustion. For diesel engines, the combustion depends on the compression that generates adequate heat to ignite fuel.

When the temperature goes down, the entire engine will be cold. During winter, your engine will work harder to attain the minimum temperatures to ignite fuel in the combustion chamber. It is essential to leave your engine to warm up before you start driving your truck. Also, fitting the block heater ensures that the engine is warm.

Conclusion

Winter temperatures are challenging. Therefore, preparing your truck before and during the winter season is necessary. When the seasons start changing, it is essential to make adjustments that will let your truck cope with such changes. 

In addition to this guide, tires are necessary for making your truck last long in winter. Consider switching to winter tires. 

What are some of the tips for truck preparation for spring? Spring is when everything changes, including temperatures that can swing from balmy and frigid. It might be sunny, accompanied by a weak storm. But sometimes spring can have extreme weather changes on a single day. As the weather is beginning to warm up, it is necessary to adjust your truck. This guide will teach you some tips to consider as you prepare your truck for the spring season. 

Check the Fluid Levels

After the winter season, it is essential to check if the fluids within your truck are at the right levels. Consider checking the brake, windshield washer, transmission, coolant, and power steering levels.

Consider topping them up, flashing, or replacing them when necessary. When performing this procedure, consider using the owner’s manual for guidance. When checking the level of fluids in your truck, it is necessary to check and change the oil and the filters.

Wiper Blades

Weather changes can warp, tear or even crack your wiper blades. Damaged wiper blades cannot efficiently wipe your windscreen during the light spring showers. When the blades cannot wipe the showers from your windscreen, the visibility will not be clear, and this can be dangerous to you and other road users. 

At the beginning of spring, it is necessary to check the condition of the wiper blades and change them as soon as you realize they are faulty.

Brakes

Dirt accumulation during the winter season can be dangerous to your brakes. After winter, it is essential to check your brakes, remove any accumulation of dirt on the braking system and ensure they are properly functional. Spring season needs good braking power. It is essential to check the condition of your brakes and even replace the worn-out parts.

Tires

Tires are the only part of your truck in regular contact with the road. It is essential to ensure that they are in good condition. Good tires provide proper traction and guarantee safety as you drive your truck. 

At the end of the winter weather, consider removing the winter tires and replacing them with all-season tires. Regularly check the tire pressure because weather fluctuations during spring can cause changes in tire pressure. 

Battery

Cold winters have several side effects on the chemical formation of your battery. As the weather is changing, consider testing your battery. Ensure your battery is well mounted and the connections are tight and free from rust. 

You can use a multimeter to test your battery. If the readings are below 12 voltage, consider buying a new battery. Check the levels of fluids within the battery, and if necessary, you can refill it with the necessary fluids.

Belts and Hoses

Most belts within the engine are made of rubber that can either be damaged or hardened with cold temperatures. As the weather starts to warm up, the hoses might show signs of getting damaged. Inspecting them and replacing the ones showing signs of wearing out is essential.

Conclusion

It is necessary to perform a thorough checkup on your truck whenever the seasons change. Variations from seasonal changes can cause damage to the above parts of your truck. 

Traditionally, we have heard and believed it is not necessary to clean up a diesel truck engine. But with time, there has been an increase in the knowledge of diesel engines and how to take care of them. Cleaning the diesel engine has been one of the tips many diesel owners are implementing. When you do not take care of your diesel engine, it can lead to costly repairs and replacement of parts that you can avoid. 

Some modern diesel engines come with a comprehensive guide on how you can clean them. However, if you need that knowledge, this guide will give it to you. After reading the guide, you will understand how to clean up your diesel engine.

How To Clean a Diesel Truck Engine

Cleaning a diesel engine is similar to cleaning a petrol engine and is not very complex. You can do it at home. Here are the steps you can consider following when cleaning your engine. 

1. Remove all the debris on the surface of the engine, including those clinging to the grill and the hood. The debris is of varied sizes. Some you can remove by pulling as some you will need to wipe out using a brush.
2. After removing all the visible debris, turn on your engine and let it warm for 10 minutes. Doing this will melt and loosen the oil on the surface of the engine.
3. The engine is composed of very delicate parts that water can destroy. Consider protecting components such as the alternator, air intake, sensors, and power steering filler. You can cover them using plastic bags and rubber bands. You can check your owner’s manual if you need to know where these items are.
4. Spray the degreaser on the surface of the engine, in the grill, and under the hood. For safety, spray it from the bottom, so it does not spill on you. Let the engine relax for five minutes before taking any action.
5. After five minutes, gently scrub your engine, grill, and hood using a brush with a long handle. When doing this, focus on the areas that hide a lot of dirt and are hard to reach.
6. When cleaning your engine, never use a low-pressure spray, but use water and gently flow it from the hose. High-pressure spray can make water access the delicate parts of the engine. 
7. After rinsing your engine, let it dry. You can let the engine heat to dry faster, but for a cleaner and spotless dry, you can use a cotton cloth to dry your engine by hand. 

Engine Cleaning Tips

When cleaning your diesel engine, avoid using the common household degreaser as the basic ingredients used in their manufacture can damage the aluminum and the high-strength steel within the engine. The hydrogen component of household degreasers can interfere with the electrical connection of the engine. It is, therefore, essential to buy products made for engine care.

Conclusion

Dirt accumulation can damage the engine with time. It is, therefore, essential to clean your diesel engine regularly, especially at the end and the beginning of every season. 

Generally, diesel trucks are known to be robust and can easily handle any work. Diesel trucks typically have higher torque than their petrol counterparts, although they might be slow on the road. But this is not the case since the current diesel trucks are mighty fast. The faster nature of diesel engines results from manufacturers’ improvements, such as the fitting of the turbo.

If you need more horsepower, you need to upgrade the performance of diesel trucks. Truck performance mainly dwells in the engine. The engine’s essential ingredients for power production are diesel and air. Providing a conducive environment for the combustion of diesel and fuel will boost your diesel truck’s horsepower and performance. Here are some tips to increase the performance and horsepower of your truck.

Modifications of Air Intake and Exhaust System

When you upgrade and modify the air intake system, more fuel-oxygen mixture will burn in the engine, increasing the horsepower. When the air intake pipe is modified and is bigger, more cool air will rush into the engine. More cool air has more oxygen, and therefore, the compression improves.

The engine will produce more exhaust fumes when more air is drawn in. Therefore, consider installing a bigger exhaust system when installing a bigger air intake system. A bigger exhaust system also helps draw out the engine’s excess heat.

Upgrading the air intake and the exhaust system helps minimize the pressure within the engine and enables your truck to produce a fascinating throaty sound. 

Upgrade the Diesel Fuel System 

After increasing and improving the airflow and the exhaust system, more air will get into the combustion chamber. You will need to increase the fuel getting into the combustion chamber. To do this, you must upgrade the fuel pump and the injectors.

The injectors that most trucks come with are meant to reduce fuel consumption. To increase horsepower and performance, you must install aftermarket high-flow fuel injectors. For improved performance, you will need to upgrade the fuel pump that can make it cope with the high fuel demand.

Upgrading your diesel fuel system will let more fuel into the combustion chamber, thereby increasing horsepower and performance.

Modifying the ECM System

The Engine Control Module controls everything in your truck, including diesel consumption. Modifying the ECM will change how diesel trucks manage the engine and the transmission system.

Modifying the ECM will mainly adjust the pressure and timing, increasing the horsepower and compression ratio and improving your transmission system.

You can Tune, remap and chip the ECM, although this is a sensitive operation that requires a specialized mechanic. It is necessary to take diesel trucks to a pro for this modification. If not, you will fail the emission test.

Conclusion

Diesel truck from the factory comes with features that increase the fuel economy. If you want to get maximum from your diesel truck, consider doing away with the factory air intake and exhaust system, modifying the ECM, and upgrading the fuel system. Install relatively bigger aftermarket parts that will reduce fuel economy but give your truck the maximum power. 

In the market, there are either diesel truck engines or petrol-powered ones. When buying, you can choose either petrol or diesel-powered engines. Sometimes deciding on the one to choose may be difficult because you will hear those owning petrol-powered engines praise their trucks equally to those owning diesel-powered engines.

In this guide, the focus will be on diesel trucks. After reading it, you can decide which truck to choose based on what you want your truck to do for you. Here are some of the reasons why you should love diesel truck engines. 

The Torque

Diesel trucks usually have a higher torque as compared to their petrol counterparts. The high torque is attributed to the high compression ratio. The compression ratio is between the cylinders’ minimum and maximum volume. In diesel trucks, the cylinders are larger due to longer strokes. The pistons move up and down at a larger interval volume in each cylinder. 

Torque is the measure of the force that makes an object rotate on an axis. The above-explained process enables diesel trucks to burn fuel to generate more torque transmitted to the driveshaft. Diesel trucks can tow heavy loads and economize fuel consumption.

Efficiency

Diesel trucks are fuel efficient because of the thicker density of diesel fuel, high compression ratio, and low rpm performance. The thicker density allows diesel trucks to produce more power by consuming less fuel. Diesel trucks are, therefore, efficient and economical when it comes to fuel consumption as compared to petrol trucks.

Long Life

Diesel engines are usually big, which is why they last longer. They have higher compression ratios and higher cylinder pressure. For this reason, they have large crankshafts and camshafts that need larger bearings with big sturdy rod bolts. 

The large crankshaft and camshafts offer increased clearance for better oil flow. Better oil flow in the engine enhances engine lubrication resulting in reduced engine wear. Better engine lubrication increases the lifespan of the engine.

The absence of a spark plug, the existence of a piston cooling jet, and the gear-driven design are some of the unique modifications that give diesel truck engines a long life span.

Gas Economy

Diesel trucks are the best when it comes to gas mileage. Gas economy is better in bigger and heavy-duty trucks. A truck with diesel engines gets 25-30% better fuel economy, making diesel pick-up trucks more cost-effective. 

The fuel economy is due to the fact diesel fuel is denser than petrol fuel. Therefore the rate at which it burns is relatively slower than petrol. For this reason, diesel trucks will consume less after running for a long time than petrol trucks. 

Conclusion

There are a lot of reasons to fall in love with diesel trucks. They are powerful and can endure any task. The feeling of driving a diesel truck is entirely different from petrol trucks due to the big nature of the engine. Diesel trucks are generally pocket friendly when it comes to servicing. You only need to stick to your routine service and replace worn-out parts. 

How regularly do you do your truck’s seasonal maintenance and do you know how important it is? Different seasons have various weather changes that affect your truck. If your truck is poorly maintained, it will break down when the season changes.

When you delay performing maintenance for your truck, the developing issues will escalate into major problems that fixing can be hectic. As you read this guide, you will learn about several issues that require a check-up from one season to another. 

Seasonal Maintenance For Truck Owners

Here are some of the seasonal maintenance that you need to be doing to ensure that the truck remains in top shape and ensure that you get the best out of it.

Spring

Consider the below maintenance during spring.

Cleaning

During spring, consider washing the exterior of your truck, especially the underbody. Washing removes salt that can rust your truck. During winter, the rusting process can be slow but can accelerate during spring. Cleaning will make rust visible, and you can take care of it.

Tires

If you have snow tires, consider changing them during spring. But if your truck has all-season tires, consider rotating them.

Brakes

During winter, your brake pads are more likely to wear out. It is essential to check them during spring and change the pads. Doing this will improve the safety of your truck. 

Oil and Filters

The engine puts more effort during spring. As a result, you will need to change your oil to give you a maximum engine performance. Seasonal oil checks and changes ensure that your oil is not affected by moisture and condensation during winter.

Summer

Summer is another harsh season with very hot temperatures and dust. The high temperatures are likely to break down your truck. Here are areas to consider

The Cooling System

The normal temperature of the engine combined with the high temperatures can interfere with your engine. At the beginning of summer, consider flushing out your radiator and refilling a new coolant. Never open the radiator when the engine is hot but let it cool down before changing the coolant.

Tires

Consider checking your tires during summer. If you have all-season tires, consider checking their condition more often. During summer, the tire pressure is something you should keep monitoring. Your tires should have lower pressure during summer as the heat leads to tire expansion that can cause tire bursts.

Air conditioning

Air conditioning is one of the most important seasonal maintenance to do for your truck. A/C comes in handy during summer. Ensure your A/C is in perfect working condition during summer.

Winter

Winter is extremely cold. Check the following parts of your truck.

Tires

Winter requires proper traction, consider using winter tires, and you can chain them. All-season tires are also better but consider rotating them. 

Cooling System

Coolant is essential during winter. Consider filling your radiator with antifreeze during winter. Consider flushing out the summer coolant and replacing it with an antifreeze solution.

Wipers

The wiper comes in handy during winter. Ensure the wiper blades are properly working and the wiper fluid is in the required quantity.

Heater

 The heating system can be in bad shape because you only use them during winter. It is essential to check them during winter and ensure they are working perfectly.

Conclusion

Your truck is an investment, and it feels good when it is in perfect working condition. It is necessary to keep doing seasonal maintenance to it for longer service. Doing this will ensure it is in ideal working condition. You will not feel that your truck needs a check-up, but it is essential to keep it healthy.

Every truck owner dreams of giving their trucks a long life span of service by taking care of them and there is no better way than getting truck maintenance. Owning a diesel truck is one of the best things to happen to you. Some of the most powerful trucks are powered by diesel engines. Most diesel engines need less maintenance as compared to petrol engines. But this does not mean that servicing them is a walk in the park. Some things have to be put in place to ease the maintenance of your diesel truck.

Here are some critical diesel truck maintenance tips to keep your running smoothly.

Regular Cleaning

While using your truck, you run over all sorts of dirt, and some get into the engine. Therefore, cleaning your engine is essential and this will ensure that it serves you happily. Accumulating dirt particles in various parts of your truck can damage it. Ensure you use clean fuel to give your engine good health and smooth operations. Diesel engines are sensitive to fuel with high sulfur concentrations and can lead to expensive repairs.

Always Check the Levels of Fluids

The most important maintenance tip you should have at the figure tips is checking the fluids. Trucks use various fluids such as transmission, brake, oil, diesel, water, and engine coolant. Sometimes the engine coolant might be acidic and corrode other parts of your engine. It is essential to do a regular check on the acidity of the coolant.

Having enough coolant and oil is essential to prevent your engine from overheating. Also, check the level of other liquids and top them up when they are low.

Change the Filters

Filters are an essential part of a diesel truck that plays a vital role in your truck’s performance. It is necessary to change the filters after covering 20,000km. Modern diesel trucks have two fuel filters. During routine service, ensure all these filters are changed.

Air filters should also be checked and replaced at the appropriate time. The fuel and oil filters play the role of trapping all the impurities in the fuel and air. They thus ensure the engine receives clean fuel and air.

Change Oil

Oil changing is another tip that will leave your engine running smoothly. Diesel engines always experience harder driving and towing, which wears out oil very fast. You will need to change the oil at 8000 km as part of the regular truck maintenance. If your truck has been driven for a long, consider changing the oil whenever you change the filters. Ensure you use the right oil for your truck, and in case you need to know, you must check the user guide.

Check on the Smoke

Exhaust smoke is essential when you want to diagnose the health of your engine. Checking the exhaust system enables you to catch early developing problems. If you note the emission of strange fume, consult your mechanic, or even if a strange sound comes from the exhaust system.

Conclusion

Diesel trucks are mighty and reliable. But, for them to give you the service you deserve, you have to perform the basic truck maintenance as laid down in this guide.

Trucks are known to be heavy-duty vehicles with higher torque. As they serve you with time, they develop issues you should always pay attention to. You can avoid such issues at an earlier stage because the truck need maintenance and minor repairs, but if left, they escalate into major problems that become expensive to repair.

If you own a diesel truck, you must know some early warning signs that the truck need maintenance. Ignoring such signs leads to significant and expensive repairs. Here are some warning signs that your truck requires maintenance and repairs.

When the Engine Becomes Hard to Start

Diesel engines usually depend on compression to start. If your mechanic sees a problem with the system, they will usually test to see whether the problem is with the cylinder head or something like a dirty oil filter. Dirty air or oil filters interfere with the fuel and air feeding into the combustion chamber, and therefore you will experience hard starting problems.

When the Turbo Charger Starts to Fail

Turbochargers boost the engine’s power by delivering more compressed air into the combustion chamber. When your turbo is faulty, black smoke will usually come from your truck’s exhaust pipe. And also, the consumption of gas will either increase or decrease significantly. If this happens, it is necessary to take your truck for a check-up.

Blue Smoke From the Engine

Blue smoke is a clear indication that something is fishy in your engine. Usually, oil leaks into the combustion chamber, and worn-out cylinders are some of the common causes of this. When blue smoke is assumed, it can escalate into serious issues that might lead to an engine overhaul. The moment you note that the smoke from your truck has changed its color, consider taking it for a mechanical check-up as soon as possible.

Leakages of Engine Oil and Cooling System

If your engine oil starts to leak, it might end up in the cooling system and damage the radiator and another part of the engine. This could be sign that the truck need maintenance and repairs. Note that your engine oil is leaking, you will see abnormal smoke from the exhaust system, and oil stains will always be under your truck.

The cooling system is composed of liquids, which play the active role of cooling and maintaining the engine’s temperature. When they leak, the system might not function effectively, which can lead to engine overheating. Leakages of oil and liquid indicate that you should take your truck for routine service.

Overheating

It is normal for the engine to heat due to friction of the moving parts and combustion. When you start driving your truck and realize it is overheating, it is essential to park by the road and turn off your engine immediately. Too much heat can damage the radiator, plastic pipes, and other vital engine parts. Overheating is an indication that your truck need maintenance.

Conclusion On Signs Your Truck Need Maintenance

Routine servicing is one of the basic maintenance tips every truck owner should consider doing. Every truck manufacturer indicates in their guide the best time for doing routine services such as oil changes, filter changes, and general engine checks. The above are some of the signs that if you see from your truck, consider taking it for service maintenance.

The hot temperatures are coming to an end, and winter is just starting.  If you have a diesel truck, it should serve you anytime, despite the seasonal change.  For your truck to give you better and exemplary services during winter, there is no shortcut, but you must prepare it.  Remember basic preparations such as checking the health of your battery, changing oil, adding anti-gel fuel additive to the tank, and many more.  As soon as you finish reading this guide, you will know all the preparations you need to perform for your truck as the cold weather approaches.

Check Your Batteries

The lifespan of a standard battery is between two to five years. After using your truck during summer, when liquid evaporation and corrosion are common, the cold winter kills the battery that has been weakened during summer very fast.  It is, therefore, necessary to check the health of your battery as soon as the season starts to change.

A multimeter is an essential gadget to check your battery’s health.  To use it, ensure your engine is off and connect it to the leads of your battery.  A healthy battery usually reads 12.6 voltage or more when the engine is running.  But if the multimeter readings are below 10 volts, your battery is in a critical condition, and you should change it.

Change the Fuel Filters

Most freezing in diesel trucks occurs around the fuel filters.  A very minimal amount of diesel remains in your filter when your diesel stays overnight.  Installing a new fuel filter is not an assurance that you won’t have gelling issues, but doing this will give you a fresh start.  Changing the fuel filter before winter saves you from doing the job during the cold weather.  Also, you must keep an extra fuel filter in your truck.

Use Anti-Gel Fuel Additive in Winter

Even diesel fuel blended to work better during winter can reach its limits and start to gel up when it is freezing.  There are always no standard temperatures that diesel fuel begins to gel due to the difference in the diesel quality and the degree of exposure of various trucks.  For this reason, you must use a fuel additive during winter; the best is all season or the one designed for winter.  Such additives prevent diesel from gelling up in the fuel tank.

Test the Condition of Your Block Heater

During extreme winter, block heaters are usually life savers.  The bad news is that most diesel truck owners never realize that their block heater needs to be functional.  It is easy to test if your block heater is functional.

You need to clean the prong plugs, use a multimeter set in ohms, and attach it to the plugs of the prongs.  A working block heater will read between 9 to 25 ohms.  When it is faulty, it will give readings below 9 ohms.

Conclusion

Winter weather usually freezes everything and might end up freezing your truck, so preparing your truck for winter is essential.  It is also necessary to do tire changes in preparation for winter.  Fix winter tires for better traction.