Truck Maintenance

Truck Maintenance at Stanley Ford Sweetwater

A regular car doesn’t have to put up with nearly as much stress as a truck. While a sedan might move the weight of five passengers at the most, a truck might be hauling a trailer that weighs thousands of pounds. Since your truck is working a lot harder though, it’s going to need more maintenance in the long run. If you’re trying to keep up with your truck’s various parts, then you might want to consult the checklist below. If it’s been a while since you’ve serviced your vehicle, then you can visit us at Stanley Ford Sweetwater for quick repairs.

What Fluids Do I Need to Keep Track of in My Truck?

There are a lot of fluids moving throughout your vehicle. While everyone knows that they need to take care of their oil, there’s also your:

• Differential Oil: It’s always smart to check up on your differentials.
• Brake and Power Steering Fluid: If you’re driving a truck, you’ll want to check on these fluids every oil change. They’re both directly connected to your handling and safety on the road.
• Coolant: Keeping your engine cool is important, especially when it’s working hard enough to move an entire vehicle and the trailer behind it.
• Transmission Fluid: Your transmission works hard to transfer your engine’s power to your wheels, but it’s going to eventually need to be topped up so that it can cool itself down while it’s working.

Important Parts to Inspect Regularly in Your Truck

It’s important to check on your hardware when you get the chance, as this will help you stay on top of issues.

• The Suspension: When you’re throwing thousands of pounds in the bed every other day, it can cause your suspension to wear away.
• The Spark Plugs: These tend to last between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, so you’ll want to check up on them now and then.
• The Steering: Your steering components eventually loosen up, leading to serious problems on the road.
• The Brakes: If you can’t stop, you’re in for a rough time on the road. The second that you notice something is wrong, you’ll want to visit us at Stanley Ford Sweetwater. We’re located near Abilene, Sweetwater, and Colorado City.
• The Frame: Over time, you might damage your truck’s frame. You’ll want to keep an eye out for rust, bends, or cracks.
• The Air Filter: Your engine needs clean air to function properly, and this filter is one of the only things stopping particulates from entering it.

Diesel Truck Mechanics

If you drive a diesel, then there are a few additional things that you might want to keep track of.

• Diesel Exhaust Fluid: Trucks tend to put out a lot of emissions, but diesel trucks in particular have diesel exhaust fluid, which works to reduce the emissions coming out of your tailpipe.
• The Fuel Filter: Gas engines have a fuel filter too, but it won’t need to be replaced nearly as often as its diesel counterpart. It's best to check on this part whenever you need service.
• The Water Separator: Your water separator separates water from the fuel, but it’s eventually going to need to be drained.

If you need help maintaining your truck, you can schedule a service with us today at Stanley Ford Sweetwater.