Yearly Maintenance Tasks for Your Used Semi-Truck
A used semi-truck can last you for years if you care for it correctly. To help you make sure that your vehicle is in tip-top shape we’ve written up a guide of yearly checks and tasks you’ll want to perform. If you’re still in need of a used semi-truck feel free to stop by any of our locations across the state of California!
When to Visit a Mechanic
While there are several maintenance tasks you can complete yourself, at the minimum you’ll want to visit a mechanic at least once a year. Once you’re there it’s up to you what jobs you’d like your mechanic to perform. However, we advise at the very least getting a diagnostic test done, a general inspection, and having your wheels realigned. These are important yearly requirements that owners often can't complete themselves due to a lack of tools or professional expertise. Inspections or diagnostic tests also give you some important insight into how your engine is running and allow you to catch mechanic issues before they become problems. If your mechanic offers services such as ECM configurations or performs state-required inspections you’ll also want to take advantage of these services once a year
Fluids
There are quite a few fluids that are extremely important to the well-being of your semi. Depending on your mileage you’ll want to check and top off your fluids once every few months. However, once a year, when fluids like coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid begin to look dirty they’ll need to be drained. After they’re drained you’ll want to flush the systems with their respective cleaners, close the draining valves, and refill your vehicle with clean liquids
Battery
Your battery is a crucial component of your truck, and it’s reported that they are often thrown away much too early. Once a year we advise you to pop the hood and give your battery and its connected parts a good inspection. Ensure that important points of contact are not covered in grime, corrosion, or debris and there are no connected parts that are broken or damaged. If your terminal points have no corrosion or even light corrosion, we advise making a cleaning paste of baking soda and water. Use a small brush or swab to apply the mixture and allow it to sit for 5 minutes or so. If there are corrosive chemicals on your battery this mixture helps remove them and you can simply wipe it off after a few minutes—just be careful not to get any battery acid on your skin.
A/C
While the A/C may not help your truck move, it is very important to you as the driver. Change the air filter located behind your glove box once a year or so. If the filter is exceptionally dirty or surprisingly clean you may need to change it sooner or later than a full year. You may also pop the hood of your semi once again and take a look at your condenser. Be sure that the attached fans are running and that there is no sign of leaking or damaged parts. If your A/C is running a bit hot but all of these components seem to be working normally you may want to purchase a can of freon from your local automotive store.
Annual vs Regular Tasks
You may have noticed that we’ve left a few important components out of the list above. We have barely mentioned anything regarding brakes, oil changes, lights, or radiator and exhaust fluids. This is because these components are all crucial to your vehicle’s ability to drive safely. They should be checked regularly, rather than once a year, and should be taken to a mechanic immediately if an issue occurs.
Used semis may require more upkeep than a new model, so feel free to revisit this article as often as you’d like for tips and reminders. If you have a serious mechanical issue that you can’t handle yourself we encourage you to visit one of our many service shops throughout the state of California. You can view our six locations here and find out more information about what we offer and where we’re located.