Semi-trucks go through a lot of punishment when it comes to being out on the open road. Just like you regularly have to maintain your car to keep it in working order, the same can be said of any semi-truck. There is some preventative maintenance you can do to ensure the longevity of your trucks, minimizing your need to make repairs.

Time-Based Maintenance

It can be difficult to tell when international truck parts require time-based maintenance because they’re made in another country with different regulations. However, you should still do periodic maintenance on a regular basis. It is one of the most commonly used forms of maintenance, making it the cheapest.

Meter-Based Maintenance

This is also known as performance-based maintenance, and focuses on aspects of the semi-truck such as requiring an oil change after a certain number of miles.

Failure-Finding Maintenance

This is when you discover a fault or defect that requires a solution. The semi-truck should be examined to determine if there is an existing problem that caused this fault and how it can be prevented in the future. This kind of maintenance doesn’t involve the replacement of any parts. For example, if you generate some smoke near the semi-truck, the smoke alarm should go off; when it doesn’t, then you’ve discovered that it needs to be changed.

Predictive Maintenance

This kind of maintenance is completely reliant on the algorithmic prediction performed by the technology inside of the semi-truck. It makes early detections and then addresses those problems before they occur.

Creating A Preventative Maintenance Checklist

When creating a checklist, it’s best to keep it short and don’t focus on too many things at once. The checklist should include:

• the engine
• fluid levels and what’s under the hood
• the chassis
• the brakes
• driveability checks
• emergency equipment

This can make maintenance quite efficient if you’re taking care of each part in turn.

Checking The Engine

The engine is the heart of the semi-truck and requires the most attention. Special care needs to be exercised in order to keep it in good condition. To keep the engine in working order, you should always check power steering level, check engine for oil, fuel, and coolant leaks, and the engine wire seals and connectors for damage, just to name a few.

Checking And Changing Fluids

Fluids are necessary to keep the semi-truck running. These include coolant, engine oil, and brake oil. These fluids will need to be drained and replaced on a regular basis, usually dependent on the number of miles you have driven.

Inspecting The Brakes And Tires

Brake inspection is a lifesaver and could mean the difference between preventing an accident and being in one. They can wear out pretty fast and should be monitored on a regular basis.

Tires also need frequent inspection so that you don’t miss when they need to be replaced. Your tires also need to adhere to federal regulations.

Regularly maintaining your semi-truck can be time-consuming but that doesn’t meant it has to be difficult. Take the time to create an effective checklist that covers everything so that your semi-truck can remain in working order.