How To Stay In Front Of Semi Truck Repair Needs
No driver wants to get a rig out on the road before finding out that it needs to go to a semi truck repair shop. It's always best to seek commercial truck repair services before a vehicle has a problem, but how do you stay in front of issues? Here are four ways to keep ahead of big truck repair problems.
Monitor Fuel Economy
Modern engines are incredibly good at making adaptations as they age. This means you often don't see major commercial truck repair issues for months or years after minor problems emerge. Oftentimes, the first sign of trouble is that the fuel economy is dropping.
You'll need to keep tabs on where you were during each trip, though. Over-the-road drivers, for example, often see serious drops in fuel economy due to changes in terrain or driving conditions. Get a notebook to track when you top off, how many miles you drove, and what the circumstances were. If you start to see a consistent drop in fuel economy over time under similar circumstances, ask a semi truck repair services provider to check for problems.
Check for Tire Wear
Lots of mechanical issues cause a vehicle to pull. This can lead to unusual wear on the tires, and that's often an early indicator of trouble. If there's a problem with the suspension or steering system, for example, that might cause wear on a single side of a tire. Also, some issues appear as feathering patterns on the edges of the tires.
Make sure you're running the tires at the manufacturer's specifications for air pressure. Likewise, take a moment to confirm that they're bolted tightly. These measures will rule out potential non-mechanical problems.
Difficulty Starting in Cold Weather
Even a drop in the 50-degree temperature range can lead to difficult starts for engines. While the solution often requires basic commercial truck repair services like replacing the glow plugs or the battery, it's still a good idea to check for other issues. A bank of sensors could be failing, or there might be a problem with the ignition switch. Even loose wires can cause trouble.
Smells or Smoke
As previously noted, modern engines often make impressive adjustments to keep working. This means the signs of trouble might be the products of the adjustments. For example, the fuel mixture might change, causing the smoke to smell or look different. If you're seeing visible exhaust fumes, especially on warm days, it's probably time to visit a commercial truck repair provider.
Contact a semi truck repair service for more information.