Hello, my name is Roy. For many years, I drove a 1976 Ford estate car around Sydney. The car had belonged to my grandpa. It was passed down to me when I had just passed my driving test at the age of 18. That was in 1986 and the car was already in a pretty bad condition then. Fast forward to 2006 and I was now aged 38 and still driving the same car around. Sometimes the car wouldn't start, white smoke came out of the exhaust and the gearbox made a terrible sound. I did my best to patch it up, but eventually, I had to scrap the car and buy a new one. I decided to start a blog to encourage others to service their cars.
A truck is a massive investment. And if you use your truck for personal business for your one-man company, keeping your truck in working condition is critical for your bottom line. Nevertheless, it is easy to overlook truck maintenance, more so if you drive your truck daily. Instead, you may be thinking that sticking to the servicing schedule will suffice as truck maintenance. However, your truck is bound to develop auto problems on occasion due to wear and excessive driving. Below are a few of the red flags that should prompt you to seek truck servicing repair.
The brakes are misbehaving
Trucks are heavy vehicles. For that reason, slowing down or coming to a halt places pressure on the brakes and this can lead to progressive damage. If this wear is not caught in time, you are not only putting yourself at risk of an accident on the road but you are threatening the lives of other motorists too. Several symptoms will manifest when your brakes start to decline. For starters, you could start hearing unusual noises that were previously not there. Sounds such as screeching, grinding and squealing should alert you to a problem with the brakes. Additional symptoms of potential brake problems include strange vibrations or the truck pulling to the side of the road when slowing down as well as sponginess underfoot.
The performance is in decline
The second red flag indicating the need for truck servicing repair is the declining performance of your vehicle. The first sign of these issues is excessive fuel consumption. Not only does this mean you will be spending more money to keep your truck on the road but also there could be an undiagnosed problem causing the vehicle to consume more fuel than necessary. In some cases, this could be caused by declining oxygen sensors while in other cases it could mean that your fuel system is contaminated with debris. Overall, when the performance of your truck starts to seem off whether due to the engine, fuel consumption or even the battery it is crucial to take your vehicle in for servicing.
The exhaust smoke has turned colour
Excessive exhaust smoke from your truck is a clear indicator of a yet diagnosed problem. Nonetheless, did you know you could deduce the potential issue so you can have an idea of why you require truck servicing? If the exhaust smoke has a bluish tinge, it means that your truck is probably leaking oil. On the other hand, if the exhaust smoke is white, it is indicative of a problem with your truck's cooling system. Black smoke, alternatively, hints at excessive burning of fuel. Irrespective of the colour, you should visit your mechanic immediately.
Share3 October 2019
