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Nobody says you have to be in the truck maintenance business to make it as an owner-operator. But seasoned truckers know that making regular checks under the hood and scheduling services at the proper intervals for their type of hauling serve to assure a truck’s uptime and lengthen its service life.

Many truckers change oil filters at 12,000 to 15,000 miles even if they're on an extended oil drain interval. Photo courtesy of Volvo Trucks.

Checking fluid levels should become routine. Diesel engine manufacturers recommend using multi-grade oil in on-highway truck engines. Top off engine oil when it’s a gallon low. Oil filters should be changed at every oil change, typically every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. Some owners prefer to change filters at that interval even if they are on an extended oil drain schedule.

Oil analysis comes highly recommended as an indicator of an engine’s condition. Lab reports indicate the presence of water, coolant, fuel, wear metals, base or acid level, and the state of detergents and anti-wear additives. Symptoms are explained, and corrective actions may be recommended. Many lube shops and service centers offer oil analysis or take your own samples and send them out for analysis. Labs provide vials and mailers for this purpose.

Just as important as oil is coolant, because major engine damage can result from poorly formulated coolant. Pitting of cylinder surfaces and cracks from hot spots commonly result when coolant is not properly maintained. This critical fluid should be mixed 50/50 with distilled water, not tap water, before it is added. Check the coolant level daily before starting your engine.

Testing to check the freeze point and the ratio of coolant to water is recommended twice a year.

Coolant should be checked with test strips and replenished with supplemental coolant additive additives (SCA) as needed. Coolant warning signs include cloudiness, presence of rust, oil contamination, and silica gel (green slime) resulting from silicate dropout. Lab analysis of coolant is a good idea. It can identify contamination and maintenance issues that can be addressed before costly engine work is required.

The condition of air and fuel filters can be most accurately checked using restriction gauges. An air restriction gauge monitors your air filter’s condition by measuring air flow resistance through the engine air intake system. Air filters should be changed before they become plugged and affect performance fuel economy. To monitor fuel pressure, install a vacuum gauge at the outlet side of the filter. Replace the fuel filter when the restriction gauge indicates it’s time.  

Check the fuel/water separator on a regular basis and drain it before the bowl gets full. If you don’t have one of these useful devices mounted in your truck’s fuel line, you might consider having one installed. A separator is designed to remove water droplets from diesel fuel before it reaches the fuel filter and, ultimately, the engine. Water tends to affect the lubricity of fuel, promotes rust on internal engine parts, and produces other equally unsavory results.

Engine belts can wear and stretch, affecting efficiency. Check for loose belts regularly and tighten as needed. Worn belts should be replaced with the same size and V shape as the one removed. It’s best to order by the part number on the belt. Use of a belt-tension gauge will ensure that the belt is properly adjusted.

Check for leaking hoses and loose hose clamps. Signs of cracking or sponginess indicate that it’s time to replace hoses. Clamps should also be replaced at the same time. Hoses are generally good for about four years before they should be replaced. That helps avoid unexpected trouble on the road. Your emergency kit should include spare hose and clamps, along with pre-mixed coolant.

While you’re under the hood, survey the engine compartment for any obvious signs of trouble such as frayed wires, leaks, or corrosion, and take steps to correct the problems. Hanging wires should be secured. Dielectric grease should be used liberally to coat exposed electrical connections.

Get to know the vital components and systems that work together to keep your truck running at peak condition. By keeping close tabs, you’ll be able to detect minor troubles before they cost develop into big-money repairs.