Are you worried about making truck maintenance mistakes? If you are, you’re not alone. Many of us own vehicles and have little time to think about maintaining them. This can lead to common but preventable problems that most drivers deal with.

With long commutes and hectic schedules, who has time to add more tasks to their to-do list? But being busy is the number one reason to keep your vehicle in top condition. Major breakdowns can drain time from your already packed schedule.

It helps to keep a few important “must-dos” in mind. Here are five maintenance mistakes you should always try to avoid.

1. Forgetting to Change the Oil

Whether you’re an expert at fixing old trucks or a total newbie, regular truck maintenance should be one of your top priorities. Oil changes are important because they ensure that your truck’s engine will not seize up or overheat.

Forgetting to change the oil means bad consequences. Your engine won’t be lubricated well and will suffer from greater wear and tear. It can also have gunky buildup, which can clog valves and other important engine components.

2. Neglecting the Brakes and Brake Pads

Every so often, test your brakes and watch and listen for signs that something isn’t right. If you feel grinding, or hear squeaks or sounds of friction, get to a brake service center immediately.

Every truck maintenance budget should include funds for brake repair and upkeep. Good brakes are an important safety component, and you should never let them deteriorate.

3. Ignoring the Check Engine Light

Every driver hates the dreaded check engine light! We worry that we might be in for thousands of dollars in repairs. It’s almost always a mystery until a mechanic can diagnose the problem and give us a detailed report.

If you’re super busy and tempted to ignore the check engine light, don’t! Many drivers have found themselves stranded on the side of the road because they didn’t have their car serviced, and it just couldn’t go another mile.

4. Not Maintaining the Right Tire Pressure

One of the most valuable truck maintenance tools is also the smallest. It’s a tire pressure gauge. Keep one in your glove box and check your tires whenever you get gas.

This is especially important in the winter because cold weather can cause your tires to lose pressure quickly.

5. Missing Regular Inspections

Your local truck repair shop or certified vehicle inspector should check your truck once a year to ensure nothing major is failing. In some states, this is mandatory, but even if there’s no annual requirement, it’s a good idea for safety reasons.

If you have a diesel truck, check out these five tips for keeping it in top working condition.

You Can Avoid Making These Common Truck Maintenance Mistakes

Truck maintenance mistakes tend to happen because we’re all busy. Sometimes we’re not aware of what to pay attention to on our vehicles.

Now that you’ve seen this list of things to watch out for, you can plan to do basic truck maintenance in a way that works with your schedule’s demands.

For more tips and useful information, check out the rest of our website.