We get annual checkups with our doctor and take care of our body the best way we can by trying to keep our cholesterol numbers low, right? But do you pay the same attention to your trucks’ pipes and engines parts so that they are healthy and running smooth, or do you just change the oil and that’s that? Some of us may need to pay more attention to the things that could clog our truck system the same way our veins and arteries could get so much plaque that our hearts don’t work efficiently, and may fail us.
The bond that often exists between a man and his truck is one that only truck lovers totally understand. You walk your dog to keep him healthy, but chances are you do it more than just once in awhile. Using, and I mean REALLY using your truck is something you need to do more than just now and then for it to stay “healthy.” By that I mean, if all you are doing is driving to and from work, and maybe an occasional trip to the store, you aren’t giving it the work out it needs on a regular basis, especially if you have a turbo diesel. Our bodies are not the only machine that needs exercise and a good workout.
Trucks of yesteryear were actual work mules with an engine. They got plenty of exercise hauling, pulling tractors and working in the fields over rough terrain. They were driven for miles and miles giving that engine the exercise it needed. I’ve used mine to get things unstuck and pushed it to its limits more times than I care to mention. But suddenly when I got a newer one with a turbine engine, I babied it like crazy. I guess I had the concept that I needed to protect it so it would last longer. I found myself treating it with kid gloves. That was a big mistake as I found out from my not-so-happy mechanic who showed me the error of my ways.
Think of your truck engine like a body, the more it sits around and not used properly, the more stagnant and resistant it will become when you attempt to use it more. When the moving parts of an engine are not “exercised” or made to perform in a certain manner, they will, like a body, become resistant to moving and performing. There are times when you are in situations that you want that truck of yours to take a beating, and even though those times won’t be on an every-day basis, when you need it to the most, it can’t. You will meet resistance when you are counting on performance. It’s like Newton’s first law of “objects at rest tend to say at rest.”
So what can you to ensure you are using your truck and keeping the “arteries” clean and clear? This simply means sometimes those engines have to be driven hard. I call it an “Italian tune-up.” Carbon builds up if you don’t “blow it out” now and then. I am not talking about reckless driving or breaking speed laws. It is not necessary to put the pedal to the metal at 100 MPH and smoke the tires. I am referring to extended driving beyond that quick work trip or late night trip to the store to get milk for the morning. Your truck engine needs to be driven long enough for the engine and components to thoroughly warm up to avoid the carbon and moisture build up, neither of which you want to occur, especially in the oil and crank case. You can achieve this by simply driving for a good distance of thirty miles or more at least once a week.
Combine extended driving with proper maintenance and you will not have to worry about your trucks’ “cholesterol” and can avoid costly repair bills. The added benefit to this is also extending the life of your truck, as you would your own body too. So drive that truck on a nice long ride, crank up the tunes and park way away from the door of your destination. That way, your truck engine and your body engine will both benefit from exercise.
Beware Of This When Buying A Used Pickup Truck
Of course a shiny brand new truck is a thrill for any truck lover, but if your wallet can’t deal with a big monthly payment and you still need a pickup for work or just because you want one, use the following tips to prevent getting yourself a lemon or having to sink crazy dollars into the truck right after you buy it because the seller misrepresented the vehicle.
New Year – New Truck? Top Four Best Pickups
If you are like everyone else, you may have made a resolution last New Years that you didn’t keep, which may have been to take better care of your old pickup. The up side to that is that you may be in the market for a new truck to start the New Year. Here is what the manufacturers are claiming to be the top four choices in brand new pickup trucks for 2017.
Plowing Snow With Your Pickup Truck
There is no denying that snow season has arrived. If you’re a truck owner with a snow plow, as much as you may dread all the inches of white stuff, you have to admit there is a certain appeal to the flashing strobe lights, the whine of hydraulics and the sound of steel dragging on the pavement. At times it might feel like you are playing with your favorite toy, but there is no mistaking the price and value of that toy, hence you had better know how to use it wisely and make it last. If you are new to plowing or purchasing a plow for the first time, I think you will find my information regarding features and options valuable.
