The engine control unit is the brain that is monitoring your engine and other components of your truck and making sure that everything is running correctly.
In the world of trucking, your rig is the most important tool that you have. Without a truck to drive, you don’t have a trucking career that’s going anywhere. While some truckers exclusively drive fleet trucks owned by their employers, many are owner-operators whose livelihood is intrinsically tied to the well-being of their vehicle. In either case, maintaining your semi-truck, from replacing the parts that commonly wear out to maintaining your truck engine is an important part of the lifestyle of being a trucker. Read on for five tips for keeping your semi-truck engine healthy and running well.
Air Filter
The air filter prevents most dust, dirt, and other contaminants from getting into the engine. Without a filter, all of that dirt would come in with the air and clog up the engine. Over time, the filter will also get clogged however, so remember to change it every 10,000-12,000 miles. A clogged filter will limit the air getting to the engine, and the engine will lose efficiency.
Exhaust System
Don’t forget that your exhaust system is part of your engine – it is responsible for removing hot air from the engine and allowing the machine to “breathe”. If your exhaust system is not functioning well, it will impact engine performance and over time could lead to engine damage.
Engine Control Unit
The engine control unit is the brain that is monitoring your engine and other components of your truck and making sure that everything is running correctly. You and your maintenance team should be running periodic checks of the ECU and making sure that it stays updated and running correctly. Some things can start as small issues in the Ecu that are easy to fix if they’re caught early, but can become huge issues if they’re not.
Oil
Don’t forget that routine oil changes are also incredibly important. You should have your engine oil replaced every 20,000 to 30,000 miles depending on the design, age, and condition of your engine. Forgetting to get oil changes done as needed is the fastest way to damage your engine.
Keep It Clean
Finally, even with routine oil changes, dirt and debris can still build up in the engine. Talk to your mechanic about how to clean the grime out of your engine and other fuel areas to keep your engine running its best. You wouldn’t neglect to clean your cab, don’t neglect to clean your engine.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star for all Your Trucking Needs!
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Tags: engine maintenance, Freightliner, semi-truck