Caring for Your Truck: Tips & Tricks
If you own a truck, you know that it's quite an investment; trucks can be costly to purchase, operate and repair, but the payoff is that they can be used to complete tasks that would be impossible with a smaller vehicle. Chevy trucks are known for being dependable and long-lasting, but with any truck, you should still take measures to care for it. With winter over and summer months rapidly approaching, now is a great time to make post-cold weather repairs and conduct maintenance. Save on service costs and ensure you get the most out of your truck for years to come by following some of these simple tips:
Check the tires
Making sure that your tires are properly inflated will reduce your chances of getting a flat tire, but the right tire pressure will also let you maintain optimal handling and performance from your car. With heavy-duty trucks in particular, when you're towing or hauling something, an under-inflated set of tires can have a serious effect on performance. Check your tire pressure using an air pressure gauge, or bring your truck to Walker Chevrolet and we can check it for you.
Inspect the brakes
Your truck is a good deal heavier than a small sedan, which means that it takes quite a bit of force to bring your truck to a full stop. With any vehicle, fully-functioning brakes are obviously crucial, but the brakes on your truck go through that much more strain due to the increased vehicle weight. Brake inspections should be done as often as twice per year; once before summer and once before winter are both good times, as you should ensure that your brakes are able to endure the more extreme weather shifts. Schedule a brake inspection with Walker Chevrolet today.
Check the fluids
As with all vehicles, your truck runs with the help of a variety of fluids, from engine oil to transmission fluid to windshield washer fluids and everything in-between. Since they are a critical piece of your truck's performance, all of the fluids should be topped off and in working order. Some essential fluids to check for your truck's performance are the engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid and windshield wiper fluid. If you're unsure as to how to check any of these, or you don't know what to look for, visit Walker Chevrolet and we will be happy to help.
Clean it up
Cleaning your truck does more than just make it look nice; build-ups of dust or any spills inside your truck can ultimately cause long-term damage to its condition, so cleaning the inside of your truck regularly is an important part of maintaining its value. In addition to this, be sure to examine the outside for any spots where rust is beginning to form, and apply an oil-based treatment to prevent it. If you use your truck for work and off-road activities regularly, be sure to hose off the bottom of it as well, since debris and road grime can become trapped underneath.
Each of these actions can contribute to preserving the overall condition and value of your truck. If you'd like to schedule a tune-up or general maintenance, you can make an appointment with Walker Chevrolet using our handy online appointment form. We look forward to working with you.