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Maintenance Tips For Your Older Pickup Truck

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How old is your pickup truck? Statistics show it’s getting older.

According to research from IHS Markit, the average age of a light vehicle has grown to 11.9 years, which has increased by one month from the average set one year ago.

There are a lot of reasons for that, including better technology and quality improvements. If you consider your vehicle to be more reliable longer, why trade it in and bump up your expenditures once again?

Of course, where your money goes is a constant ebb and flow. You may not have monthly loan payments, but the older your vehicle is, the more likely you’ll be replacing parts and servicing your car from time to time.

Add in the fact that more people are looking for high quality previously owned vehicles. IHS also has predicted that the number of light vehicles on the road will jump to 16 years and older will jump 22 percent over the next few years, reaching 84 million by 2023. People are no longer demanding new each time they look for new vehicles. Instead, they look for used. It’s no longer unheard of for a vehicle to be sold multiple times.

Technology and quality assurance may be the starting point for making vehicles better today, but an equal handshake has to go to the maintenance market.

If you want your pickup truck to last ten, fifteen years or more, you have to be forward-thinking on your maintenance routine. Instead of waiting for problems to arise, you have to schedule regular visits and fix minor problems before they explode into larger ones.

Want to keep your pickup truck looking and operating like new for years to come? Here’s what to do.

Start with oil changes

Maintenance Tips For Your Older Pickup TruckAn oil change is one of the most basic services your pickup truck needs. It used to be that vehicles needed oil changes right at 3,000 miles, but times have changed a bit. Thanks to synthetic oils being produced today, some of the latest models are pushing the envelope of how long you can travel between oil changes. It’s not unheard of for manufacturers to recommend intervals between 5,000 and 7,500 miles.

But keep in mind that this is a ballpark number. It also depends on your driving habits. Thanks to our recent staying-in-place orders, if you’re spending more time at home, your pickup truck may take longer to reach the specified numbers. The age of the oil is important too. Our advice is to stick with a schedule – base it on miles traveled or months in service, either/or. That ensures your vehicle has fresh oil running through the various parts and systems, and won’t let you down when you need it most.

Check the brakes

Some pickup trucks are treated as the family sedan. They drive to and from work on paved roads, with the occasional stop at the hardware store for little DIY projects around the house. Others are full-out work vehicles, hauling thousands of pounds all over town regularly. Each of those impacts your brake system in different ways.

Do your brakes feel spongy when you press down on the brake pedal? Are you having to push down farther to achieve the same results? It could be a sign of failing brakes. Part of increasing the longevity of your vehicle is in becoming attuned to how it drives. Pick up on the small feelings, noises, or smells that suddenly change. This alerts you to potential problems, and helps you bring your pickup truck in for maintenance sooner. It can be the difference between a small repair and an expensive overhaul.

Spend time with your tires and wheels

One of the easiest places to keep watch for potential problems is with your tires and wheels. When tires are low, they don’t roll and connect with the pavement as easily. That requires more power from the engine to ensure the proper connection. Next time you stop at a gas station, pull in and check your tire pressure. Inflate them according to your vehicle’s guidelines. You should find the levels printed on a label in the driver’s door jamb, or head online and search.

Do you notice uneven wear on your tire’s tread? Do you notice your car bouncing along, a less comfortable ride than normal, or have your vehicle nosedive when slowing for a stop sign or stoplight? Or maybe your vehicle pulls to the right or left as you’re driving along?

All are warning signs it’s time for a maintenance visit.

Shocks and struts can cause handling problems, which could be dangerous to you and others on the road.

An alignment problem can wear down the suspension system, something that can occur slowly over time.

All of these conditions happen gradually over time. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on basic things to ensure your pickup truck is running well. Inspect your tires regularly and notice any changes in their tread or performance.

Give your pickup truck regular cleanings

CDOT uses a variety of different products on the highways and roads to keep them drivable all winter long. And while they’ve improved the chemicals they use to lessen the impact on a vehicle’s wear, it’s still a good idea to wash it off regularly.

A good cleaning can remove caked-on dust, dirt, chemicals, and other pollutants your pickup truck picks up from normal driving conditions. It also gives you a chance to see your car in a different light. A clean car makes it easier to spot damage. And if you’re handwashing it on occasion, you can see the little things you might miss otherwise.

Dirt can penetrate through even the tiniest hole or crack. And if it’s left to sit, the damage can penetrate, grow, until it does a lot of damage.

Give your pickup truck what it needs to live a long life

Your vehicle isn’t just an object that’s ready and waiting for whenever you need it. It has value that can last for years if you treat it well.

When you purchase your vehicle, whether used or new, spend some time getting to know your pickup truck on the inside and outside. Then watch, listen, and notice how it drives. Just being aware of how your vehicle moves will allow you to notice things quicker.

That can keep your pickup truck in good working condition for years to come.

Why Your Pickup Truck Maintenance Won’t Be The Same As Your Car Maintenance

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When you look at a pickup truck and a car, the differences might seem obvious. But there are distinct differences that separate the two apart.

Vehicles are classified by many different things:

  • Size
  • Weight
  • Design
  • Function
  • Purpose

The difference between a pickup truck and a car can ultimately be brought down to one thing: function. Cars are designed to carry people, not things. Trucks are designed to carry cargo. The emphasis isn’t put on the comfort of the passenger; rather, it’s designed for use and function.

The auto industry has labeled vehicles into distinct categories; your driver’s license lists what you’re licensed to drive. Passenger cars are listed as Class A. Light vans, minivans, SUVs, and pickup trucks are Class B. Medium and large-sized trucks are Class C. Each class has different inclusions and requirements as to what vehicle resides in each category. For example, a truck must weigh more than 8,500 pounds and have features for off-street or off-highway operation. That, of course, leaves wiggle room in the way manufacturers design their vehicles.

The difference between a car and a truck is noticeable. But what about a truck and a pickup truck?

Why Your Pickup Truck Maintenance Won’t Be The Same As Your Car MaintenanceTrucks are designed to carry, haul, and tow. They are designed in similar fashion, with a basic cab and some type of chassis attached to the rear. Pickup trucks are trucks with a separate frame and an open bed. They take a design from each category – cars and trucks – and combine them into one vehicle. Pickups are a smaller version of a truck, designed for multi-use. They are compact, perfect for family use as well as functional enough to use for smaller business.

Pickup trucks have become a mainstay in our community because of their functionality. They can be more useful than a typical car, providing a wide open space to carry just about anything you desire. Yet they don’t sacrifice on comfort, with sometimes luxurious cabs that offer you all the comforts of a car.

A pickup truck might not be big enough to handle the largest of jobs, but they offer a wide variety of functionality for both business and commercial purposes.

It may seem like the two are more similar than not in the way that they operate. They both have tires. They both need oil changed regularly. Yet there are many distinct differences that can impact the way you perform pickup truck maintenance compared with your family car.

Pickup trucks require different parts and tools

When you look at the two side by side – a pickup truck and a car – the one distinct difference is size. Pickup trucks are physically larger. They have more weight. That means the internal parts will be scaled to match the size. Bigger parts also mean larger tools to maintain each of the parts throughout its life.

Try jacking up a pickup truck with a standard jack built for a small, two-seater convertible. You put you, the jack, and your vehicle at risk. Small jacks just aren’t built to handle that kind of pressure.

It’s not just the weight. If you jack up the car to work on a flat tire, the tire itself will be larger too. The weight of the wheel will be more. The tire itself will be larger and more difficult to move. Even the tools you may have on hand for standard car repair won’t work on larger truck parts.

Manufacturers also know pickup trucks are put through more wear and tear every day. They screw nuts and bolts into place tighter to ensure they safely stay in place. Can you get them loose? Can you tighten them thoroughly to ensure they stay safe as you get back to work?

Pickup trucks are used differently

When you purchase a car, you tend to use it for normal city driving (even if you live way out in the country.) You stick to pave roads. Even if you lose pavement and return to a dirt road, it’s still graded and fairly easy to drive. All-wheel vehicles may give you the possibility to drive off-road and visit some of nature’s best. But you still understand the limits, and pay attention to how much roughness you put your car under.

Pickup trucks are designed to handle the pressure of dirty, dusty roads, all while pulling a heavy load. From a trailer to a camper, to a boat, pickup trucks are designed and ready for any job. Of course, you have to pay attention to the payload of what your pickup truck can haul. But even when the two match, that puts a lot more strain on each of the systems within your pickup truck, meaning they need special attention when they head in for a maintenance visit.

Towing puts more wear and tear on your vehicle. Suspension, for example, is a system that takes all the abuse of daily driving habits. But when you’re pulling heavy loads, bumping over rough roads, and doing so sometimes in the worst road conditions possible, it places additional stress on every part of the suspension system, springs, shocks, steering, and driveshaft joints.

Pickup trucks may use different products, but they still need the same care

You know all the rules you learned about regular car maintenance? They apply similarly to pickup truck maintenance too.

Your pickup truck works hard for you every day of the year. It needs oil changed on a regular schedule. It needs tire pressure checked and evaluated several times throughout the year.

When you pull in for an oil change, our mechanics still give your pickup truck a thorough inspection, similar to a car. But we pay close attention to the amount of fluids used, and talk with you about expectations.

Trucks engines are bigger than cars. Bigger engines need more oil, coolant, and other fluids. And in some cases, they even need a different formula of motor oil. It depends on the engine size, and what your pickup truck is put through regularly. We’ll talk with you about the different functions of modern motor oil, and help you make the right choice.

Is your pickup truck operating at peak performance?

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

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