Want to know how to make your small truck engine feel newer, longer? The obvious answer would be to stick to a strict maintenance plan.
We're talking oil changes at the recommended intervals, tire rotations every 6,000 miles and all of the manufacturer's recommendations on coolant flushes, fuel tank cleaning and more.
Furthermore, it's important to recognize small problems and have them corrected before they become bigger ones to ensure your truck engine runs healthier for longer.
But you already know how important routine and preventative maintenance is. So with that being said, just how do you make your truck engine feel like new when it's not new? Here's a look:
This generally falls under "routine and preventative maintenance," but it’s important to mention since most vehicle tire pressure sensors only let you know when tires are under inflated - and not overinflated. So it's important to check tire pressure regularly, especially if you're driving in varied climates. Under or over inflation leads to uneven wear, and you’ll need to replace your tires sooner. It also creates unnecessary strain on your engine.
Fuel treatments are important for a number of reasons. Fuel additives work to clean fuel injectors and fuel systems. They can also prevent water from building up in the fuel tank and keep diesel fuel from freezing. So the benefits of fuel additives cannot be understated.
Winter weather can really wreak havoc on an engine. So taking extra care of your truck is crucial for engine health. For instance, park in a covered or heated area to minimize cold starts. And don't idle your vehicle excessively to warm it up. That’s not to say engines need no warmup at all; they do need a short amount of time to make sure any condensation can be burned off from the injectors. But studies show that's harder on an engine if you idle it excessively (i.e. for more than 30 seconds) than if you give it a little time before driving.
Caring for your truck's engine so that it's always running like new isn't as daunting of a task as some make it out to be. The right tips and a strict maintenance schedule can all help extend the life of your truck's engine and keep it running like new for longer.
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