Truck and Trailer Repair Services in Etobicoke | Mobile Truck Repair Service
There exists no other vehicle which needs as much maintenance and patience as trucks and trailers do. Trucks and trailers require extra care and love from their owners as neglected trucks and trailers, trucks who do not get regular upkeep and their owners are clueless about how to take care of their truck daily, can be huge threats not only to others on the road but to yourself as well. Truck and trailer owners should be determined to follow the following truck maintenance tips to save money in the long run by preventing costly vehicle reparations, prevent nasty accidents on the road and have your vehicle running like it was brand new!
Tires that are not inflated to the right levels, especially if they are inflated lower than usual, can tediously drag on the fuel efficiency of your truck or trailer which will cost you by having to spend unnecessary money on refuelling your vehicle. In the case of overinflated tires, they are simply a welfare risk to yourself and to those with whom you share the road with. Overinflated tires are more susceptible to blowouts and even premature tread damage. You can check your trucks or trailer’s proper tire pressure requirements in the owner’s manual and even on markings found on the rim of the tires. Do yourself and your bank account a favour by simply checking that you have the correct tire pressure on your truck or trailer.
Any engine problems in the truck which are not treated correctly and on time can result in the total breakdown of your truck with irreversible problems which will plague your truck’s performance for its entire life span. As a truck driver, you should be on the lookout for signs such as loss of the pressure in oil and unnecessary smoking. Such symptoms signal an engine that requires immediate attention from a truck maintenance shop that will make the correct repairs. It is also advised that you should ask your maintenance provider to perform a compression test which will indicate the period in which the engine will continue working.
If you are a truck driver that is constantly on the road, the decline of the engine’s performance is one of the biggest threats that exist. The collapse of a truck’s engine is inevitable but steps can be taken from it happening way too early such as having your oil changed regularly and at intervals. Whilst you are driving, the oil in a truck experiences a thermal breakdown which happens over time. When such a breakdown occurs what happens next is simply a downwards spiral. As the breakdown happens, the friction in the engine shoots up, increasing the possibility of a complete engine failure in your truck. When you should have your oil changed varies depending on your truck’s type and the usage of the truck. The more you drive and use your truck, the more frequently you will need to get your oil changed.
One of the most prevalent causes found in road accidents is brake failure. Road accidents are painful for all parties involved and oftentimes causes strenuous vehicle damage, injuries and perhaps even legal action. Avoid all of this by having your brakes inspected during each oil change you do. Brake components wear down easily and have to be replaced at regular intervals. Another tip, check your pressure gauge and if you see the pressure reading be less than 100 psi on a constant basis, have the brakes inspected as soon as possible. A standard pressure gauge reading should be anywhere from 100 to 125 psi.
Rust is a major culprit present in the wear down of a truck’s body and it is even a reason why some trucks get disposed of earlier than other trucks with a body that isn’t damaged as much. Common causes of rust include various chemicals and salt. In the wintertime take even more caution to avoid roads filled with salt and such other chemicals as the more you drive on roads that are treated with salt, the rate at which your truck’s body corrodes is nearly doubled. Sadly, rust cannot be prevented and it is an unavoidable aspect of a truck’s lifetime span, but you can slow down the process and preserve your truck’s body. When you are observing your truck, look out for any paint chips! Rust loves paint chips which is why if you spot any paint chips, see to the matter as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary rusting on your truck’s body. If you are driving in any condition resembling snow or rain, you should wash your truck immediately after. This may be tiresome especially in the colder seasons as snow is almost constant but it is just another investment as a truck owner that you shouldn’t skip out on. Snow often gets mixed with the salt on the road and gets all over your truck and if left in place, can cause damage to the body. You should wash your truck following rainfall as rain collects and carries with it all the pollutants in the air and damages the protective finish on your truck. Not only should you wash your vehicle after any rain or snow but also if possible every ten days. Washing your truck so frequently helps to get rid of any contamination you have come across during your trips. Make sure that in the colder seasons as well that you are lubricating your door locks which will prevent any moisture from accumulating which causes rust.
Compared to older versions of trucks, newer versions of trucks rely more heavily on their electrical systems to keep their engines running at optimal capability. To keep the engine turning and working, various sensors and wires are used to communicate with your truck’s onboard computer. Maintaining or even repairing your truck’s electrical system by yourself without the assistance of a professional expert may cause more harm than good. Just the wrong move and the electrical system is damaged beyond repair. Familiarize and get to know the truck’s electrical system according to the manufacturer’s guide so in the future, if any problem should occur, you have a clearer image of where such a problem is stemming from and you save time at your truck maintenance shop.
Life may come at us fast sometimes and make us blind to the time that passes around us. We may lose track of our responsibilities and due dates and it is only natural that things of that nature inevitably will occur. But we must actively work to stay on top of our duties and you can start by creating yourself or collaborating with your truck maintenance company to create a truck maintenance schedule that you will stick to. Simply taking a small portion of time out of your day to create a reminder in your phone or writing down the date of your truck maintenance schedule on a calendar will save you unnecessary worry and anxiety that may occur in the future. At Niva Services we are more than happy to work with you in creating a schedule that can help you stay on top of your truck maintenance plans to prevent any future mishaps that may occur to your truck’s components and parts in hope of saving you time and money in the long run.
Truck parts and components can accumulate in price and continually buying various and different parts can quickly run your bank account dry. Buy parts you know you will need and make an investment in parts with lifetime warranties. Before you see what you may think is a great deal that will save you money by not buying a more expensive part, take a second to analyze the long-term impact your decision on buying a less high-quality part will have on your truck and your future time and money. Cheap and second-hand parts may be good enough for a short period of time, but in the long run, it is just a waste of money and your time. Invest in your truck and your future by scavenging for the best possible deals that exist on the market and look for parts with warranties, preferably lifetime ones.
Engine belts are the backbone of any truck. They are responsible for keeping your truck running smoothly. Most commonly, engine belts in a truck are made out of rubber. Unfortunately, no matter how high quality your engine belts are, they disintegrate and wear down over time and the more you drive around, the more you impact the wear and state of the belts. The worst outcome that derives from having worn-out engine belts is the ability for your engine to completely break down while you are operating your truck. This can result in detrimental damages done to the engine and may even permanently damage some of your truck’s other components. When you are checking the rubber belts by yourself without the assistance of a professional, keep an eye out for minor cracks in the rubber which is a sign that you should replace the belts as fast as possible.
The consequence of unsuitable and inappropriate preservation of the coolant system in your vehicle is premature engine failure. It is exceptionally important that as a truck owner that you adhere to your vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines as well as understand the ins and outs of various coolant types. While you maintain your coolant system, you guarantee that your truck’s antifreeze will maintain your vehicle’s engine temperature in the correct and proper range and not only that but protect your cooling system from any possible rusting. You also will want to keep your coolant system clean and clear at all possible times and that also includes the fact that as soon as you spot any impurities or damages, that you get the matter sorted out as soon as possible and replace the impaired components. Partaking in the usage of the correct type as well as the amount of fluid will also help to improve your coolant system performance and will prevent future damages. At Niva Services we also recommend that you double-check that your coolant is accurately diluted for the maintenance of the engine temperature.
The key to keeping the engine of your truck working to its full capacity and its fuel running uninterrupted is to keep your storage and fuel tanks void of any possible corruption and impurities as well as moisture. Make sure that you are constantly following and maintaining your vehicle’s manufacturer guidelines for the moisture control treatment. Avoiding any water collection in the fuel tank is extremely vital as any moisture in the fuel tank can result in serious and expensive engine problems.
When your vehicle’s fuel injector is worn out, this heavily impacts your fuel levels. A well-worn-out fuel injector subsequently leads your vehicle to have to use more fuel than average which over time, can become extremely costly to your bank account with the constant refuelling which you will have to partake in. Monitoring the wear as well as the state of your fuel injector may also help you to prevent the pesky buildup of soot and ash in the fuel filter. When your fuel injector is filled with soot, this degrades the filter’s effectiveness and most importantly, can compromise your truck’s overall performance on the road. When you are getting your regular truck maintenance, make sure that the matter of repair and the replacement of your truck’s fuel injector is attended to deter future mishaps.
As the years pass, concern for the environment grows stronger from companies and communities alike. Over the past decade, we have seen a great initiative grow from the truck business to curb emission rates. Many emission-control technologies exist including the diesel particulate filter and diesel exhaust fields which are great for our environment but a concern arises for some truck drivers and that is the expense of such apparatuses. If your truck isn’t brand new it may lack such emission-control technologies and sadly, they are expensive to buy in the first place, let alone to have it installed and have it maintained. But, it is a long-term investment that must be made and not only will it help the environment, but it may even improve your vehicle’s overall fuel efficiency. Canada is looking into the matter of placing even stricter regulations on heavy-duty vehicles as stated in the following quote by The Environment and Climate Change Canada, “Canada’s revised heavy-duty vehicle emissions regulations will reduce greenhouse gases from on-road heavy-duty vehicles, engines, and trailers.”. It was also reported that such regulations will implement heavier standards for trucks in the model year of 2021 and will only increase in rigidity up to the model year of 2027.
Seasons come and go without us noticing it. As the weather changes, you have to be making sure you are replacing your tires and are carrying the proper supplies with you in your truck and trailer in case of a weather emergency. In the colder months which are filled with cold temperatures, snow and unsafe driving conditions created by ice, you should be even more cautious than you would be on the regular. As you are more likely to get into an accident when the weather conditions are difficult and tough, make sure you always have some sort of an emergency pack kept full in your truck. This pack may contain anything from your typical water packs, some food that is easy to open and will not expire quickly, a first-aid emergency kit, some handy tools such as a knife, hammer, screwdriver, some type of blanket and anything else your heart desires. This may come off as unnecessary and “over-doing it” but it is much better to have such an emergency pack and be equipped with the right tools should the time call for it than not to have it and be stuck in a dire situation with no tools.
In the end, no amount of truck and trailer repairs and regular maintenance can save your vehicle as much as your driving habits and behavior can. Reckless and careless driving is one of the most major culprits present in damages done to trucks and trailers. When you are on the road, think of others around you. Truck and trailer owners have an advantage on the road that other vehicle drivers do not have. Trucks and trailers are practically large machines, there is considerably less harm done to your vehicle and person if another smaller car would bump into you but the harm considerably increases if the situation is flipped and your truck or trailer is the one to hit a car. Road rage, although inevitable, should be kept at bay because as a truck and trailer driver you carry a large responsibility to be careful and cautious and avoid partaking in rash and impulsive behaviors on the road.
If you have questions, ask a question in our live chat or contact Niva Services today!
Our company has been serving GTA community for its truck, trailer and heavy-duty equipment repair needs for more than 30 years, who understand that there is a need for a reliable repair service in this area. We specialize in “VOLVO”, International, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Western Star, Freightliners, providing diagnostics, electrical and mechanical repairs of trucks, trailers, buses and light duty trucks.
Niva Services specializes in “VOLVO”, International, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Western Star, Freightliners, providing diagnostics, electrical and mechanical repairs of trucks, trailers, buses and light duty trucks. We are locally owned and operated from Etobicoke (Toronto).
