Top 5 Expensive Heavy-Duty Truck Repair Mistakes: How to Avoid Them

Mechanic performing repairs at RPD Services

You anticipate that when your heavy-duty truck needs work, and you take it to a technician, it will be repaired correctly. This isn't always the case, however. Heavy-duty truck repair mistakes that are done incorrectly, either by you or by a technician, will cost you a lot of money. Even worse, dangerous repair errors might endanger you or others on the road. Below are five frequent heavy-duty truck repair errors and solutions to remedy them:

1. Incorrect component installation

Heavy-duty truck makers invest a lot of effort in constructing heavy-duty trucks before putting them on the market. They do this to ensure that the various components of the heavy-duty truck can be put together easily and that they won't come loose when the truck is in motion. To guarantee proper sealing, components must be up to spec and adequately tightened. Failure to do so may result in cracked bolts, leaks, and distorted truck components. By getting a certified diesel repair shop to repair your heavy-duty truck, you can be sure that every component will be correctly assembled.

Additionally, you may remedy this error by familiarizing yourself with the heavy-duty truck repair handbook and using the torque wrench to adjust axle nuts, bearings, wheel nuts, drain plugs, and even head bolts.

2. Ignoring regular wear and tear 

The wheels, tires, brakes, engine, gearbox, light bulbs, and other components of your heavy-duty truck will all eventually wear down as you drive it more often. Even seemingly “minor” issues such as loud brakes and broken light bulbs or low tire pressure and worn-down tires may cause deadly collisions.

Regular truck inspections may significantly reduce the risk of collisions and other collateral harm. An innovative strategy to maintain your heavy-duty truck in good condition is to pay attention to its wear and tear by examining it and documenting any inspection before every trip. Additionally, ensure that any wear-and-tear concerns with your heavy-duty truck are fixed as soon as possible.

3. Failing to do routine maintenance 

Heavy-duty truck repairs are both expensive and time-consuming. However, the cost of fixing the heavy-duty truck might be much greater if you choose to forego regular preventative maintenance needs. Every maintenance requirement you follow will increase your heavy-duty truck's dependability and durability.

For instance, it’s important to replace the oil according to your manufacturer’s recommended intervals. To maintain your heavy-duty truck in excellent repair, you must monitor your oil levels regularly. On the other hand, forgetting to check your oil levels might eventually lead to engine damage. By keeping track of your heavy-duty truck's maintenance needs and making sure everything is completed on schedule, you may avoid making this heavy-duty truck repair error.

4. Using incorrect fluids 

It's crucial to ensure the oil is appropriate for the heavy-duty truck before adding it to the engine. The danger of overloading the engine, which increases fuel consumption, rises when the incorrect engine fluids are used. On the other hand, allowing your engine fluids to decrease to low levels may result in oil burning beyond the rings and low oil pressure.

Use heavy oil to take care of worn-out rings and bearings if your heavy-duty truck's engine is older. In addition to engine fluids, incorrect braking, transmission, engine coolant, or differential fluids may harm your heavy-duty truck and impair its performance. Stick to the fluids the manufacturer has recommended to avoid making this repair error.

5. Ignoring warning lights 

Heavy-duty truck owners also need to consider warning lights while doing truck repairs. Your heavy-duty truck is built with warning lights to let you know when anything is wrong. For instance, warning lights make it possible for you to keep an eye on the engine, brakes, and oil pressure.

Additionally, paying attention to warning lights helps determine when the heavy-duty truck is risky to drive. Driving your heavy-duty truck while the warning lights are on increases the risk of an accident, more significant emissions, heavy-duty truck damage, and higher fuel costs. Attend to the warning lights to correct this error as soon as they turn on.

Final words 

Any issues might arise with your heavy-duty truck due to repairs that you or your technician did incorrectly. These errors can seem minor, but if they are not corrected properly, they might cause significant component damage. To prevent this, be aware of these five common errors in heavy-duty truck repair and utilize the advice provided above to address them as soon as they arise. You can seek the assistance of a reputed heavy-duty truck repair service to easily overcome these mistakes.

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