Car owners often take advantage of their truck’s status, mainly when they see that the physical parts look good and the engine seems to run smoothly during drives; thus, skipping maintenance. Without proper vehicle maintenance, drivers may be unaware that they are driving unsafe vehicles with various component issues, such as tire and pressure problems, brake failures, or frayed belts.
Therefore, to ensure the vehicle’s safety and optimal performance on the road, truck owners must put vehicle maintenance and inspection on top of their priority list. With proper vehicle care, the car can have an extended lifespan, improve its performance, and avoid breakdown while on the roadway, which often results in expensive repairs.
Accordingly, there are seven major parts of the car that needs to be regularly and carefully examined, and one of those components is the car engine. Proper engine maintenance allows drivers to keep engine parts in top shape, get better engine performance and response, improve fuel efficiency by up to 25 to 30%, and increase safety on the road.
Conducting engine maintenance depends on many factors, including the type of engine used in the truck. Diesel engine maintenance is easier among the other engine types as it has no spark plugs or distributors. However, despite diesel engine maintenance being easier to conduct, it still has a similar procedure with other engines.
To get the most out of their trucks, vehicle owners need to conduct proper and careful engine maintenance, which includes:
- removing dirt, grime, and other contaminants from the engine bay;
- replacing air, oil, and fuel filters;
- checking the engine coolant and testing its acidity levels;
- inspecting engine gaskets; and,
- using diesel additives to improve performance and life expectancy of injectors and fuel system components
Moreover, inspecting the components that make up the engine allows drivers to determine their conditions; therefore, helping them know if they need repair or replacement.
When replacing engine components, vehicle owners may choose to purchase Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts as a replacement. For example, they need to change their Duramax injectors, choosing OEM components will assure them that the piece is identical to the injectors used in producing a vehicle.
On the other hand, drivers are also given an option to use aftermarket parts to replace their Cummins injectors or other engine components. However, aftermarket parts are components produced by different vendors. Hence, these do not necessarily have a consistent level of quality or compatibility with the vehicle.
Both OEM and aftermarket products have distinct advantages and disadvantages, which vehicle owners need to consider when having their engine components replaced. Whether drivers choose to use OEM or aftermarket parts as replacement for specific motor components, both provide the same benefit: improve the engine’s performance.
The car’s health status does not depend on its physical condition, but it would depend on the systems running it. Having the major car systems, particularly the motor system, checked regularly ensures drivers that their vehicles will run in optimal condition. For more information on the importance of proper engine maintenance, see this infographic by Pure Diesel Power.