The key to keeping your heavy-duty truck running at its peak performance is proper maintenance. One of the essentials for ensuring the longevity of your truck is regular oil changes and fluid checks. Proper lubrication of your truck’s moving components is crucial for your engine to run correctly and to promote its longevity.
How long you can go between oil changes is dependent on a variety of factors. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that you change the engine’s oil and oil filter every 5,000 – 10,000 miles, but this can vary depending on how you drive your truck, the type of loads it hauls, and the type of oil you’ve used in the past. For example, road conditions such as hills and mountains, stop-and-go traffic, or consistently carrying a heavy load can all cause your engine to work harder and require more frequent oil changes.
In addition to changing your oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, you should check other vital fluid levels at the same time. For example, along with an oil change, transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant levels, windshield washer fluid, and even tire pressure should all be checked to ensure your vehicle keeps running strong.
What can cause oil leaks in diesel engines?
Most oil leaks are a result of the deterioration of a part of your engine. The most common cause of oil leaks is the oil gasket. Sludge starts to build up if the engine gets damaged or as it starts to degrade over time. This sludge causes the oil gasket to break down and then oil starts to leak.
Another common part that can cause oil leaks is the oil pan. Since the oil pan is on the underside of your truck it is common for it to get hit with rocks, branches, and other debris that the road kicks up. All of these can leave small dents in the pan which over time can turn into holes where the engine oil can leak from.
If the oil filler cap is not secured properly or missing entirely, parts of your engine can become covered in oil resulting in oil leaks. The oil filter itself can also be the cause of oil leaks due to the filer wearing out, becoming misaligned, or coming loose.
Our certified technicians at Schroeder Truck Repair can help to diagnose exactly where the oil leak is coming from and devise an affordable and effective solution to have your diesel engine in smooth operating condition once more.
Common signs of a diesel engine oil leak
- Experiencing oil stains, drips, or puddles underneath your vehicle when it’s parked.
- Seeing the oil levels in your dipstick gradually decrease over time.
- Seeing blue smoke coming from your diesel engine while driving.
- Smelling burning oil coming from your vehicle.
- The oil level symbol lights up on the dash of your truck.
Trust our team for all your oil & fluid needs
Drivers from all over Henderson, CO rely on Schroeder Truck Repair as their full-service heavy-duty repair shop located in Henderson, CO. Our expert team combines old-school knowledge and experience with the latest technology and industry-leading equipment to ensure that our recommendations target the root of the problem, not just the symptoms. This two-pronged approach allows us to show customers the reasons behind the repairs we suggest. We’ll explain every aspect of the repair to keep you involved in the maintenance of your vehicle, so there are never any surprises. With our quality workmanship at Schroeder Truck Repair, once we repair something, you can trust that it will stay fixed. That’s our Guarantee to you!