How To Prolong The Trucks Life?

[jro909]

i'm looking for serious tips as far as prolonging the bits and pieces of the truck, as i am a poor ass college kid and i need to avoid repair bills at all cost(knock on wood) i do a ton of preventive maintance but i'm sure theres some things i should not do to save the truck...yes i know i'm the king of lame threads

[NWI_#73]

Probably don't mod it then.

[Zembonez]

Nothing wrong with wanting your rig to last.

 

Keep the fluids changed as required and don't abuse it. That's really all you can do.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

avoid WOT accelerations, anything that requires the tranny to work hard. Keep the engine and truck clean. watch the fluid levels.

That's really all you have to do. Oh and just remember, a vehicle is a mechanical device, any type of mechanical device, brand new, or 50 years old, is subject to break-down, regardless of how much you paid for your truck and how much quality control went into it. Some people think that if they pay $30,000 or 40,000 for a new truck that it's not supposed to break down. Even when brand new. I wonder how they got that crazy notion?

[C. Charles Hahn]

avoid WOT accelerations, anything that requires the tranny to work hard. Keep the engine and truck clean. watch the fluid levels.

That's really all you have to do. Oh and just remember, a vehicle is a mechanical device, any type of mechanical device, brand new, or 50 years old, is subject to break-down, regardless of how much you paid for your truck and how much quality control went into it.

 

I wouldn't say "avoid WOT accelerations" altogether. I would definitely say don't push the truck until it has warmed up to operating temp, but it's healthy to run it at WOT every so often to blow out carbon deposits that may be or have been building up.

 

Some people think that if they pay $30,000 or 40,000 for a new truck that it's not supposed to break down. Even when brand new. I wonder how they got that crazy notion?

 

It's one of three things:

 

1) False sense of entitlement.

 

2) Lack of understanding the concept of inflation.

 

3) Not realizing that the more gadgets are on a truck, the more things there are that could break.

[Ape0r]

Do the maintenance recommended in the owners manual and not one bit more. You are wasting your money on any more than that. Ask the air filter under my trucks hood that has been in there for seven years and 112k. Gotta love that restriction indicator (which I have tested).

 

Don't drive like an ****.

 

Don't put oversize tires on it or **** around with the suspension.

 

That's it.

[Irv]

i'm looking for serious tips as far as prolonging the bits and pieces of the truck, as i am a poor ass college kid and i need to avoid repair bills at all cost(knock on wood) i do a ton of preventive maintance but i'm sure theres some things i should not do to save the truck...yes i know i'm the king of lame threads

 

 

Not sure where you live but I am a firm believer in undercoating, it coats and protects everything like fuel lines, brake lines, frame, box, doors etc.

 

My 97, which I undercoated since new was absolutely mint and still receives compliments to this day.

Like someone said at work one day, where can you get a $100 dollar body job?

[mtiffinal]

I had my last truck for 14 years and 197k, probably would still be driving it, if a drunk hadn't hit it. All I did was keep the fluids changed and tried to keep it fairly clean(including the under side). Tried not to drive it too rough, though my teenagers put it through some rough times in the early years. At any rate.......I got a great truck to replace it. I Plan on keeping this one for a long time also.

[pm26]

It's one of three things:

 

1) False sense of entitlement.

 

2) Lack of understanding the concept of inflation.

 

3) Not realizing that the more gadgets are on a truck, the more things there are that could break.

 

You forgot one:

 

4) Lack of understanding of the concept of using cheap Chinese and Mexican made parts in these trucks

[pm26]

Some people think that if they pay $30,000 or 40,000 for a new truck that it's not supposed to break down. Even when brand new. I wonder how they got that crazy notion?

 

Brilliant deduction, Sherlock. Yes, most people buy new vehicles or items for one main reason - they expect them to work properly without breaking.

[C. Charles Hahn]

You forgot one:

 

4) Lack of understanding of the concept of using cheap Chinese and Mexican made parts in these trucks

 

True to form as always pm26.

[pm26]

You forgot one:

 

4) Lack of understanding of the concept of using cheap Chinese and Mexican made parts in these trucks

 

True to form as always pm26.

 

 

Oh common. Do not try to deny it. I did not say others were not doing it. Volkswagen is probably one of the worst in this regard. GM is also trying to cut costs just like everybody else. The global economy has created this and nobody is immune to it anymore. Even Mercedes Benz does not build cars like they used to. And as the end result, the overall quality and reliability slips.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Oh common.

 

I think you were looking for the phrase "Oh come on."

 

Not like it's an uncommon phrase or anything.

 

 

 

 

[Nytemare]

One other thing that no one mentioned...Keep it clean....inside outside and up under. The more crap you keep off it the less chance you have of the metal, plastic, cloth or rubber deteriorating.

 

If you have a leak, get it stoppes ASAP and clean the fluid that leaked off. Oils will turn some rubbers to mung.

 

Another one...keeping it undercoated with a good service...like Krown or Rustcheck...or a similar product will also stop the truck from falling apart around you. Unless you live in a warm climate without snow and salt, but even than getting it sprayed every few years keeps everything looking good. If you are in a cold climate with salt...do this once a year...its usually around 100 bucks...cheap insurance.

 

Go buy yourself a tube of Dow Corning 55...or MollyCoat 55...Its an O-ring Lube. Clean all your rubber door and window seals with dish soap and water every 6 months... Before and after winter and coat them lightly with the O-ring lube. Its a white greasy substance, you put it on and rub it in to the point that you can no longer see white.

 

Keep a healthy coat of wax on your truck...and avoid washing the truck with warm or hot water...it will strip the wax....this is especially important in the winter. Keep the grime and salt off it...but never use warm water.

[jro909]

i try to spray the hell out of the bottom of my truck when i wash it, i mean should i really be crawling under there and spraying on top the fuel tank and trans? also how the hell do you guys wash your trans coolers?! i was going to just gently wash it by hand because it looks like a honeycomb of bugs but i coulden't fit my hand in there....also whats the opinions on washing the block? i try to wipe it down with soap and water with the rag, i tryed engine detailer and i wasen't a fan....i do live in the midwest so the underbody gets a beating between seasons

 

my current list of shit i do/don't to avoid bleeding the wallet lol

 

1) overly anal maintance

2) avoid offroading and dry steering to save front suspension

3) don't allow fuel to get below a quarter of a tank

4) i don't beat on it at all, ive never taken it past 2500 rpms

5) i avoid picking up big girls from the bar

 

 

thanks guys lol