Caring for Your Truck

Congratulations, you finally made the leap and invested in your dream pickup truck. Taking care of your new truck so it lasts for the long-term is vital. JK Chevrolet has tips for truck owners in Nederland, Texas.

1. Regular upkeep
Regularly scheduled vehicle maintenance — oil changes and all-over inspections — tops most automotive experts’ lists to ensure trucks last longer. Should be a no-brainer, right? But regular maintenance can easily fall to the wayside when busy schedules, meetings, payroll, customer complaints and other obligations get in the way. 

2. Be kind
Poor driving habits can take a toll on your truck. Quick takeoffs and short, abrupt stops affect the engine, brakes, hoses and expensive sensors. 
Aggressive driving like tailgating falls into this category. Speeding up and slowing down doesn’t help your truck maintain its cool and it shows you’re losing yours. What did your parents always say? Slow and steady wins the race. If you’re on an interstate or a highway with minimal traffic, set the cruise and enjoy the ride. 
City driving is a sport worthy of Olympic competition, especially when you have a long bed or crew cab. But keeping up with the general flow of traffic can safeguard against those excessive stops and starts. 
So when you’re checking how your vehicle runs, make sure to check yourself, too — your attitude and your motoring skills. 

3. Clean it up
If you’re not familiar with the effects of cold weather on vehicles. Regularly hosing off winter salt, sand and road grime make this list because something so simple can be easily disregarded. Running your rig through a hands-free carwash might seem like an extra expense, but the perks outweigh the cost.    
Waxing isn’t a bad idea either. You might consider this a cosmetic — therefore, unnecessary — step, but waxing your truck a couple of times a year can keep protective topcoats doing what they’re made to do: protect your paint.

4. The pressure is on!

Get out and kick the tires. You did it when you were scoping out that new beauty, so keeping tires properly inflated to prevent unnecessary or uneven wear and tear should be common sense. And, no surprise, correct tire inflation can save money on gas, too. 
Both underinflation and overinflation can significantly lower tire performance and cost you money. “Lower inflation pressure will allow the tire to deflect (bend) more as it rolls,” says TireRack.com. “This will build up internal heat, increase rolling resistance and cause a reduction in fuel economy of up to 5 percent.” 
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, underinflated tires decrease gas mileage by more than 1.25 billion gallons of gasoline annually. 
Not only can properly inflated tires put money in your pocket, they can save your life. Low tires make your vehicle unstable. Instability means it’s difficult to maintain control, especially in inclement weather conditions like rain, sleet or snow. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report says one in 20 crashes could be linked to tire-related problems. 
Side note: Don’t rely on your eyes; seeing is not believing in this situation. Keep a tire gauge on hand to accurately check pressure regularly. 

Tires are often the most neglected part of a vehicle. The simple step of keeping tires properly inflated costs almost nothing and it’s one of the most valuable ways you can extend the life of your truck.