5 Tips To Keep Your Diesel Truck Running Smoothly.
We know how crucial it is to keep your rig running smoothly and safely. That’s why we’re sharing 5 essential maintenance tips to help you get the most out of your truck, prevent costly breakdowns, and stay on the road with confidence.
1. Regular Oil Changes Are Not a Bad Idea
Diesel gearboxes work hard, and their oil does too. Over time, oil breaks down and becomes contaminated, which can lead to serious bearing wear wear. Always try to keep oil temperatures below 250 degrees and stick to your manufacturer’s recommended oil change intervals—or even more frequently if you’re logging long hours or hauling heavy loads. Clean oil keeps your gears lubricated and running at peak performance.
Standard transmissions
city/vocational - 180,000 or 3 years
line haul - 500,000 or 5 years
Ultrashift transmissions
city/vocational - 180,000 or 3 yrs
line haul - 500,000 or 5 yrs
Paccar and Endurant transmissions
city/vocational - 250,000 or 3 yrs
line haul - 750,000 or 5yrs
Freightliner DT-12 transmissions
city/vocational - 200,000 or 2 yrs
line haul - 300,000 or 3 yrs
Rear End Differentials
city/vocational - 180,000 or 3 yrs
line haul - 500,000 or 5 years
Clutch release bearings
city/vocational - 10,000 or 6 months
line haul - 20,000 or 6 months
Us Gear Guys only use high-quality oils to ensure your unit stays protected.
2. Keep an Eye on Your Air System
Diesel engines rely heavily on a clean and efficient Air system. Contaminated air can lead to range and split shift failure, poor performance, and costly repairs. Use a high-quality air dryer, replace your dryer filter regularly, and consider draining all your air tanks regularly to check for moisture or oil contamination.
This is especially important in today’s automated transmissions like the PACCAR Eaton Endurant 12 speed and the Detroit DT12 in Freightliners. Automated shift covers and clutch actuators are very expensive. Water contamination will void factory warrantees’. Air dryer filters are inexpensive.
3. Don’t Neglect Your Cooling System
Diesel engines generate a lot of heat, making the cooling system one of the most critical components in your truck. Your transmission oil is cooled with a heat exchanger that is attached to your engine cooling system.
Regularly check your coolant levels and look for leaks, corrosion, or wear in your hoses and radiator. Flush and replace the coolant as recommended by your truck’s manufacturer. Many transmissions have been catastrophically damaged by coolant mixing in with the transmission oil. Signs of contaminated oil are, over full fluid level in your transmission, or grinding synchronizer range shifts.
A proactive approach can prevent overheating and your heat exchanger from leaking engine coolant into your transmission saving you from costly downtime.
4. Inspect Your U-Joints and drive Lines Frequently
Your truck’s U-Joints and Drive Shafts take a beating on the road. Worn U-Joints or Carrier center support bearing wear can compromise your safety and performance.
Regularly inspect your Drive lines for signs of wear or damage. Don’t forget to Lubricate your U-Joints regularly, which directly impacts the life of the part.
Standard U-Joint Lubrication
city/vocational - 5,000 - 8,000 miles or 3 months
line haul - 10,000 to 15,000 miles or 3 months
SPL U-joints
city/vocational - 100,000 miles or 6 months
line haul - 25,000 miles or 6 months
We prioritize your safety with thorough Driveline inspections as part of our maintenance services.
5. Pay Attention to Warning Signs
Your truck is always communicating with you—whether it’s through dashboard warning lights, unusual noises, vibrations, or changes in performance. Ignoring these signs can turn minor issues into major repairs.
If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait.
Many vibrations can be addressed with a minor change in the ride height of the air suspension. These vibrations even minor ones will effect the life of many components such as u-joints synchronizer pins, main shaft washers in the trans, clutch disk springs, splines and pilot bearings. Not to mention bolts like to loosen up on many components from vibrations.
Bring down your truck and we’ll diagnose and fix the problem before it sidelines you.
At Component Repair Company in Santa Fe Springs, we’re more than just a repair shop.
We’re your partner in keeping your truck reliable and road-ready. Our clean and organized facility sets us apart, offering a level of care and professionalism you won’t find at just any shop. Whether it’s routine maintenance or major repairs, we’re here to support you every mile of the way. Schedule your next maintenance service with us today and experience the difference of a shop that treats your truck like its own. Let’s keep you on the road and running strong!