I had a car a few years ago that seemed to always have one problem after another. Finally, I got tired of paying for repair after repair, knowing that I was just going to end up paying again in a month or so. I wanted to save up for a better car, but I couldn’t do it if I was always paying the mechanic. So the next time that my car started overheating, I decided to fix it myself. I bought some tools, checked some books on car repair out of the library, looked up answers to my questions online, and pulled parts from old cars at the junkyard. And eventually, I fixed it. You can fix your own car problems too. I started this website to help people who are trying to learn how to be their own mechanics. If I can do it, you can do it.
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Getting Back On The Road: Which Semi Truck Repairs Should You Do Yourself?
Bobbie Jones
Equipment failure and breakdowns can keep you from delivering or picking up your load on time. Knowing which repairs you can handle quickly on your own can help you to save time and money. Use this guide to determine if your semi truck trouble requires a visit to the mechanic or if you can tackle it on your own.
Oil Changes
Many car owners try to save money by changing their oil on their own. While this may sound like a great idea for truckers in theory, it can be expensive in practice. Your truck holds more oil than a car, which means you will need to find a place to legally dispose of your old oil. Dumping the oil can result in hefty fines, and even finding a place to turn it in can cost big bucks. Have your oil changed during your routine maintenance appointments to keep your truck running smoothly.
Tire Changes
In most cases, you can change a flat or blown out tire on your own. The biggest determining factor is your safety. If you have enough clearance on the shoulder of the road or if you are able to pill off the highway to a parking lot, you can usually tackle a tire change on your own. For tire blowouts that result in a broken or bent axle, you'll need to get your rig towed to a repair shop for professional assistance.
Coolant Flushing And Top-Offs
All truck drivers should carry extra coolant in their on-board toolboxes. Whether you need to complete flush and replenish the supply or you simply need to add a little coolant to top off the tank, you can tackle this project on your own in just a couple of minutes. Be sure to keep a dipstick handy to check the fluid levels as needed. You may find that your truck's sensors are indicating an issue with low fluids even after you have replaced the coolant. These sensors can malfunction, giving you inaccurate information about your truck's performance. Since sensor repair can be complicated, it's best to leave this repair to the professionals.
As you get to know your truck, you will be able to figure out which semi truck repairs are easiest for you. Remember to check your warranties before attempting any major semi truck repairs. Attempting to repair a part that is under warranty may void the contract, leaving you responsible for the cost of any additional problems. Once you know which repairs to attempt on your own, you can spend less time at the mechanic's shop and more time on the road.
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