Preemptive maintenance

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 10, 2009 | 09:09 AM

Capt Dan

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 169

Likes: 0

From: Bryan, Texas

Preemptive maintenance

Once gas prices hit their all time high, I bought a little beater truck for a daily driver and now my X is only used for the things it was designed for.

This usually means that the only time I take it out, it is going on a long road trip.

I would like to start a program of preemptive maintenance so that I lessen my chances of getting stranded out in the middle of nowhere. At what mileage have you started having problems with major components, i.e. fuel pump, A/C, transmission, brakes, etc. is there a pattern?

Mar 10, 2009 | 09:18 AM

JaySVX

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 1,955

Likes: 6

From: Eastern PA

Personally, I haven't, at 185k miles. Other than brakes when it needs it, oil every 7500 miles, trans flush at regular intervols, etc, these trucks seem to me to last forever on basic maintenance alone. If you are going to be sitting for a long time, be sure to use fuel stabalizer, and move the truck from time to time to prevent flat spots on the tires. If it's about due for oil and going to be sitting, let it sit, then once you get it going again change the oil then, not before the long sitting. These things have helped me the most when having vehicles sit for extended periods, my SVX sits all winter without more than a move here or there to keep the tires from getting flat spots.

Mar 10, 2009 | 10:31 AM

hvacguy

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 144

Likes: 0

From: Taylors, SC

I like to do a preemptive strike on the water pump, the idler pulley's, and drive belt.

Mar 10, 2009 | 11:37 AM

bigunred

Elder User

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 757

Likes: 0

From: Nikiski Alaska

Just keep up on regular maintenence, and drive it once in a great while will do the trick.

Mar 10, 2009 | 01:26 PM

Skinsfan6

Elder User

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 566

Likes: 1

From: Virginia

Keep a full tank of fuel in it if it will be sitting so the tank doesn't get too much condensation in it. Start it up once every week or two and run it for a few minutes. Move it to keep the tires from getting flat spots. And fuel stabilizer is a good idea.