All posts tagged overheating engine

As a truck owner, there is nothing more irritating that discovering that your truck is not as reliable as it once was. The big-bodied, private passenger pieces of machinery, while they are tough, are prone to breaking down when they are not properly maintained. If your truck is making unusual sounds or it is not responding like it should when you press the accelerator, check for these five common truck issues before you experience a breakdown.

Fuel Pump Issues

The fuel pump drives fuel from the gas tank of your truck to its engine. If you have a malfunctioning pump, you will experience chronic problems on the road. If your engine begins to sputter at high speeds or it loses power as you accelerate, do not assume you have bought dirty gas. When the vehicle has a sudden loss of power, it generally means your pump is weak and could be failing. Identifying these issues early can save you money in expensive repairs.

Transmission Issues

Trucks have a high gross vehicle weight. Vehicles that are heavier are harder on their transmissions. This is why it is common for trucks to experience transmission failure earlier in their lives than a compact car would. Transmissions can be rebuilt, but rebuilding a faulty transmission takes time and can cost more than the vehicle is worth at times. If your transmission is slipping or sticking, be sure to price the cost of new, used, reconditioned and rebuilt transmissions from reliable and professional parts shops like 99 Truck Parts & Industrial Equipment Ltd.

Oil Leaks and Burning

If you smell oil burning from under your hood, there are chances that you have an oil leak somewhere in your engine. Even well-maintained trucks are prone to oil leakage as the engine ages. The most common causes of oil leaks in trucks are wear and tear or failure to change seals and gaskets regularly. Be sure to actually solve the problem instead of using a stop-leak additive that is simply a temporary fix.

Engine Overheating

If your vehicle is suddenly overheating, the problem may not be a slow leak but something else faulty under the hood. A truck is heavy, and the heavier the vehicle, the harder the workload on the engine. The stress could lead to a loss of coolant, a faulty cooling system, or fluid issues in the transmission or braking system. Find where the heat is coming from and then remove this heat by replacing parts or servicing the system the problem is affecting.

Warning Light Problems

Warning lights indicate when a problem is detected. Unfortunately, they cannot tell you exactly what that problem is unless you have an expensive computer system. You may drive when the light comes on to see if it will turn back off, but if the light stays on, you have a problem on your hands and should have the codes pulled to diagnose what is wrong.

Driving is an expensive privilege. To reduce financial obligations associated with owning a truck, look for signs that there may be a problem early so that you can find the replacement parts before you are in a bind and desperate for a fixed truck.