Maintaining an HGV

If you operate a fleet or have an HGV, maintenance is essential. Accounting for about 10% of the total operational cost of this fleet, maintenance plays an important role in increasing or reducing the running costs of a vehicle per mile. And it’s not just the cost of parts and labour that could have an impact – a truck in the garage can be hours or days of lost productivity.

Maintenance is important when it comes to vehicle availability and productivity. But there are certain products that can help to extend the window of the maintenance period, extending component life for an HGV and reduce costs. So, the next time your truck pulls into the garage, follow these tips to stay on the road longer.

Lubrication

Lubricants are essential for protecting the engine and transmissions from daily wear and tear. However, it has recently been revealed that only 52% of fleet managers consider lubricant products, and 56% do not expect a high-quality lubricant to help cut maintenance costs.

While premium lubricants may seem more expensive, the cost of choosing a lower quality lubricant in the long term can dwarf the short-term savings for sped up hardware degradation. High quality lubricants offer better fuel economy and improved protection against corrosion, deposits and excessive use – helping to minimize vehicle downtime and maintenance costs.

And it’s not just choosing the right lubricant that can make a difference. Applying the correct lubricant can also provide the added value of increased productivity and reduced product consumption.

Always use the best quality components. For Iveco Daily Gearbox, for example, visit a site like https://www.ivecogearbox.co.uk/gearboxes/iveco-gearboxes/

Keep rust at bay

Trucks are out in all weathers, sunshine or snow and your truck will be driving through the extremes of weather throughout the year. In these conditions, vehicle components experience moisture, salt spray or rust – all of which can eat away at the part and cause hefty maintenance bills.

Applying anti-corrosive spray or coating metal surfaces vulnerable in your truck helps them to resist the potential damage of corrosion. These products work by forming a barrier to protect parts from rust – so you can keep your truck in top condition for longer.

Operate at max power

Is your engine management light on? Is your engine firing at idle? Do you lose power, or even see a surge in power? The chances are your truck could be suffering from an internal diesel injector deposit buildup.

Diesel fuel injection technology continues to keep a truck running at peak performance and helps to reduce emissions, but can be prone to a build-up of deposits from time to time. These deposits – often a very thin layer of varnish or metal salt – can be stuck to the engine parts and restrict the flow of fuel, leading to the symptoms described above. It’s hugely important to keep a fleet profitable, safe and reliable. That’s why it’s vital to take steps to help get the most out of your truck.