Semi Truck Maintenance During Off-Seasons

Whether you are an owner-operator or a fleet manager, you already know how important it is to keep your semi-truck in top condition so it stays reliable when you need it most. However, it can be easy to overlook key maintenance requirements during the off-season when your truck isn’t getting as much use. In a sense, though, this is the best time to focus on your maintenance needs and any repairs that need to be done since downtime won’t be cutting into your schedule like it would during a peak season. In addition to using your off-season as a time to get major work done, it’s also important that you utilize some off-season maintenance strategies that will protect your vehicle during the idle time so it’s ready to roll once the next work order comes through.

Take a look at this guide to get an idea of some important maintenance best practices, and remember that LubeZone is here to help you with all of your fluid needs, routine maintenance, inspections, and more. Find a location near you and stop by today!

Why Off-Season Maintenance Is Critical

Maybe during the off-season, you’d prefer to just park your truck and forget about it for a while, but this work isn’t just about keeping your truck clean and secure; it’s about protecting its functionality and getting it ready for the next busy stretch. When a truck — or any piece of machinery — sits for an extended period of time, there are all sorts of issues that can creep in like battery drain, contaminated or degraded fuel, tire rot, and environmental damage like rust, sun bleaching, and more. Making time for regular maintenance during the extended downtime will protect your asset and make sure it’s ready to roll off the line once you need it back in action.

Remember that preventative maintenance is a cost-saving exercise: giving your truck proper care will avoid expensive repairs, unexpected downtime, and reduced equipment life, among other issues that may show themselves once your truck goes back into service. A little bit of proactive work can help avoid these expensive, time-consuming issues and ensure that you are maximizing the useful life of your vehicle and its components.

Evaluating Your Truck At the End of the Season

If you don’t have a clear assessment of your truck’s condition at the end of the season, you won’t know how to proceed with the maintenance required. The first thing is to perform an in-depth evaluation that will identify any wear or damage that your truck sustained during the peak season and you’ll be able to pinpoint areas that need the most attention.

Steps to Evaluate Your Truck’s Condition

Follow these steps to get a clear idea of the required work for your truck and stay on top of critical commercial truck safety:

Visual Inspection

Start by walking around your truck and giving a visual inspection, looking for signs of damage, rust, wear, or breakage. Check under your wheel wells, look at your mirrors, test all of your lights, and your fifth wheel.

Engine and Exhaust System

Check for leaks, sounds, and reside buildup along your exhaust system. Give your engine a close look for signs of wear on components, cracks on your belts, and any oil leakage or residue buildup that can indicate a compromised system.

Fluid Level and Condition

Check your engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. If the fluids look dirty or the levels are below what you expected, this could be a sign that there are leaks or other mechanical issues.

Tire Health

Your tires see a lot of wear and tear over the season. Give them a close look on all sides for things like wear, cracks, flat spots, or abnormal wear battens that can develop over the season and may indicate alignment issues or simply just that it’s time for a replacement.

Essential Maintenance Tips for the Off-Season

Now that you’ve done a visual inspection, it’s time to put some actual maintenance into action to keep your semi-truck in top condition. This maintenance focuses should be top priorities to address the most common roadblocks when it comes to smooth performance when you put your truck back into service:

Engine and Battery Maintenance Strategies

Your engine and batteries are the two primary power supplies to your truck and the supporting systems, and they each need special care during extended downtime.

Engine Care

If your truck is going to sit idle for more than a few weeks, it’s a good idea to set a weekly reminder to go run it until it reaches operating temperature. This will circulate oil through the system and make sure that no internal parts seize. You can also add a fuel stabilizer to keep the fuel from breaking down, which can cause issues with hard starts and even lead to engine damage once you start operating again. Fill the tank to prevent condensation, rust, and other issues with the tank and fuel lines.

Battery Maintenance

Arguably, the most common issue with any vehicle that sits for a while are dead batteries. To keep your batteries in good condition, disconnect it while it isn’t in use. If possible, you might also want to look into battery maintainers or trickle chargers to keep the batteries at full charge. Make sure that all of your electronic devices (GPS units, phone chargers, jumper packs, etc), lights, and systems are fully powered down and disconnected to eliminate unnecessary power usage.

Fuel System Upkeep

Fuel will degrade over time, so you’ll need to take some steps to properly care for the system during the off-season:

Fuel Stabilizer

Make sure to add a fuel stabilizer to prevent your diesel from degrading, which can form a varnish or gum up your fuel lines and injectors. The stabilizer will help prevent moisture buildup in addition to extending the life of your fuel, which will help deter microbial growth and rust.

Inspect for Leaks

A small leak over the course of the off-season can turn into a major issue with seizing, corrosion, and other problems that aren’t addressed.

Tire Care During Extended Storage

Storing your truck improperly can lead to dry rot and other premature wear for your tires.

Inflation

Make sure your tires are inflated to the right pressure levels before putting the truck into storage, and check intermittently to make sure that they stay at that pressure.

Rotate and move

Move your truck slightly every few weeks to keep the tires from developing uneven wear and pressure spots from sitting in the same position for too long.

Cover Tires

If you are storing your truck outside, you might want to look into tire covers to protect them from UV rays that will degrade the sidewalls, leading to cracking, dry rot, and possible blowouts.

Gearing Up for Peak Operational Times

As the season approaches, you will need to go through a preparation phase, which includes a checkup, all necessary top-offs, repairs, and more. Follow this checklist to hit the major points:

1. Battery Check: Make sure that your batteries are fully charged and that the connections are secure. Reconnect your batteries if you disconnected them at the start of the off-season.
   
2. Fluid Levels: Make an initial check for your engine oil before running the truck at all. Once you confirm there is engine oil, let the truck come up to temperature to check again. Make sure to also check your coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and fuel.
   
3. Tire Pressure: Re-inflate your tires to their operating pressure if necessary, and give each tire a close inspection for cracking, dry rot, bulging, or other signs of degradation.
4. Brakes and Lights: Test your brake system in a safe place, and make sure to test each light and piece of electronics in the system before hitting the open road.

Get Your Semi Truck Ready For Peak Performance With LubeZone

For semi truck owners and fleet managers, proper off-season maintenance is key to ensuring peak performance when it matters most. By following these essential maintenance strategies, you can prevent costly repairs, reduce downtime, and extend the lifespan of your truck — all while staying reliable for your valued clients. Are you ready to take your maintenance knowledge to the next level? Check out our semi truck maintenance guide for more tips on keeping your fleet in top shape year-round. LubeZone is here to help you keep rolling smoothly!