Fleet maintenance is vital in keeping a fleet in top condition and preventing costly repairs. Advantageously, a well-kept fleet can also positively impact fuel economy, leading to lower costs and better mileage on long trips.
Here are some key areas to focus on when maintaining your fleet for better mileage:
Routine Oil Checks
Frequent engine oil checks and changes are crucial to running an engine smoothly and preventing wear and tear. A lack of proper oil or good quality causes friction between moving parts, leading to early breakdowns. To avoid that from happening, perform routine oil checks to ensure the oil is doing its job. As vehicles age, you may need to change the oil more often, but an oil check will let you know.
Tire Inflation is Key
Tires play a role in how well the vehicle moves and how much control drivers have, and they affect your fleet fuel economy. Aside from ensuring no significant damage to the tires, like wear and tear, check for poor tire tread or damaged axles and proper tire pressure. During pre-and post-trip inspections, checking tire pressure should always be at the top of the list. As that pressure goes down, it also lowers the fuel economy leading to increased costs during a trip.
Keep the Wheels Aligned
While inspecting the tires for pressure and wear and tear, inspect the alignment. Proper wheel alignment improves overall safety by keeping the right tire contact on the road and preventing drag. When that alignment is affected, the engine must work twice as hard to correct drag caused by misalignment. During any routine fleet maintenance check, and especially after a trip, check the alignment and adjust as needed or call for a professional.
Ensure Air Flow to the Engine
Engines are a big working part of a vehicle and, as such, tend to generate a lot of heat, especially on long trips. That’s why the air system provides proper airflow to operate and run the engine. However, when the air filter in the system gets dirty, it blocks the flow. That leads to extra fuel getting injected into the engine, which can cause issues with the exhaust and can cause accelerated wear. If replacing the air filter doesn’t work, call a professional in case of a bigger problem affecting the fleet fuel economy.
Don’t Leave Out the Professionals
Routine fleet inspections handled by the driver are always necessary, but so is a professional inspection. Heavy truck mechanics like Motorplex have the training, experience and knowledge to conduct repairs. Scheduling routine fleet maintenance checks with our team will also catch even the most minor issue before it can grow. Between our team and yours, your fleet’s fuel economy will always be at its best.
If you need help with your fleet maintenance, reach out to Motorplex. We have shops in Auburn and Spokane, Washington.
Motorplex has shops in Spokane and Auburn, WA and we offer onsite mobile repairs. Whether you need a maintenance check or oil pump repairs, book your service appointment.
Need professional fleet maintenance? Then Motorplex is here to help. Contact us now to book an appointment in Auburn, WA or Spokane, WA!
