When you cooperate with HD ProParts, you choose not just spare parts for trucks, but reliability, safety and confidence in every kilometer of your journey. But the key to smooth fleet operation and business profitability is not only the purchase of spare parts, but also their proper care. This is an important process that requires a balanced approach and compliance with certain recommendations of specialists.
Why Seasonal Maintenance Is So Important
Trucks operate under constant high loads, and seasonal changes (summer heat, frost in winter), very much affect the condition of nodes and mechanisms, as well as components.
Constant changes in temperature, humidity, road surface conditions and even the chemical composition of reagents on the roads, all this creates additional stress on certain units and assemblies of the truck. Without proper maintenance, there is an increased risk of:
- faster wear and tear on the braking system;
- battery or starter failure;
- fuel system and filter problems;
- freezing of antifreeze, washer and other operating fluids;
- destruction of rubber seals and hoses.
Considering all these factors, seasonal maintenance of spare parts is not just a technical formality. It is a real way to keep the truck in good condition, ensure smooth operation of the fleet and avoid accidents. It is important not only to carry out timely diagnostics, but also to use quality components, especially when the machines are operating under constant high loads.
What should be understood by seasonal maintenance
Seasonal care for spare parts is a series of preventive measures, scheduled maintenance and checking the condition of key components of the truck, when the time of year changes.
The main purpose of such maintenance is to prepare the vehicle for changing climatic and road conditions to prevent wear, damage and accidents. Even high quality parts have a certain working life and are subject to natural wear and tear, which negatively affects the performance of the truck.
Therefore, seasonal care of spare parts is an important part of maintenance. It is a set of preventive measures to avoid costly repairs, reduce wear and tear and ensure smooth operation of the truck in any weather.
Seasonal Parts Maintenance: What’s Important for Truck Owners to Know
Seasonal changes in weather conditions have a negative impact on the performance of all truck components. In order to avoid premature wear and tear and to ensure stable operation of the vehicle all year round, it is necessary to perform timely seasonal maintenance of spare parts.
Spring and fall
During this period, it is important to pay attention to the following components.
- Suspension. In the off-season, it is especially important to check shock absorbers, springs and silent blocks. In the spring after winter roads with pits and reagents, in the fall – before the onset of frost. Worn suspension parts directly affect the car’s handling and safety.
- Tires. Timely change of tires is a key aspect of seasonal maintenance. Summer tires are installed in the spring and winter tires in the fall. It’s also important to check tread depth and tire pressure to avoid aquaplaning or impaired traction.
- Braking System. Checking the condition of brake pads and disks is a must. Even with frequent “straight line” driving, wear and tear on the brake components can be significant. It is also important to make sure that the brake fluid is sufficient and in good condition.
- Coolant. Switching from winter antifreeze to summer antifreeze and vice versa is important to protect the engine from overheating and freezing.
- Battery. Sharp temperature changes reduce the efficiency of the battery. In the off-season it is necessary to check the charge and condition of terminals, so that in winter you do not find yourself on the road with a discharged battery.
- Lighting and windshield wipers. Checking headlights, parking lights and brake lights is a must. It’s also worth replacing the wiper blades if they start to clean the glass poorly.
- Check steering and suspension elements. It is important to check the degree of wear of bushings, dust covers, silent blocks, shock absorbers. Damaged or worn parts are replaced, all suspension elements are lubricated.
Winter care
When preparing trucks for the winter period, it is important to pay attention to:
- Tires. Use winter tires with a deep tread pattern, suitable load index. Check the pressure, because it can drop in winter.
- Battery. Low temperatures significantly reduce the battery charge level. It is therefore important that the battery is replaced with a new one or fully charged when you hit the road.
- Working fluids. In winter, it is necessary to use a quality antifreeze designed for low temperatures. Its replacement will help to avoid freezing of the radiator and destruction of the engine block. It is also necessary to use a glass washer fluid that has a special winter composition.
Summer period
- Cooling system. In the heat, the engine works in more difficult conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to check the radiator, thermostat, fan. Antifreeze should be fresh to effectively remove heat.
- Tires. Switching to summer tires not only improves traction, but also reduces fuel consumption.
- Battery. High temperatures can accelerate the evaporation of the electrolyte. Check the charge level and condition of the battery not only in winter, but also in summer.
- Air conditioning system. A serviced and refueled air conditioner will provide a comfortable microclimate during trips.
Regular checks and timely replacement of worn out, failed parts and components is not a formality, but a necessity. Each season has certain requirements to maintenance.
Regular diagnostics and timely troubleshooting can avoid unforeseen breakdowns, reduce repair costs and increase driving safety. Compliance with all recommendations will allow the truck to work smoothly regardless of weather conditions.
Original Or Analog Parts: What to Choose for Your Truck
Seasonal maintenance and repair of a truck always require a responsible approach. The choice of spare parts is important. Owners face a key question: should they buy original parts or stop at high-quality analogs? Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.
Original components, what are they
OEM, or Original Equipment Manufacturer (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts are components manufactured directly at the manufacturing plant or by its order. These parts are absolutely identical to those that are installed on the truck when it is assembled.
Advantages of original parts:
- Guaranteed quality. They are produced in accordance with technical standards and requirements of the factory.
- Full compatibility. Errors in selection and mismatches during installation are excluded.
- Certification. Have serial numbers, documentation, pass strict control.
- Reliability and durability. Service life is usually higher than that of analogs.
Originals are characterized by a higher cost, compared to non-originals.
What are analog parts
Analog or non-original spare parts are parts that are produced by third-party companies according to technical parameters close to the original. Among the analogs are distinguished:
- quality analogs (Aftermarket Premium);
- budget versions;
- licensed copies.
The advantages of quality analogs are affordable price. But when installing such components, inaccuracies are possible, which requires structural adjustment. The service life of such spare parts, especially in budget versions, is short.
When to choose original spare parts
If the part is critical for safety or is one of the elements of an important node/unit (brake system, steering, engine, cooling system), only original parts should be used when replacing it. Also original spare parts are installed in trucks under warranty.
When quality analogs are suitable
They are appropriate for routine repairs of systems where high precision is not required (for example, replacement of shock absorbers, filters, plugs). If the original is not available and the repair work is urgent, it is also possible to temporarily install a quality analog with subsequent replacement with the original. When selecting spare parts, it is important to specify a unique VIN-code. This will avoid selection errors and ensure the compatibility of components.
It is important to choose analog parts only of high quality from trusted brands that have a good reputation and supply products with a warranty. One of the reputable suppliers of truck parts in the USA is HD ProParts.
In the catalog of the online platform you can find both components of original production and analog parts of high quality, which have certificates and meet technical norms and standards. Thanks to our own warehouses all spare parts are always available. Also the company offers favorable prices and discounts for regular customers, performs prompt delivery across America.