Preventive maintenance may not be high on the to-do list for the typical consumer or at the top of the annual business plan for companies that seldom use their pickups for anything more than to run errands.
But at companies where pickups are an integral part of the day-to-day work operation, adhering to stringent vehicle maintenance schedules is as one of the key elements that has a direct effect on the corporate bottom line.
Being proactive on the service side reduces out-of-service down time and minimizes or eliminates costly drivetrain repairs.
In short, preventive maintenance keeps the total cost of vehicle ownership minimized.
This is especially true of diesel pickups as they hit the 100,000-mile mark that are used in the more demanding environments of mining, oil/gas field operations, power company line work and heavy construction.
Seasoned diesel mechanics know the ins and outs of servicing pickups, and the little things that can turn into big problems if overlooked or not done correctly during such service work.
Younger mechanics, DIYers, and first-time diesel pickup owners, though, may not yet be aware of what to look for while doing service work.
Rod Halsten, the master technician at Barkley GMC, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has decades of diesel experience and knows GM pickups and Duramax diesels inside out.
He pointed out these specific items below (and insightful service tips for them) that are critical when doing a full service on 2008-newer model GM 2500/3500HD diesel pickups. Click on images for specific details:
EGR VALVE/COOLER
AIR FILTER MINDER
AIR FILTERS
COLD-AIR INTAKES
TRANSMISSION FILTER
DIFFERENTIALS
EGR COOLER
DPF FILTER TEST
FUEL FILTER SENSOR
TRANSMISSION PLUG
OIL FILTER TIGHTENING
FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR
ENGINE OIL FILTER
EGR VALVE
REAR DIFFERENTIAL
TRANSFER CASE
