Our trucking company values the well-being of our staff above all else. We firmly believe in safety, success and happiness, and that’s why we willingly blog about it.
We have already written about how essential it is for drivers to stay healthy, safe and in a good shape. But for a successful ride, it is equally important that the semi truck oil level is well maintained.
So, it’s necessary, among other things, to take care of the semi truck oil level on a regular basis.
Since consumer vehicles are designed to travel shorter distances, semi truck oil changes should be made every 3,000 miles. Not bad if we say it’s a journey from Texas to Canada and back. But, your semi truck is much more durable here. It can run approximately 25,000 miles between the two oil changes.
Why is It Important to Regularly do an Oil Change for a Semi Truck?
Of course, all reasons are related to the health and functionality of your semi truck. But, on a broader scale, it certainly affects your safety at work. Check out more road safety tips in one our previous blogs.
Changing semi truck oil in proper intervals maintains your truck lifespan, and can avoid premature wear and tear on engine parts. Over time, old oil breaks down due to exposure to heat. This causes it to loses its viscosity as well as its ability to lubricate the engine cylinder walls.
Whether you do it yourself or in a local service repair facility, it is important to take care of it.
Here is an interesting clip that gives good hints on how to do it.
Image source: dealerinspire.com
How to Tell It’s Time to Change Semi Truck Oil
Each truck has its own oil consumption dynamics. It depends on the age and the model of the semi truck, but also the driving conditions and your driving style.
Today, we can have an insight into boiled life intervals. Technology makes things easier because monitors on the vehicle’s computer tell us when to change the oil. Practically, the algorithm calculates mileage, idle time, engine temperatures, trip times, engine loads, and ignition starts and stops. It then establishes an oil change exigency.
But, it’s a good idea to do it manually as well, because it will make you feel more comfortable. The old-fashioned and most accurate way is certainly to monitor the oil level using the dipstick. The procedure is not complicated.
Using a clean towel or a paper towel you can wipe the dipstick off, and reinsert it into an oil tank. The dipstick has markings that show maximum and minimum levels.
Image source: Freepik
Main Factors to Determine Oil Change Frequency
The type of oil is certainly the main factor and there are two types: conventional and synthetic. Synthetic oil proved to be excellent in colder temperatures when it is very important to maintain the viscosity for a longer time. On the other hand, conventional engine oil is more affordable, even if needs to be changed more frequently.
An important factor is also the type of semi truck engine. Diesel or turbocharged engines each have their specifications for the frequency of oil changes. Diesel engines tend to dirty oil more quickly, thus requiring more frequent oil changes.
Extreme temperatures also have a huge impact. Ether hot or cold will cause engine oil to wear out more quickly. Short trips in extremely cold temperatures are also tough on your engine, as there is no time for the oil and engine to warm up properly.
Image source: Pexels
How to Extend the Oil Change Interval for your Semi Truck?
One of the most commonly used methods is to add additives to the oil to boost the viscosity and base number. It is true that additives can prolong the life of the lubricant, but they can’t prevent aging and degradation.
Anyway, additives have three basic roles:
- Enhance existing base oil properties with antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, anti-foam agents and demulsifying agents
- Suppress undesirable base oil properties with pour-point depressants and viscosity index
- Impart new properties to base oils with extreme pressure (EP) additives, detergents, metal deactivators and tackiness agents.
Adding too many additives can also derange the lubricant’s formulation balance, so you should be very careful.
Another option is a bleed-and-feed partial oil change, which is used when changing the oil is risky or inconvenient. It requires draining a portion of the oil volume and then quickly pour the new oil. By doing this, you can remove some of the contaminants and introduce fresh additives.
Here are some more insider truck driving tips that might enhance your trucking experience.
Image source: pxlchemicals.com
Thanks for reading and follow the weekly Extra Mile vlog on our YouTube channel Extra Mile International Inc. Trucking Company or visit our Instagram profile @extramiletx.
We hope that this has been useful, both for experienced drivers and for those who want to try their hand at this exciting profession, and become one of our company drivers.
Have a nice trip!
Mia is a Fleet Manager and Recruiter at Extra Mile International, based in Chicago. Mia is over 5 years in the trucking industry while driving trucks for more than 3 years.
