What You Need to Know about Preparing Your Diesel Truck for Towing Season

While the cold snaps haven’t completely gone away, the frequency of warmer days reminds us that spring is coming, which means you need to get your diesel truck ready for towing.

With the arrival of spring, there is a new set of conditions that can impact your truck, so it’s time to be proactive and get ahead of potential issues. The following is a quick checklist that you can use to prepare for diesel towing season:

• Wash
  Give your truck a thorough soapy wash and rinse to get rid of all the salt buildup, which when left unattended can lead to corrosion that could impact your towing equipment.
• Tires
  After your tires are scrubbed clean, give them an inspection. Look for wear and tear, as well as punctures, and determine if it’s time for replacements. If they’re looking good, the last thing you need to do is check the pressure and air them up if needed so they get a good grip on the road.
• Fluids
  Cold weather can cause oil to thicken, and your coolant/antifreeze can also be affected by cold temps. While you’re checking these fluids, look at your transmission, power steering, brake and windshield washer fluid levels.
• Battery
  Although battery technology (especially AGM batteries) has improved and you get better performance in cold weather than you used to, your battery can still be impacted by cold weather, so make sure it is holding a charge.

Have Your Local Shop Help You Out

Mechanics know diesel towing season is right around the corner, so they’ll be able to provide some of the following services to ensure you’re ready for anything:

• Fuel System
  Diesel fuel injectors can become clogged, and because they are under extremely high pressure, let your local pro check them for you.
• Turbocharger
  If you hear a whining noise from your engine or notice a loss of power, it could be a turbocharger issue.
• Brake Check
  Towing puts a lot of stress on your truck’s braking system, so let your mechanic check for uneven rotors and caliper function and ensure your brake pads aren’t too worn.
• Differential Fluid
  Your rear differential and axles will also incur plenty of stress when towing, so your mechanic will want to remove the covers and check for signs of excessive wear, such as metal shavings. They’ll also want to reseal all the components.

The list goes on, but by being proactive now you can avoid a lot of the headaches that come with having to cancel plans because your diesel towing capabilities aren’t quite where they should be. Gray Diesel & Equipment Services is here to help you out. Our team of professionals will ensure that when you’re ready to tow your boat, fifth wheel, or trailer full of rafting equipment – whatever you tow this spring and summer – your truck will handle it easily.