Bad Habits That Will Destroy Your Vehicle Clutch

A clutch may survive for more than 70,000 kilometers if adequately maintained, and some people have had their clutch plates changed as early as 10,000 kilometers.

If you live in a city, your typical driving schedule during rush hour must be something like this: clutch* brake* clutch* brake* clutch* brake*. This is quite damaging to your car’s clutch. Driving in the city or using the grip for long periods takes a toll on the automobile, the engine, and the clutch plate and leads to transmission clutch repair. Your automobile clutch experiences significant wear and tear because of your driving style and other things.

Several undesirable practices cause the clutch to fail considerably sooner than intended. Here are a few terrible patterns that might sabotage the grip and should never be done.

1. For extra pick-up, slipping the clutch:

It’s a prevalent belief that not entirely releasing the clutch pedal and accelerating leads to a stronger off-the-line start. Professional drivers maintain a tight balance between the clutch pressure plate location and the accelerator for excellent launches, which they accomplish via practice.

Slipping the clutch on purpose causes overheating and severe damage to the clutch plates, rendering them useless considerably sooner than they should be. Doing so slows you down rather than making your automobile accelerate quicker. Due to partial clutch engagement, the gearbox does not get the entire amount of power delivered by the engine. Always release the clutch smoothly and as fast as possible for the smoothest starts and accelerations.

2. The foot is resting on the clutch.

Because most automobiles don’t have a dead pedal, many individuals end up resting their foot on the clutch, which is a terrible habit. Diesel automobiles, as previously said, have a little stricter grip and can thus withstand the strain of a lightly maintained foot, but always ensure that your foot is not depressing the clutch pedal at all. On the other hand, petrol automobiles have a light clutch while having different clutch plate functions, and even the slightest weight causes the pedal to release the clutch partly. This causes rapid slippage and wears and a reduction in fuel economy.

3. Riding the clutch

Riding the clutch is one of the most common and straightforward mistakes rookie drivers make while driving a manual gearbox. However, we’ve seen many expert drivers do it as well. Riding the clutch entails driving the automobile without fully releasing the clutch pedal. Although diesel automobiles have a firmer grip, putting your foot on the clutch in a petrol vehicle destroys the clutch plate and reduces fuel efficiency. In this situation, the slight pressure on the clutch lever prevents the clutch mechanism from thoroughly engaging, causing it to slip a little, resulting in abnormal clutch wear.

4. Using the clutch pedal during traffic signals

It’s like killing the clutch yourself if you keep the grip pinned down, knowing you’re not going to move for the next 20 seconds. Stop and put the car in neutral if you know the automobile will be motionless for long. This disengages the clutch and allows you to rest your leg for a moment. Keeping the grip held down for lengthy periods might ruin the clutch assembly’s ball bearing and can lead you to visit a local truck engine repair shop. Although the bearings can be replaced, this can only be done after removing the entire set-up. As a general rule, the less your car’s critical components, such as the engine and gearbox, are opened, the longer it will likely operate without problems.

5. Clutch balancing

Said clutch balancing is the process of keeping the automobile on an incline while utilizing the clutch and accelerator. While such maneuvers should be performed using the brakes, clutch balancing causes the transmission clutch repair. Certain situations can result in immediate clutch failure, mainly if the clutch is already worn out. Clutch balance shortens the clutch’s life and places excessive stress on other moving elements. While the clutch sends enough power to the transmission to keep the car from rolling backward, it also causes the grip to slide and heat up excessively, resulting in significant damage.

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. Too quickly releasing the clutch.

The holy trinity panel (accelerator, clutch, and brake) must work perfectly for the automobile to perform at its best. Most professional drivers learn how to use the grip flawlessly early in their careers. Many people who drive automobiles regularly release the clutch too quickly, causing the car to jolt and unnecessary strain on the engine and transmission. This causes the clutch to overheat again, causing it to deteriorate.

According to the clutch working principle, when the first gear is engaged and the clutch is gently released, the clutch plates engage, moving the gearbox and the automobile forward. If the clutch is terminated abruptly, the stationary gearbox will apply opposing force, causing the clutch to wear out considerably faster than typical. Quickly removing the grip might potentially cause catastrophic transmission damage.

SEMI TRUCK BRAKE MAINTANENCE

Usually, when a truck causes a crash the brakes are blamed. But, it isn’t usually a complete break failure that caused it. Brakes are designed so that complete brake failure is extremely rare, so when when an accident happens it is unlikely that the brakes totally lost their braking force. Poor brake maintenance is most likely the cause of the "break failure".

When brakes are poorly maintained, they are still able to provide low levels of braking force. A driver may not notice that anything is wrong; when they stop for stop signs and other slowing maneuvers, the brakes still perform as expected. But, in the case of an emergency, and when a high level of braking force is needed, the sub-par brakes will not provide the expected stopping force. The driver expects to quickly decelerate. However, this won’t be the case. While the brakes are working, they can’t do their job well enough to prevent an accident.

For this reason that it’s very important to properly maintain the complete braking system. The average size of a truck is 80,000 pounds. During a freeway drive, it’s essential to know that the brakes will perform as necessary during an emergency situation. Luckily, it’s not hard to maintain your brakes. It just takes some knowledge and consistency.

Regularly replace brake parts

To keep the brake system working as expected, there are things that need to be regularly maintained. The brake shoes will have an indicator built into the pads which will let you know when replacement is necessary. When the pads need to be replaced you should also make sure to replace springs, pins, and bushings. While you’re at, make sure the drums are replaced when the shoes are. Drums can wear and begin to develop heat cracks.

Grease the slack adjusters and S cams

Your truck will have either manual or automatic slack adjusters, which make sure the brake stay in alignment as they are being used. Whichever kind you have, it’s important that they are greased well to make sure they work as intended.

If you don’t grease your slack adjusters, they can and will seize up. This leads to brake failure. A good option is lithium grease.

The slack adjusters turn a shaft that will turn the S cams, so that they push the brake into the drum, effectively stopping the truck. As a part of regular maintenance, you’ll need to check the bushings equipped in the S cams. They will need regularly greased as well, and changed occasionally.

Check the Air Compression Pressure Gauge

A major component to stopped a moving truck, the air compression pressure gauge need to read more than 60 psi before you use the truck and between 100 to 125 psi is the ideal pressure you should be running, and if it’s running lower service the brakes. If it’s lower than 60 psi, discontinue use of the truck and service the brakes.

Check Linings and Hoses

You’ll need to check all linings and hoses before using the truck. Check to make sure they are at least ¼ of an inch thick. It’s also important to check if the are soaked with lubricant, which is an issue. They should be dry. Your air hoses will need to be checked for wear or cracks. Once linings and hoses are worn or appear damaged, they’ll need changed. This will happen regularly.

When Should Brakes Be Serviced?

It’s important to have the brakes serviced on a routine basis. While brake service will vary depending on the truck and the habits of the driver, it’s best to inspect the brakes every time the truck’s oil is changed. This ensures any problems are caught before they become issues, and keeps everyone on the road safe.

Do you need to schedule your an appointment to have your brakes serviced or replace other parts? Give Fleet Advocate a call today at 855-295-8350.

How to Keep Your Semi Truck Engine Running Smoothly

Keeping your semi truck running smoothly is a crucial part of a trucking job. If your vehicle isn’t performing at its best, it can create several obstacles when you hit the road. The engine is an integral component of your semi truck and deserves special attention.

Here are a few tips to keep it running smoothly so you can avoid costly heavy duty truck repair:

Change the engine oil regularly

Properly scheduled oil changes are crucial in keeping your semi truck engine running correctly. Commercial vehicles are driven a lot and cover long distances, so it’s imperative to keep track of engine oil to protect the engine and maximize its useful life.

The engine oil should be replaced every 20,000 to 30,000 miles, depending on the engine design, age, and condition. Always choose high-quality oil to protect your engine and ensure optimal performance.

Replace the air filter frequently

The air filter plays a critical role in preventing dust, dirt, and pollutants and others from getting into your semi truck engine. Over time, it accumulates environmental contaminants and becomes clogged, which can affect the performance of your truck.

The filter should be replaced every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. A new filter will improve the flow weaken performance as the engine can draw fuel more efficiently. The fuel pump will not require to work harder, and your semi truck will run smoothly.

Monitor the exhaust system

The exhaust system of your semi truck is responsible for three important functions. It muffles the voice, removes harmful pollutants, and safely gets hot exhaust gas out from the engine, which allows your vehicle’s engine to breathe and function effectively.

It’s crucial to monitor the performance of the exhaust system of your semi truck. A well-maintained and functional system provides an efficient path for exhaust gases to escape and protect your vehicle’s engine from damage.

Keep the engine clean

Over time, the engine can accumulate dirt, gunk, and grime, which makes it work harder and will affect its performance and road life. You must clean the engine regularly to get rid of deposits in the fuel-borne areas.

Keeping the engine clean can also help identify minor issues in your engine, which can exacerbate into bigger problems. You can wipe the engine regularly and perform steam cleaning occasionally to keep it nice and clean.

Engine Control Unit repair and reprogramming

Engine Control Unit (ECU) serves as the brain and is responsible for controlling essential functions of your semi truck. A faulty ECM affects components like the transmission and other onboard electric modules and puts the entire control unit at risk.

Therefore, it’s crucial to carry out a diagnostic test to identify problems and address them timely. Most often, the ECU will require repairs and reprogramming, which will allow it to function effectively and help keep your semi truck engine running smoothly.

Partner up with a ECU service provider that you can trust to identify and fix potential problems in the ECU of your semi truck before they intensify and lead to other problems, so you can save money and enjoy peace of mind.

Looking for Heavy Duty Truck Repair? Get in touch with Fleet Advocate today, give us a call at (855)295-8350