Keep your exhaust system clean!!

Glad somebody took the time to write an article about something any halfway competent driver should already know.

 

Yeah it's like sticking a cork in your butt.

 

WOW... THE BUTTHURT SURE IS THICK WITH THIS ONE! LOOK OUT!

Look, it wasn't a jab at you or the people who wrote this article. Even without the specifics, the basic knowledge of "backpressure = bad" is a very basic thing which at least anyone who pays the operating expenses of a truck should know (in reality, anyone who drives one should know, so that they have the common sense not to just ignore it and hope it goes away when they get codes for the aftertreatment system and a message on their dash telling them their DOC face is plugged, but I might be aiming high). The necessity of this article now whereas it didn't seem to be necessary in years past is where my annoyance with it lies.
As for your question, I know right? If only I did this for a living or something like that...

 

A engine is nothing more than an air compressor. You gotta get the air in an you gotta get it out too be efficient.

 

This holds true for the O/O, and it does for the company driver, as well, although the latter may not be as likely to see it that way.... a lot of them just don't give a ####, largely because a lot of them figure, "well, if I'm down for long, I'll just get put in another truck".

No, but it is something one should know before they take the plunge and buy one. For the person who doesn't intend to, it certainly doesn't hurt to know how... it never hurts to learn as much as they can. Even if they're not going to change it themselves, if they can identify, say, a Davco filter which is at the point where it needs to be replaced, brake shoes that are worn to the point they need replacement, know that the smell of gear oil as they're checking their drives may be something of concern, identify cupping in their steer tires, etc., and realize it means something's asunder, then they can get it to their shop and get it taken care of before a little problem becomes a big problem. Back pressure = bad is a pretty simple concept, and I'm pretty sure we can all find some comparable example (e.g., the air compressor analogy). The specifics are going to matter more to those who are financially committed to the truck.

Yeah, that does factor in, but again, there are a lot who simply don't give a #### to learn.

Yeah, if only...

There's a little more to an engine than an air compressor, but it's a pretty good analogy, all in all.