Writing a maintenance plan

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Gumper, Mar 8, 2018.

  1. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

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    Down to the last few trivial things before I'm 100% ready to roll with my own numbers and equipment. I'm struggling with the "maintenance plan" that's required for my DOT compliance BS. Is there any standard equipment maintenance programs out there I can use, or any general guidelines? I'm curious how in depth the program has to be. Obviously fluids and tires should have set mileage and measurement limits, but how about things such as the clutch? Do I have to have a written mileage replacement for something like that, or check and replace as necessary? Belts, hoses, engine internal parts? What all needs to be within the maintenance plan? Generally I figured the engine oil would be 20K miles along with the fuel filters, trans and diffs 100K, grease the chassis and driveline 10K, tires when they are down to the DOT wear limits, V-belts when they start to crack, hoses when they're soft or leaking, steering components when they are loose. What else? The truck is a 1997, and naturally the manual is long gone. Does Kenworth still have recommended maintenance intervals available for trucks that old, or are they even worth it?
     
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  3. easytopleez33

    easytopleez33 Light Load Member

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    It's just me, but, you may want to rethink your oil change intervals.
    If i remember correctly Cat recommends every 10,000 and no more then 12,000 between changes.
    As far as fuel filters, Couldn't hurt to do the same. Are you running a Primary-Secondary on that E-Model?
     
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  4. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I wouldn't write a thing in stone until you start getting an idea what the engine's condition is. OAs, dyno if you haven't. the OAs are important, so think bypass filtering and use of synthetics.

    By the way, tires don't have a mileage life.
     
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  5. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

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    The bearings and liners look like they’re fairly new. The oil pan is off right now, and judging from the internal appearance there isn’t many miles on the last inframe. The bearings were so good that we didn’t bother rolling new ones in.

    I planned on 20k miles based on Amsoil’s drain intervals, and doing oil analysis.

    It has two fuel filters.
     
  6. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I don't know your intended use for the truck but things like engine services I always advise going by hours, rather than miles. In my mind, its silly to refer to anything engine related in miles. Some guys idle the trucks all night. That's like doubling the wear on the oil vs someone who shuts off the engine every night and runs the same miles.
     
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  7. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

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    We do our company trucks by hours, service every 200. What’s the Cat recommendation for hours?
     
  8. easytopleez33

    easytopleez33 Light Load Member

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    Most over the road equipment don't have an hour meter on them. So unless you install one, the next best thing would be to use the ODO.
    That being said, I guess you could figure 60 miles/hour and at 200 hours you'd be right at 12000 miles
     
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  9. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

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    Mine has an hour meter, so I can go either direction.
     
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  10. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    That's a new one on me. I've never seen a truck that didn't come factory without an hour meter. Learned something today.
     
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  11. DSK333

    DSK333 Road Train Member

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    Beat me to it! This is solid advice, sir.
     
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