Getting out and getting your 4x4 dirty is one of the reasons – the main one arguably – you bought a 4x4 in the first place. There is nothing like the challenge, not to mention the exhilaration, of going somewhere few others have been, or indeed, could realistically get to by vehicle.

You are only going to get so far, however, if your truck is not up to scratch.

The more you keep a close eye on its condition and keep on top of its service record the better time you will have in it. To help focus your thoughts we asked 4x4 service specialist Andrew Francis (of Francis Mechanical Services in Palmerston North) and Warren Adams of specialist 4x4 parts website www.4wdbits.co.nz to come up with some simple, practical things we as 4x4 owners (and enthusiastic users) can do to help ourselves.

Preventive maintenance 101

“There’s no time like the present, so before you head home after a trip off the beaten track

check and clean your 4x4’s lights, tail lights and indicators so that you know that you will be seen when you are back on the highway again.

“While you are at it it’s also a good idea to do a basic visual check of the tyre beads as well as under the vehicle for debris that could damage brake hoses etc, before he hit the road.

You might also like to consider a quick wash down before going home time because  Andrew says he has heard of 4x4 owners being fined under the insecure load laws for dropping mud……..

Regular maintenance

Once home the most important thing, he stresses, is regular maintenance, starting with water blasting after every trip.  Watch where you point the water jet, though, because it’s easy to bend the fins of your 4x4’s radiator, and bent fins don't cool.

“A better way to clean the radiator if the fins are clogged, is to remove it completely and soak it on a tray in the shower. But please,” says Andrew, “tell your wife what you are doing, and why.”

Oil & water

“It’s simple. An engine caked in mud will run hotter than a fresh, clean one. Also, if the engine has used oil on an excursion, change the oil to one which can handle hotter temps because the higher operating temperature has caused the existing oil to break down.

“Speaking of oil, make sure to check the diff and trans oil for colour. If it is at all milky it means water has got in and it needs draining and replacing with fresh uncontaminated lubricant.

“As part of a good maintenance schedule you should also grease all points before going out and again after each ‘adventure.’

While you are at it check and fill the screen washer bottle because there’s nothing worse than not being able to see where you are going. If needed replace the wiper blades for the same reason.

Almost there

“Check the sidewalls and tread of your truck’s tyres for damage including the beads. Also always check and recheck pressure including that of the spare.

“If you’ve got, and regularly use, a winch, get into the habit, too, of washing the winch rope if its nylon and re-spool the winch under tension at least twice to generate heat to remove condensation. This needs to be done monthly, so the sooner you get into the habit of doing it the  better.

One last thing

“Good quality oil is far cheaper than having to pay a mechanic to rebuild an engine, transmission or diff, so the simplest and best piece of advice I can offer is use the best oil you can afford, and change it more often.”

Warren Adams of online 4x4 parts specialists www.4wdbits.co.nz agrees, his main piece of advice being; ‘do servicing before collateral damage occurs.’

Warren also advises customers to;

• Buy service kits for completeness and value
• Use recognised brands particularly for high stress components like bearing and studs, and
• Use the correct procedures and tools, torque wrenches, preload scales etc.

To read the full story in the October 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (September 14) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store