The Answers To Four Common Questions About Manual Truck Transmission Repairs

Commercial and industrial trucks are frequently built with manual transmissions for fuel efficiency reasons. This makes it so that transmission repairs on commercial and industrial trucks are usually specific to manual transmissions.

The following are four of the most common questions people tend to have about transmission repairs for trucks with manual transmissions:

What signs indicate that repairs are really necessary?

Staying on top of repair needs is the key to maintaining the efficiency of your commercial or industrial operation.

Signs that a manual transmission truck needs transmission repairs center around problems with shifting gears. If gears can't manually be shifted with ease, vehicle efficiency will be reduced, and wear upon transmission components will be accelerated.

Another indications that manual transmission repairs are necessary is a leak of fluids under the vehicle. If a leak is seen in combination with shifting problems, your truck is probably leaking transmission fluid and needs immediate repairs. 

What is the most frequently seen reason why the manual transmission on a truck needs repairs?

Overheating is the most common cause of manual transmission problems in trucks. Overheating will cause mechanical components to wear out faster. It also indicates an overall inefficiency in the functioning of system components. 

How often does the oil need to be changed on a truck with a manual transmission?

The frequency with which you need to schedule oil changes depends on how much demand is placed upon vehicles in your fleet.

Of course, most commercial and industrial vehicles are being used constantly and therefore face heavy duty use on a daily basis. For heavy duty trucks with manual transmissions, a transmission oil change is generally necessary 15,000 miles after the most recent change. 

How can clutch life be maximized?

This is a good question for truck fleet managers to consider. The frequency of clutch repair depends to a large extent on how well drivers are driving. If a driver is trained to use the clutch properly, clutch replacement won't be necessary as often. 

Clutch life can be maximized if drivers or mechanics are trained to regularly grease a vehicle's release and bearing. Also, regularly inspecting clutch linkage for any parts that have been damaged by corrosion can help to maximize clutch life.

Poor driving practices that can reduce clutch life include using the clutch pedal as a footrest and routinely putting too much weight on it while driving. Also, drivers who tend to release their clutches too quickly when switching gears can cause grinding that will wear away on the clutch and require excessively frequent clutch replacement. 

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