5 Things To Check When Buying A Used Mack Truck
Purchasing a used Mack truck over a brand-new one can save you a lot of money. But you probably don't want to jump on the first great deal you come across. Spending a little time examining the truck for any potential problems can help you avoid hassles down the road. Here are five things to look for when shopping for a used truck so you make the right choice for your business.
Engine
This is one of the first things to examine when buying a used commercial truck. Pop the hood and look for any sign of leaks. This will generally require you to run your hand along the engine and its parts and point a flashlight towards the ground to see if any stains are present.
Naturally, you'll want to start up the truck to take it for a test run, but this is a good time to just let it run for a few minutes and observe. If you don't see any smoke coming from the exhaust, you're good to go. If you see puffs of blue or white exhaust, it usually means that the truck's engine is burning oil.
While you're quietly observing for smoke from the exhaust, the next thing you'll want to do is listen for any sounds like knocking, pinging, or clunking coming from the engine. Knocking sounds can mean several different things.
First, the truck might be using gas with an octane rating that's too low. And the fix is often as simple as adding an octane booster to the engine. Knocking can also come from using the wrong type of spark plugs. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to narrow down the cause of an engine that's making weird sounds, so it's probably best to stay away from them unless the seller knows the cause and can offer a discount for any needed repairs.
Cab
When you step inside the cab, make a general note of its condition. Are the seats in good shape, and is the amount of wear present expected for the truck, given the number of miles it has? You shouldn't expect perfection, but the overall condition should be decent enough that you feel comfortable investing in it.
Also, check the gauges on the dash while the engine is running to ensure they work and the readings appear normal. For instance, the voltmeter display should be in the green to show the battery is charged, the temperature gauge should be somewhere between 165 and 185 degrees, the engine oil pressure gauge should be somewhere between 30 and 75 psi once the engine is warm, and the fuel filter gauge should be in the white zone to indicate that there's not a clog in the fuel filter.
Odometer
When buying a used car, mileage is pretty important. But with a commercial truck, things are little different. Long-haul and Mack trucks are on the road all day, whether they are traveling locally or long-distance. So heavy mileage will be expected. It's been estimated that the average semi will travel 45,000 miles per year, but others estimate up to 100,000. Therefore, the main thing to keep in mind with odometer readings on commercial trucks is that it will affect the final price in most cases.
Brakes
If you're not sure what brake pads should look like in a commercial truck, now would be a good time to familiarize yourself. Before purchasing a used commercial truck, check the brake pads for wear so you can estimate their age and how long they should last. If all else looks good but the brake pads are worn, that really shouldn't keep you from buying the truck since replacing them isn't expensive. You might, however, use this as a factor when negotiating price with the dealer.
Maintenance Records
Before making a final decision, ask the seller if the truck comes with maintenance records. This should give you a pretty good picture of how well the truck was cared for and whether any maintenance will be due soon.