In life, there are certain things that you shouldn’t be careless about. Tires, mattress, and gas station sushi are some of the things that come to mind. But, when it comes to your truck, you don’t always have to pay a lot for maintenance and repair. That’s not to say you should go for the cheapest when it comes to these components. It just means that paying for the most expensive product won’t give you much benefit. So what truck parts can you save money on?
Exhaust system
OK, I’m starting on a controversial note here. But, when it comes to a modern truck, spending a lot of money on your exhaust isn’t going to get you much bang for your buck in terms of performance. What will give you a fancy catback exhaust is improved sound.
Unless you’re really interested in getting a little performance boost, there is a cheaper way to make your truck sound better. Ditch the stock tubes and resonator, and opt for a bigger muffler. You may see a slight increase in performance for your truck, but you’ll also get a different exhaust note. And for most people, that’s probably enough.
Brake fluid
No, you shouldn’t buy the cheapest brake fluid. But whatever the original manufacturer decided to use should be good enough for your truck. Premium brake fluid is great if you put your vehicle in performance situations, like on the track. However, the average Joe probably isn’t tracking his truck.
According to the Chicago Tribune, mid-level brake fluid should last as long as the expensive ones. So unless you’re really braking on a daily basis, you can save some money.
Plugs
This might be a bit of a surprise. But in an unmodified modern truck, you can probably get away with the plugs your truck came with. If your truck is a V8, those fancy spark plugs can really add up to the cost. And you probably won’t see much of a performance boost.
A general rule of thumb for things like spark plugs is to find the middle ground. Spark plugs are a very important part of your engine. So you don’t want to skimp, but regular plugs can be found for around $5.
Why is it worth paying more money on your truck?
Some things you don’t want to go the cheap route on, and the first thing that comes to mind is gas. If your truck requires a premium, you’ll probably want to stick to that. Fortunately, most trucks will be fine on regular gasoline. When I tested the 2022 Tundra, I was surprised to see that 87 octane was recommended, even though the Lexus LX600 with the same engine required premium.
If you plan to pay someone to service your truck, make sure you go to a reputable shop. You don’t always need to get serviced at a dealership, but you do want to keep your truck running smoothly. And that means someone who knows what they’re doing should take care of your service and repair needs.