7 Lorry Maintenance Tips Every Malaysian Business Owner Must Know

Your lorry is one of your most important business assets. When it breaks down, your business stops. Regular maintenance is the single best investment you can make to protect your lorry, extend its life, and avoid expensive emergency repairs.

At CACSB, we’ve been servicing commercial lorries and trucks in Balakong, Selangor for years. Here are the top 7 maintenance tips our mechanics always recommend to lorry owners.

1. Check Engine Oil Every Week

Engine oil is the lifeblood of your lorry. Commercial lorries work harder than passenger cars — they carry heavy loads, run long hours, and often idle for extended periods. Check your engine oil level every week, and change it according to your lorry manufacturer’s schedule (typically every 5,000 to 10,000 km for commercial vehicles).

Running on low or dirty oil is one of the most common causes of engine failure we see at our workshop. It’s a RM20 problem that turns into a RM20,000 engine overhaul.

2. Inspect Your Tyres Before Every Trip

Lorry tyres bear enormous weight and stress. Before every trip, check:

• Tyre pressure (under-inflated tyres wear faster and reduce fuel efficiency)
• Tyre tread depth (bald tyres are dangerous and illegal)
• Visible damage, cracks or embedded objects

For lorries, tyre pressure should be checked when the tyre is cold. Consult your lorry manual for the correct pressure rating for your load.

3. Service Your Brakes Every 6 Months

Lorry brakes work much harder than car brakes due to the heavy loads they’re stopping. Have your brake pads, drums, and brake fluid checked at least every 6 months, or sooner if you notice any of these warning signs:

• Squealing or grinding noise when braking
• Lorry pulling to one side when braking
• Longer stopping distance than usual
• Brake pedal feels soft or spongy

4. Don’t Ignore Warning Lights

Modern lorries have sophisticated diagnostic systems. When a warning light comes on your dashboard — don’t tape over it and keep driving. Bring your lorry to a workshop immediately. What starts as a minor sensor fault can quickly escalate into a major mechanical failure if ignored.

5. Keep Your Cooling System in Good Condition

Lorries operating in Malaysia’s hot climate are particularly prone to overheating. Check your coolant level regularly and flush the cooling system according to the manufacturer’s schedule. A lorry that overheats once can suffer serious head gasket or engine block damage that costs tens of thousands to repair.

6. Grease All Moving Parts

Lorries have many grease points — leaf spring shackles, steering linkages, propeller shaft universal joints, and fifth wheel (for articulated lorries). Neglecting lubrication causes premature wear and component failure. A proper lorry service should always include greasing all these points.

7. Do a Full Service Every 3 Months or 10,000 km

A full preventive service catches problems before they become breakdowns. This should include engine oil and filter change, air filter check, fuel filter service, brake inspection, tyre rotation, battery check, and a thorough inspection of all major systems.

Where to Service Your Lorry in Selangor

CACSB is a specialist commercial lorry workshop in Balakong, Seri Kembangan, Selangor. We service all major lorry brands — Hino, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, Foton, Sinotruk and more. Call us at +60193661288 to book your lorry in for a service.