First service on a used tractor unit: what to replace right away

Most of the risks associated with buying equipment on the secondary market can usually be avoided from the start. Buying a used tractor unit won't bring major repair risks down the road if you handle the first service the right way. What needs to be replaced immediately, and what can wait?

What to replace right away: basic technical safety

The first service after buying a used truck should start with "zeroing out the consumables," recommend FleetOwner and Commercial Motor. Even if the seller assures you that everything has already been replaced, the mandatory checklist includes:

• replacing the engine oil and all filters (fuel, oil, air) – $350–800 depending on the engine;
• checking the braking system (pads, discs, caliper condition) – from $400 per axle;
• diagnosing the transmission and reading fault codes – $100-250;
• checking the cooling system and hoses.

In most cases your new tractor unit should meet Euro-5 or Euro-6 emissions standards. That means it's mandatory to check the SCR system, AdBlue, the urea injector condition, and the NOx sensors. Repairing the latter can cost $300-600, while an SCR module can cost significantly more than $500.

It's better to invest $1,000–2,000 right away than to run into downtime later because of unexpected repairs.

What can wait: smart savings

Not everything needs to be replaced automatically. If the suspension, shock absorbers, air system or clutch show no critical wear, they can be planned into the budget over the next 3–6 months. Tires are a separate story. If the remaining tread allows for another 40,000–60,000 km, replacement can be postponed. A full set of new tires costs $2,000–4,000, and it isn't always the top priority. For Euro-6 units, it's also worth assessing the remaining life of the DPF filter. If regeneration runs steadily and there are no fault codes, there's no need to panic.

In practice, the first service after purchase usually comes out to $1,500–3,000 depending on the condition of the equipment. And that's still far cheaper than paying $70,000–90,000 extra for a new tractor unit.

A practical point

Many carriers make the mistake of cutting corners on diagnostics. Specialists at tirkomis's TIR service recommend running a full computer check of the control units even before buying the equipment, even if the truck drives "perfectly." The cost of such a service starts from around 1,000 hryvnias. Electronics often preserve a history of problems better than the previous owner's memory does.

The main rule is simple: secondary-market equipment is not a risk if you set aside the right budget for the first service. After that, the tractor unit can run smoothly for several years without major investment. Then the savings at the entry point turn into profit.

You can find a large selection of tractor units at our commission yard.