How to Build a Fall Diesel Truck Maintenance Schedule

Cold starts, icy roads, and salted highways all take a toll on diesel trucks. Getting a jump on maintenance for your diesel truck now not only saves you headaches later but also helps prevent downtime when you need your truck the most. Think of fall as your last chance to get a clean oil change, swap in fresh filters, and check off the essentials before winter locks you in.

Here’s a simple diesel maintenance schedule interval we recommend for fall and early winter. Adjust the recommendations below based on how hard you run your truck.

Every 3,000 to 5,000 miles

• Oil and filter change using a Doc’s Oil Change Kit

• Top off fluids and check coolant strength

• Inspect wipers and replace if streaking

Every 15,000 miles

• Change transmission fluid and filters with a Transmission Service Kit

• Rotate tires and check brake pad thickness

• Inspect hubs for play or noise

Seasonal (Fall Prep) 

• Install fresh wiper blades before rainy and snowy weather

• Treat fuel with Doc’s Diesel additives to fight gelling and improve cold starts

• Check battery health since cold temps drain starting power

• Clean and inspect brakes to make sure you’re ready for slick conditions

For small fleets, having these maintenance kits in bulk saves downtime. Nothing costs more than a truck sitting dead in the lot during peak winter hauling. Stock oil change kits, wipers, and additives now so your drivers can stay on the road instead of waiting on parts. For fleet owners, this setup is even more valuable. Each truck in your fleet can be matched to the right subscription based on usage. Your heavy haulers get fresh kits every three months, while your lighter-duty trucks stay on a six or nine-month cycle. That means no downtime and no wasted parts.

Fall is also a great time to set up a maintenance routine you will actually stick to. The easiest way to do that is with a Doc’s Diesel subscription plan. If you’re not sure how often you should be changing your filters, follow our recommendations below. You pick the plan that matches how you use and push your truck, and we make it easy by making sure your filters and diesesl maintenance kits arrive at your door right when you need them. No guesswork, no last-minute parts runs, no skipped oil changes.

3 Months – Best for Heavy Haulers

If you are pulling trailers, hauling heavy loads, or logging long highway miles, this is your plan. Heavy-duty use means your oil and filters need more frequent attention. Expect around 10,000 to 15,000 miles in that span.

6 Months – Best for Daily Drivers

Perfect for the guys running their truck every day for work, commuting, or light towing. You rack up steady miles without hammering on the truck nonstop. A 6-month cycle keeps you covered for about 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

9 Months – Best for Occasional Operators

For trucks that only come out on weekends, plow in the winter, or tow campers in the summer. With lower mileage, roughly 3,000 to 6,000 miles, a 9-month interval makes sure your truck gets attention before it sits too long between uses.

Fall is the reset button for your truck. Subscribing now means you will get your next kit delivered automatically right before you need it, whether that’s mid-winter, early spring, or the start of next summer’s towing season. That way, you are not crawling around in the cold trying to get an emergency oil change done.

Now is your window to get ahead. Once the temps drop, no one wants to wrestle with filters in a frozen driveway or a cold shop bay. A little planning now pays off big when the snow flies.