Isuzu D-Max: diesel pickup maintenance for work and family

The D-Max is built and widely serviced in Kenya, and many work hard on farms, construction sites and long routes. Most are diesel. Treat a loaded or dusty working pickup as severe service.

Engine

• Oil and filter every 5,000 km for heavy, dusty or towing work, with the diesel grade in the manual.
• Air filter: check at every service. On dusty roads, clean or replace it more often.
• Fuel filter at the manual's interval (often 20,000 km), and drain the water separator when the light comes on.
• Newer models have a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Regular longer drives at steady speed help it clean itself.

Chassis

• Leaf springs, U-bolts and shackles: check for cracks and looseness, especially if you carry heavy loads.
• Grease points and propeller shaft joints at every service.
• Differential oil (and transfer case on 4x4s) every 40,000 km, sooner after deep water.
• Brakes: check every 10,000 km on a working pickup.

Loading

Stay within the payload on the plate in the door frame. Overloading cracks springs and chassis brackets and makes braking dangerous.