Before You Hit the Road: Fluids to Check for a Labor Day Weekend Trip
Labor Day weekend is a popular time to squeeze in one more summer road trip. Whether you’re heading north for the weekend, visiting family, or simply planning a long drive around Wisconsin, the last thing you want is a preventable vehicle problem interrupting your plans.
Checking your vehicle’s fluids before leaving Waukesha is a simple way to spot potential maintenance issues before they become roadside problems. Fluids help lubricate, cool, clean, and operate many of your vehicle’s most important systems. If a fluid is low, dirty, leaking, or overdue for service, a longer trip can put additional stress on already vulnerable components.
Before you pack the car, there are several fluids worth checking.
Essential Vehicle Fluids to Check Before a Road Trip
Some fluids are easy to overlook until a warning light appears or a problem develops. A pre-trip check allows you to address them before you’re miles from home.
Engine Oil
Engine oil reduces friction and helps protect moving engine components from excessive wear and heat. Before a long trip, check your oil level and determine whether you’re approaching your next recommended service interval.
If you’re already due—or will become due during your trip—scheduling an oil change service before you leave may make more sense than waiting until you return.
Don’t assume that adding oil is always the solution to a low reading. If your vehicle regularly loses oil or you notice spots underneath it, there may be a leak or another problem that should be diagnosed.
Coolant
Late-summer Wisconsin temperatures can still be hot, and highway driving places continuous demands on your engine. Coolant absorbs engine heat and carries it to the radiator, helping maintain a safe operating temperature.
Check the coolant level only when the engine is cool, and never remove a radiator cap from a hot engine. If coolant is consistently low, you notice a sweet smell, or your temperature gauge has been running higher than normal, schedule cooling system repair before taking a long trip.
Brake and Transmission Fluids
Brake fluid transfers the force from your brake pedal through the hydraulic braking system. Low brake fluid or a noticeable change in braking performance should be inspected rather than ignored. If the pedal feels soft, braking distances increase, or the vehicle behaves differently while stopping, a brake inspection is a better choice than hoping the problem can wait.
Transmission fluid is also critical because it helps lubricate and cool transmission components. Depending on your vehicle, checking its level may require a specific procedure or professional inspection. Follow the maintenance schedule recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
Don’t Forget the Other Fluids Your Vehicle Relies On
Windshield washer fluid may not affect the engine, but it can have a major impact on visibility. Bugs, dust, rain, and road grime can quickly make a windshield difficult to see through on a long drive, so top off the reservoir before leaving.
Some vehicles also use hydraulic power steering fluid, while many newer vehicles have electric power steering systems that don’t require it. If your vehicle uses power steering fluid, leaks or difficulty steering should be inspected.
A Labor Day road trip is also a good opportunity to look beyond individual fluid levels. Following your vehicle’s factory-scheduled maintenance helps ensure fluids, filters, belts, hoses, brakes, and other important components are inspected and serviced at appropriate intervals.
Before heading out for Labor Day weekend, visit Allen Automotive Service at W271S2901 Merrill Hills Rd, Waukesha, WI 53188 or call at (262) 542-2077. We can help make sure your vehicle’s maintenance is up to date so you can spend your weekend enjoying the trip instead of dealing with an unexpected breakdown.