Summer is now a distant memory and it is time to get back to school. With school season underway, you are dealing with more vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians on the road. If you participate in a daily or weekly carpool, you may have several kids dependent on you to get them to and from school. In this month’s blog, we highlight some important maintenance tasks that should be completed during this season to keep your carpool running, and you, your passengers, and pedestrians safe.
Back to School Maintenance Tasks
If you do not have a maintenance routine, it may be a suitable time to start one. The service professionals at Colonial Service Station can talk to you about an ongoing plan that will keep your vehicle running smoothly throughout the year and fit your budget needs.
There are five general maintenance tasks to consider:
- Fluids: Get your fluid levels checked in the vehicle, including the brake and power steering, wiper fluid, and coolant.
- Oil: Get an oil and filter change. Unless you are using a synthetic oil, typically motor oil should be changed every five to seven thousand miles driven.
- Tires: Have your treads inspected for any unusual wear, check the air pressure, and get a tire rotation.
- Brakes: Get your brakes inspected for any wear on the brake pads or rotors.
- Battery: Don’t get caught on carpool Monday with a dead battery. Get your battery charge level tested and replace the battery, if necessary.
Visibility Maintenance
In addition to the five maintenance tasks above, there are other safety items that you may want to consider to maximize your driving visibility.
- Windshield: If your windshield has sustained any damage from rocks or road debris, make sure to get the windshield replaced or repaired. While small cracks or divots seem innocent, they will usually lead to bigger problems. Check with your auto insurance for any replacement or repair coverage.
- Wiper Blades: Summer heat and afternoon thunderstorms can wear down the rubber on your blades. Get the blades replaced, including any rear blades. You will notice a major difference the next time you need to clear your windshield.
- Lights: Many times, your vehicle lights may burn out or become off balance, giving you less visibility on the road at twilight, and making you less visible to other drivers and pedestrians. Get your front and rear lights checked, along with your turn signals.
Safe Fall Driving
Staying safe during school season is not just about vehicle maintenance. There are some important ways you can keep your vehicle passengers safe and others on the road or sidewalks.
- Take your time in school zones and obey posted speed limits.
- Be patient behind school buses, and at flashing crosswalks or ones with crossing guards.
- Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and other vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists.
- Be extra vigilant when passing kids on sidewalks, as they may not be paying attention to vehicle traffic.
- Put your lights on at dawn and dusk to be seen by those around you.
- Be careful in areas with deer – they are more active during twilight hours in dawn and dusk.
Make safety the number one goal of this school season. Bring your vehicle in today to get serviced and pay attention to the road. If you would like seasonal service, contact Colonial Service Station today to schedule a maintenance visit.