General Vehicle Maintenance

Our Vehicles are a critical part of what keeps our parks going and we are all very happy when they are working properly and we are very unhappy when they are not.  Of course everyone should know that the vehicles need an oil change every 5,000 miles by our policy and many of our parks send them to a local garage to get that work done if they don’t have time themselves to do the service and maintenance checks recommended by our vehicle service vendor “Element”.  Also keep in mind that most of our newer vehicles also have reminders that tell you when you need an oil change (Service Due).  Don’t always rely on those reminders as they work based on the fact that someone actually reset them.  Make it easy on yourself and learn how to reset the mileage between changes.

We are all very busy as park staff, and we often forget how important it is to give our vehicles a few minutes of care and loving at least once a week if not more (like some of our older vehicles).  So noted below are a couple of service items to check on your trucks or SUVs.

FLUIDS  

On a regular basis, we should be checking the fluids on our vehicles.  

1) Pop the hood, and at a minimum check the oil level.  The dip stick typically has a loop handle and is often yellow.  If the vehicle was running, make sure to wipe the stick with a rag and then recheck it.  If the oil level is below the “add” line, plan on adding a quart of the appropriate oil.  Most parks have a cache of various oils, so check with the owner’s manual on what is the correct oil for your vehicle. 

Oil Dip Stick (Yellow)

 2)  Checking the engine coolant is also a good call.  Normally you can check that by looking in the plastic overflow tank (It’s usually white in color and designed so you can see from the outside if there is fluid in it)  If the tank is empty,  add some of the appropriate antifreeze to the tank and remember to check on it on a regular basis. 

Coolant Overflow with Pink Antifreeze

3)  Take the time to give a quick check for the brake fluid.  The tank for this is normally on the right side as you look in from the front, typically near the fire wall and also a translucent white tank.  There are normally lines that say something like Minimum and Maximum or Add and Full.  The goal is to keep the level between those two lines.  Make sure you use the appropriate fluid for your vehicle.

Brake Fluid (Lines on the side show the level)

4)  Checking your windshield washer fluid is kind of important if you want to see after a day of hitting bugs, gathering dust and grime from a day at work.  The tank is often not something you can see but the cap is normally somewhere near the front of your vehicle.  Most parks carry the generic window washer solution which is rated to somewhere around freezing.  That works great in the summer, but it will freeze in the winter which becomes problematic if you get road salt film on your window.  Make sure to switch over to the winter blend BEFORE it gets too cold.

Window Wash Reservoir

Note:  Most of our newer vehicles with an Automatic Transmission do not have a dip stick for fluid, but check your owner’s manual to make sure.  Also, some vehicles have a reservoir for Power Steering fluid, and if yours does, make sure to check it.  

Power steering Tank

TIRES

It only takes a few seconds to do a quick walk around to make sure all of your tires are inflated, but occasionally, you should check the pressure using a gauge to make sure they are at the correct pressure.  For most of our pickups and SUVs, the pressure is normally somewhere around 32 to 35 PSI but to be sure yours are correct, check the sticker inside the Driver’s side door frame.  It has the recommended pressure for both front and rear tires.

While making your check also look to see how the tire is wearing.  If one side is wearing down faster than the other the vehicle probably needs a trip to the alignment shop.  It doesn’t take long to ruin a set of tires if the alignment if out.

LIGHTS

With the help of a friend, check your lights to make sure everything is working.  Check your turn signals, brake lights and headlights to make sure they are actually working.  Don’t wait for an accident to find out a brake or turn light isn’t working correctly.  

LOOSE LOADS

We tend to not always think about what might be laying around in the bed of a truck, but give a quick look every day to see what inadvertent present someone might have left you.  Loose cans of fuel, heavy materials and equipment can go flying when you have to come to a quick stop.  More than one back window has been shattered by sliding equipment that wasn’t secured.  Also, don’t forget to clear out trash buckets and other trash bins.  There is nothing worse than having the public complain about the trash flying out of the bed of a Maryland Park Service truck on the highway  (and yes we do get complaints about that….)

WASH AND WAX

Now this may seem like crazy talk, but we really need to wash the vehicles on a regular basis.  It helps get the road grime and salt off the vehicles, lets us see where there might be some issues building, helps keep maggots from growing in the bed, and also makes us look like a much more professional organization.  After all, most of us like and need a good bath or shower, why not do the same for your truck?  So give your truck a bath every couple weeks and give it a good waxing at least once a year!

So next time you get ready to start your shift, give your vehicle a quick check and make sure to give it a little attention and care.  If you are nice to it, It will hopefully keep running for you!  And also note any damage and see that a report is properly completed.  Look for an upcoming Blog on the Accident Reporting process and required paperwork.