Preparing for a Road Trip? Check These Volkswagen Maintenance Tips
If you’re planning a road trip in your Volkswagen, ensuring your vehicle is in top condition can mean the difference between a memorable trip and an unfortunate breakdown far from home.
Whether you’re driving a sporty Golf GTI or a family-friendly Atlas, following these essential VW maintenance tips will help keep your VW running smoothly the entire trip. Read on to learn the road trip car preparation tips our certified Volkswagen mechanics and technicians recommend before hitting the road!
Check Fluids and Filters
One of the best ways to keep your Volkswagen in good shape is with proper maintenance, like checking and changing the fluids regularly. Doing this can help extend the life of your engine, brakes, transmission, and cooling system. Here’s everything you should look for when you’re doing a Volkswagen fluid check:
- Motor Oil: Your motor lubricates and cools your engine. It naturally breaks down and gets contaminated over time, and when that happens, it can no longer lubricate properly. This is why regular oil changes are so important. Before embarking on your road trip, be sure to have an oil and filter change.
- Brake Fluid: Like motor oil, dirty or contaminated brake fluid may impact the way your brakes perform. This can lead to difficulty braking or—in extreme cases—brake failure. Checking your brake fluid and replacing it, if necessary, is a good idea before heading out on a long drive.
- Transmission Fluid: Changing your transmission fluid every 60,000-100,000 miles can lengthen the life of your transmission. This is a vital part of your vehicle and an expensive one to replace, so we recommend doing everything you can to protect it.
- Power Steering Fluid: Some VWs have power steering fluid and others have electric steering systems. If your car uses power steering fluid, we recommend replacing it every two years or every 40,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Coolant: Your engine generates a lot of heat, and the cooling system—and coolant— helps eliminate it. If there’s an issue with your cooling system, your car can overheat, which is serious and often dangerous. Always check your coolant levels and refill it before a road trip.
- Washer Fluid: Your windshield washer fluid doesn’t need to be changed, but you will want to make sure that you have plenty in the tank. Just check the level and refill as necessary.
Test the Battery and Electrical System
Your Volkswagen has a complex electrical system, and doing an electrical system check before your road trip can save you a lot of headaches down the road. Let’s take a look at the three major components of your car’s electrical system and how to keep them in great shape.
The electrical parts that keep your car running are:
- Battery. Most of us are familiar with a car battery and understand that it provides your car’s entire electrical current. It powers your ignition and fuel systems, along with your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and more. If your battery dies, your car will not start.
- Starter. The starter motor actually starts the engine of your car. It draws power from the car’s battery and sends a current to the starter relay and solenoid to engage the engine.
- Alternator. The alternator uses the electrical current from the battery to power your vehicle’s electrical components and keep your car battery charged.
If any of these parts fail, you’ll most likely need a tow. You don’t want this to throw a wrench in your road trip plans, so here are our tips for Volkswagen battery maintenance and overall electrical prep:
Maintaining your car’s electrical system:
- Keep up with regular cleaning and inspection of your car battery and electrical components.
- Make sure all wires and electrical parts are tightly mounted to ensure a continuous flow of electricity.
- Have your trusted mechanic run regular diagnostic checks and inspections of your car’s electrical components, especially the battery. Replace the battery if life is low.
Inspect Brakes and Suspension
Your brakes are a key component in safe driving, so doing a Volkswagen brake check before your road trip is a great way to ensure a safer drive.
If your brakes are squealing, squeaking, or grinding, your brake pads likely need to be replaced. At the least, we recommend a brake pad inspection if you hear noises when you brake. Additionally, if your brake pedal feels spongy, your brake fluid may be low. Check the levels and top it off as needed.
Start Your Road Trip the Right Way
We hope these Volkswagen maintenance tips help you feel more confident and prepared for your road trip!
More items to add to your road trip checklist:
- An emergency kit with essentials like a first aid kit, jumper cables, and other basic tools. If you’re road tripping in a snowy climate, don’t forget to add extra blankets.
- Make sure your spare tire is in good shape and all tools you need to change your tire are in your vehicle.
- Your insurance card and policy documents.
If you prefer to have your car looked over by professionals, schedule your service online! You can trust the team in our Volkswagen service department to get you road-trip-ready in no time!
Service & Routine Maintenance:
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