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- Only drive and park where it is permitted and always stay on provided roads and paths. See owner’s manual for important information regarding off pavement use.
Volkswagen offers vehicle maintenance reminders ahead of summer travel
May 24, 2022
With Memorial Day around the corner, summer travel season is officially upon us. Before you head into the holiday weekend, Volkswagen’s technical expert, Dan Planz — a Volkswagen Technical Training Manager — has a few tips on how to best prep your vehicle for the summer travel season.
With four decades of experience under the hood of Volkswagen vehicles, Dan is a trusted source when it comes to vehicle care and maintenance:
Regular maintenance is the best way to stay road trip ready—and preserve your car’s value
“Proper maintenance can ensure the correct operation of the vehicle and could help spare you from more costly repairs,” said Dan. “As an added benefit, regularly maintained cars can hold value much better than their neglected counterparts.”
Regularly scheduled maintenance is important to help keep the car operating in optimal condition. Replacing engine oil at the manufacturer’s listed intervals will help keep your car’s engine running smoothly. Regularly rotating your tires can lengthen the tread life and could save you money from replacing them in the long term. The inspection processes incorporated in scheduled maintenance could also identify small issues before they turn into major problems.
From air filters to the cooling system, everything in the car is subject to cause and effect, and not addressing the cause at the scheduled time may lead to an undesired effect. For example, neglecting to change brake fluid can wear out the hydraulic components quicker and even ruin the brake lines—which can be hazardous and expensive to replace.
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- Only drive and park where it is permitted and always stay on provided roads and paths. See owner’s manual for important information regarding off pavement use.
Schedule maintenance appointments early
“Volkswagen has taken painstaking measures to ensure that maintenance services continue as normally as they can at dealerships during these very challenging times,” said Dan. “That said, drivers should schedule their next maintenance appointment as far in advance as possible to help avoid any possible delays.”
High-quality home EV chargers are suggested
For EV owners, Dan recommends investing in a quality EV charger for your home. “You can get a relatively inexpensive EV charger that’ll work just fine,” said Dan, “however, in the long run, a low-quality EV charger may reduce the life expectancy of your vehicle’s high voltage battery.”
Useful tips for drivers
“One of the most important things to check often is tire pressure,” said Dan. “Without properly set tire pressures, a car’s fuel efficiency may decrease, the tires will likely wear faster, and overall vehicle safety and performance may be compromised. So, I highly recommend keeping a tire pressure gauge in the vehicle.”
With surging gas prices, Dan advises drivers to be mindful of more than just tire pressures. “Opening windows at highway speeds can greatly increase wind drag, essentially pushing the vehicle backwards, forcing the engine to work harder and less efficiently to maintain speed,” said Dan. “Also, if you’re going on a long road trip, try to avoid sudden throttle movements and spirited driving techniques.” It’s good practice to accelerate and decelerate smoothly and to use cruise control whenever possible. These tips could help save you time and money at the pump.
So, in preparation for this upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, don’t forget to give your EV or ICE a little TLC.
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- Only drive and park where it is permitted and always stay on provided roads and paths. See owner’s manual for important information regarding off pavement use.
