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"Self-Service" is more than sticking a nozzle in the tank filler...Aug 20 '00 Write an essay on this topic.Ever since self-service gas stations have replaced the real service station, your opportunity to find problems before they strand you has been significantly reduced - that is, if you are one who just sticks the nozzle in, pumps, pays and drives. There's a great scene in the movie "Back to the future"...when the hero returns to the 50's, one of the first things he sees is a car pulling up to gas station, and 4 guys swarm over it to fill and service it. Windows get washed, tires checked and the hood gets raised as a matter of course. You don't see that anymore. Even where there is a "Full Service" sign on a pump island, all that happens is that someone else sticks the nozzle in. Only in rare cases does the attendant actually try to check stuff for you. A while ago I wrote a review called "Treat Your Car Like an Airplane." One of the things every pilot has to do before he even starts the engine is the "Pre-flight" or "Walkaround." He does that to look for obvious problems that might affect his ability to leave the ground and return to it safely. It's pretty clear that his only opportunity to do this is while the aircraft is parked...if it fails, he cannot pull over to the side of a road. Doing a walkaround might be a little much with your car - but it certainly would not be a bad idea. But we have a good opportunity to do that check each time we get fuel. Since so few service station attendants now do it for us, we need to learn how to do it ourselves, and do it regularly. Your regular mechanic can show you what to do and look for if you are "mechanically challenged." It really is a simple process...here's a brief description of the steps: 1. Check the tires - take a good look at them...you're looking for cracks in the rubber on the sidewalls, bulges on the tread surface, signs of uneven wear. Run your hand over the tire's surface, feeling for roughhess that indicates tire balance or shock absorber problems. A mechanic can show you about this. Check the pressure - if a tire needs air, it may have a leak that needs to be repaired soon. Running on a low tire at highway speeds can lead to disaster. If the tread is worn enough, a tire will not work properly on a wet surface - when the tire looks worn, have someone measure it with "tread gauge" - get new rubber if you have to drive on wet pavement a lot. 2. Take a quick look at your windshield wiper blades - their performance may have already alerted you to a problem, but just check to make sure that the wiping edge has not begun to detach from the rest of the rubber portion. If the blade fails at one end, with separation, the metal part of the blade can scratch your windshield. Get under the hood...and make sure you remembered to shut down the engine! 3. Check the oil...if it is 2/3 of a quart or more down, add enough to fill the crankcase...especially if you drive in hot climates. Remember, that oil is both a lubricant AND coolant - it carries heat away from the engine's bearings. If the oil is dark enough so that you cannot see the metal of the dipstick, get an oil and filter change done soon. 4. If you have an automatic transmission, check it's fluid level. Have someone who knows tell you how to do it...in most cases, it's done with the engine running, transmission in neutral. Sniff it...if you get some fresh fluid and sniff it, you'll have something to compare it to. If the fluid in the transmission smells significantly different, have it changed. 5. Check the belt(s). Some engines have a serpentine belt that turns everything, some have several belts. Look at them all. Cracking, fraying and/or a sort of hard shiny appearance are signs of age and wear. Again, a mechanic can show you what to look for. 6. If your battery has reservoir covers that can be removed, check the battery acid level. If you see exposed battery plates, add water - preferably distilled water. 7. Check the hydraulic system reservoirs - some cars have hydraulic clutches as well as brakes. The reservoirs are sometimes not fully opaque, so you can see the level without removing a cap. If one looks low, you need to know what the wear status of disk brake pads is - towards the end of the life of disk brake pads, a lot of fluid is down in the calipers - the things that make the pads squeeze on a rotor to stop you. You should have a mechanic check this further if you are not completely familiar. 8. Take a general look around under the hood. Look for signs of oil leakage. Grab radiator and heater hoses and squeeze them - if they seem brittle, they need replacing. Watch it - they'll be hot! If you get gas frequently, you probably do not need to do this stuff each time...but do it at least once every fourth fuel stop, assuming you do a fair amount of driving, or if you have a car that uses more oil than it should, you might want to do the oil level check at each fuel stop. Again, if you have a trusted mechanic, ask him about this; he can show you how to do it. There's no rocket science here - just a few simple things that you can look at that might save you from being stranded at roadside. More rigorous maintenance items that relate to safety as well should be checked regularly when a vehicle is in for an oil, lube and filter job. You might want to take a look at "Pay attention to detail...and live" also here on epinions. The best way for anyone not wishing to dirty his or her hands is to find a gas station that really does do full service, and has attendants who know what to check and how to do it. Good luck finding one...you may be stuck with "Self-Service."  |
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