Daily Preventive Maintenance Travel Checks
We just returned from a five week long RV trip, traversing the country from east to west and back again. Something I noticed that surprised me is the majority of RVers I saw at the campground did not take a minute or two to check the fluid levels in their RV or tow vehicle after arriving at the campground, or before leaving on the next days journey. I’m sure some people did check their vehicle over and I just didn’t see it, but what I am saying is that out of all the campgrounds we stayed I saw very few people with the hood up checking fluid levels.
Now I’ll be the first one to admit when I am on a shorter trip, say 1,000 miles or less, I don’t usually check the fluid levels or tire pressure every day before traveling. But, when we are driving at elevations of 7,000 feet plus I think it’s important to check a few things before leaving each day. Driving through mountainous terrain in hot temperatures can be hard on the engine, transmission and tires.
At a minimum I like to make the following Preventive Maintenance checks before each travel day.
1) Check the tow vehicle or motorhome fluid levels. This includes engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering, coolant level and windshield washer fluid level. Adjust all fluid levels according to owner manual instructions.
2) Check the gGenerator oil and generator exhaust system. When it’s hot outside we usually run the generator when we are traveling so we can use the roof air conditioner and other electrical devices. Caution: Do not use the generator if there is any damage to the exhaust system.
3) Tire pressure. I use a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) so I can monitor the tire pressure and tire temperature while traveling. If you don’t use a TPMS you should check the tire pressure periodically.
4) Hitch work, lights and brakes on the towed trailer or towed vehicle.
5) Check for any leaks. Look under the vehicle for any evidence of leaks. Have any leaks checked out and repaired before leaving.
Keep in mind that this list does not replace any pre-trip checks that you might make before traveling each day. It is simply a short list of some daily preventive maintenance items you can make to help prevent potential problems from occurring.
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Happy Camping,
Mark Polk
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It would seem to me that checking the oil hot is a waste of time!
Thank you I seem to be the only spouse standing behind the RV and tow car to make sure the signals are working and I am in charge of the generator oil check. Hubby is tires, jacks, antenna and dish. Peace of mind is priceless.
Mark, we are leaving Cal. next week for a trip across the U.S. Any campgrounds you loved on your trip that you would recommend?? My e-mail is judya582@aol.com.
Thanks.
To Jerry King:
The manual for the 6.0 L diesel in my van directs that to properly check the oil level, the engine should be warmed to operating temperature then should be shut down and the oil allowed to drain into the pan for at least thirty minutes before checking the oil level. I know from observation that when cold, the oil level appears to be very low. I was surprised to discover this (my first diesel) because in all the gas engines I’ve owned in the same general displacement range, I have never found that oil temperature made that much difference in indicated oil level, in fact, for decades, when oil levels were routinely checked at service stations, the engine was almost always hot.
But . . . YMMV!
Tom
Agree with you in part, popping the engine cover on a large hunk of overheated cast iron is a formula for burns. Checking the generator makes sense unless you have been using the cabin air on the road. Do my service checks while my morning coffee gets to drinking temp and alway have some paper towels with me and a favorite pair of slip joint pliers. Old man arthor is no respector of cold joints in the morning. Tires should be checked cold anyway. Went to synthetic oil in all crankcases so topping off is easy. Used to help out driving for my fathers heating oil delivery business when home, much of his fleet went past the million mile point still functional because the fluids were checked, including brakes, each morning and topped up or seviced as needed. Like wearing a seat belt these few moments make life much simpler.
The problem I have found when trying to check oil levels after the engine has been run to the proper temp, then cooled down prior to the oil check is that the oil coats the dipsticks to the extent that the level is impossible to read. I therefore wait until the engine is cold and the oil has had a chance to drain completely off the end of the dipstick. If there is a trick to reading the tip of the stick for, say, an hour after the engine has been shut down, I would like to hear about it.
I like these little caps. All metal and available from 30 to 80 psi. I have absolutely no connection to this seller but have bought from him with total saisfaction. These make a dirty time-consuming job a simple walk-around,even in the dark with just a flashlight. See yellow,THEN get the gauge and air hose.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300348598191&var=600000096698&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
The above link may not work for you if you aren’t signed in as a member.
Here’s an un-associated link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Tire-Pressure-Monitor-Valve-Stem-Caps-LQQK-/300348598191?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=
>Now I’ll be the first one to admit when I am on a shorter trip, say 1,000 miles or less, I don’t usually check the fluid levels or tire pressure every day before traveling. But, when we are driving at elevations of 7,000 feet plus I think it’s important to check a few things before leaving each day.
As a former professional long haul driver, I totally diagree with the 1,000 mile scenerio. Before you even put the key in the ignition, you should always check fluid levels daily. Let’s just imagine if you just happened to hit a rock or a curb stand and put a small crack in the bottom of the oil pan. Now in fact, there is no oil and you start the engine. As a professional driver, failing to do a complete checklist after being stopped for more than 8 hours could cost you your job. In the case of a $360,000 motorhome, maybe you just kissed the engine goodbye.
Also, let’s not forget the circle check after every stop.
We came upon this terrible RV crash on our recent Seattle to Tampa cruise apparently caused by tire failure.
http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/two_hospitalized_following_rv_crash_in_mexico_beach/mbb7724798/
might i suggest you check your tire pressure and fluid levels before EVERY trip begins. your RV does not know the difference between long and short trips or high elevation trips. for what its worth.
mike cianci
99 HR navigator
Check the oil when cold, befor you start the engine. Overnight the oil drains to the oilpan, you a better read on the dip stick, check the coolant level without having ‘Old Faithful’ coming out of the radiator. Also other fluids that have settled during the hours the vehicle was shut down. If you know that your vehicle uses oil a
certain number of miles or so many days, it a good thing to keep an eye on the oil level.
I check the oil and such every am I get to work, air lines and lights, adjust brakes when needed, thump the tires. Its what I do with my T/T too.
on checking the radiator coolant, ever week or so, pull the radiator cap and make sure that is full to the top. if u develop a leak or somenting happens to the tube in the overflow coolant jug, the level in the jug will show u have a level and u may be low in the radiator (it will push out when hot but not pull it back in). naturally, i would not recomend pulling the radiator cap hot.