Greetings, Readers!
Being in my early-to-mid-thirties, I am probably among the last of the "Gen-X'ers" to actually remember full-service gas stations. Do you remember those? Just to make sure we are on the same page, let me briefly explain.
Unlike the majority of fuel centers of today, gas stations used to be staffed with attendants who would not only pump your gas for you, but would also conduct 'courtesy services'. These extra services included more than just cleaning your windshield; the attendant would also check your fluid levels, check/adjust your tire pressure, and visually inspect certain under-the-hood items (usually anything made of rubber). Mind you, this was back when the local fuel station had only one or two four-pump islands, as well as a small (two or three bays) general-service garage. The last ones I knew of were mostly Marathons, but I do know of at least one Shell in my area... I think the Shell might still be open for fuel and repairs, just not the 'full service refueling' aspect.
Now, Readers, I don't expect you to be a mechanic when you refuel. You might get a few suspicious glances if you try to do actual repair work at the pumps! Rather, my intention is to have you think like a mechanic at these times, because they are your opportunities to catch problems while they are still small. In the interest of brevity, I will simply list the tasks below. We can always discuss the impact of a given item in a future edition.
1. Grab the gas station's window squeegy, dunk it well in the cleaner, grab a few paper towels and clean:
a. front and rear windshields, door windows
b. outside mirror glass
c. lenses for ALL lights (headlights, tail/stoplights, turn signals, sidemarkers, etc)
d. license plates
NOTE: Use the towels to wipe off the squeegy's rubber blade for each pass. You may need to re-dunk the squeegy's sponge head once or twice. Be sure to clean the items in the order specified.
2. Keep those paper towels handy! Open the hood to check the following fluids. Top off as necessary.
Check these with the ENGINE OFF:
a. engine oil - weight rating and type per oil change sticker or owner's manual
b. antifreeze/coolant - 50/50 mix of correct type for your vehicle
c. power steering fluid - check your manual (or cap/dipstick) for type... some use ATF!
d. brake fluid - usually DOT 3 or DOT 4, but refer to your owner's manual to confirm
e. washer solvent - the only true 'universal fluid' for all vehicles
Check with the ENGINE ON:
f. automatic transmission fluid (IF you have a dipstick to check. Some A/T cars are coming 'sealed'.)
3. "Look over" your engine compartment (the under-the-hood area) with your eyes, ears and nose - but watch what you touch! Make note of anything that appears:
a. To be wet (from leaking/spraying fluids)
b. To be dried-out/cracked
c. To be discolored (as in burnt/charred)
d. To smell funny
e. To make odd/unusual sounds (grinding, squealing, etc,)
f. To look odd in any way
4. Close the hood, finish your fuel purchase, then do the following 'safety checks'.
a. Turn on your wiper blades and push the washer solvent button. Can you see well? If the wiper blades' rubber is torn, it's time to replace them. (Key must be at least be to 'radio on' position to do this.)
b. Turn on your headlights - first the regular ones, then the bright ones - to make sure none are burnt out. Walk around to the back to check your taillights also; they turn on with the headlight switch.
c. Turn on your hazard lights (aka "flashers"); make sure all four lights (two each on the front and the back) are working. This is a cheating way to check your turn signal bulbs, because they are the same.
d. Press your brake pedal to check the brakelights (aka stoplights). If you can't tell that they are working, ask someone nearby (a passenger in your vehicle, or even someone else pumping gas) to look for you.
5. Use the tire guage from your vehicle to measure the air pressure in all of your tires... including the spare! Compare to the standard mentioned in your owner's manual. NOTE: If you think you'll need air anyway, you can use the air guage on the air chuck to measure as well. I just prefer to know how many of my tires actually need air (and how much they need), before turning on the machine.
Well, there you have it. That is a good, basic checklist of what to do next time you are waiting for your fuel tank to fill up. Obviously, you won't check the transmission fluid until you are done refueling (when you are safe to start the auto). If you have any questions about what we covered today, please leave me a comment below.
PPM
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