Returning To The Road

Stay-at-home orders have had a big impact on a lot of different things for each us, but one thing is for sure, our vehicles haven’t been used as much, if at all, during this time. Our experts at Melloy Dodge have come up with a few key items for you to do at home to make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape to get you safely to your destinations.

If you've parked your car outside, with one side facing the sun for long periods of time during the day, tire sidewall damage may occur. Check your vehicle's tires for signs of cracking or heavy oxidation as well as changes in tire pressure. If your unsure about the importance of your tire’s PSI, check out our other blog the importance of tire pressure.

Vehicles were meant to be driven. Driving distributes oil, grease, and other fluids that your vehicle needs to 'stay healthy'. So, even if you're not driving your vehicle, wear and tear can still occur. Dodge and RAM have colored all user-serviceable fluids yellow, making it easy to check fluids yourself!

Another important item to check is your windshield wipers and the fluid. Our state experiences both rain and wind, often at the same time, and as monsoon season approaches, you want to make sure your line of sight is never in jeopardy. You should turn them on in conjunction with your windshield wiper fluid. You can also check your fluid level by taking a look under your hood- your windshield wiper fluid is often held in a see-through white container with blue fluid. If your unable to locate this item, one of our skilled technicians at Melloy Dodge’s express lane will be able to assist you.

If your vehicle has sat for several months, it’s also recommended that you check your oil. Sometimes when a vehicle hasn’t been used in several months, a leak that may not have been noticed before will have had a chance to drain any liquid, so be sure to check under your car for spots that weren’t there before it was parked. Checking your oil should be done while the vehicle is off and has not been run within several hours. Under the hood you’ll see a yellow handle located on a side of the engine, pull it out, clean the dipstick with a clean paper towel, reinsert it all the way down and you should be able to see where the oil line is in conjunction with the “Max” line located on the end of your metal dipstick. If your oil is far below your “max” line, you should top off your oil with the oil type which is printed on the top of the oil refill cap, also located in yellow, on the engine. Be sure to bring your vehicle by our express lane so one of our technicians can help you with any questions you have about your loss of oil or your oil change.