5 Summer Activities to Add to Your VW Maintenance Schedule

Why You Should Take Care of Your VW Scheduled Maintenance Sooner Rather Than Later

Picture this: it’s one of those typical humid summer days in Houston where it feels like you’re living in a steam room.. We’re talking 99 degrees without a shred of cloud cover. It’s so hot you break a sweat during the short walk from your front door to your car.

Fortunately, you won’t have to endure the heat long. Your overnight bag is packed for a short trip out of town. Maybe you’re going to hill country for a change of scenery. Or perhaps to Corpus Christi for a little boating in the bay.

Halfway through the trip, you’re cruising along a part of the interstate where gas stations are few and far between. Traffic is sparse, and the sun is hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement – and that’s when you notice smoke coming from underneath your hood. Smoke and stench.

The temperature gauge is redlining, and you can hear the engine giving out. It struggles and smokes, emitting its last gasps as you pull over to the side of the road. Black plumes emit from the engine, clouding the sky.

And that’s when you think, “When’s the last time I’ve gotten this vehicle serviced?”

Summer Service Checklist – Common Items on the VW Maintenance Schedule

Okay, maybe our little tale about getting stuck out in the middle of nowhere with an overheated engine was outlandish. However, outlandish doesn’t mean impossible. Cars break down from time to time. And cars that haven’t been properly maintained that are driven in hot temperatures break down more frequently.

Keeping up with basic maintenance on your vehicle – Volkswagen or otherwise – can save you a ton of trouble down the road. In fact, Volkswagen is such a proponent on this issue that they provide drivers with the VW scheduled maintenance for their vehicle through the myVW app and the dashboard’s notification center.

Further, scheduled VW care maintenance is included with all new vehicle purchases for two years under the Carefree Coverage warranty. This covers drivers on basic services like oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and inspections. Because these services are covered under warranty, your VW maintenance cost will be exactly zero dollars.

The following items are the ones you should keep top of mind as we head into another hot summer in Houston.

1. Tire condition: Bad tires can lead to big problems, and typical summer weather doesn’t help matters. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, extreme heat makes tires wear out faster.

   As you go through your summer service checklist, make sure that you inspect your tires to confirm that you have enough tread to get you through the next three months. You can use the old penny method to do this yourself. Insert a penny into the tread of your tire; if all or most of Lincoln’s head is obscured, you should have enough tread left. If you’re low on tread, make getting new tires a top priority.

2. Engine health: Although not the only culprit, hot weather is a major contributor to overheating engines. Problems with the cooling system, such as leaks or driving on low coolant levels, may also play a factor.

   Take advantage of your VW scheduled maintenance plan by having the technicians service and prep your engine for hot weather driving. They can make sure that your coolant and transmission fluids are at the right level.

3. AC unit health: An AC unit that blows hot air does not make for comfortable drives. Because summer is the time of year your AC unit will work the hardest, it’s best to be proactive and get it serviced before the Houston heat ramps up. The VW care maintenance plan includes topping off your vehicle’s freon levels.
4. Oil health: Motor oil is what keeps vital parts of your engine properly lubricated so that your vehicle can perform at peak levels. Old or dirty oil is harmful to the engine and degrades performance. If you’re the owner of a late model Volkswagen vehicle, oil and filter changes will appear on your VW maintenance schedule as a service covered under the Carefree Coverage warranty.
5. Miscellaneous items: Other items to be mindful of when scheduling VW care maintenance include the battery, brake pads and rotors, wiper blades, vehicle suspension, and belts and hoses. Volkswagen technicians perform a comprehensive check during VW scheduled maintenance, which proactively catches most issues in the early stages before something malfunctions.

Arranging VW Scheduled Maintenance in Houston

If you’re the owner of a new or used Volkswagen, it’s important to be mindful of VW scheduled maintenance to ensure that your vehicle remains in good working order. Procrastinating can turn a minor problem into an issue requiring major repairs, so we highly recommend getting an appointment on the books with our technicians to prep your car for the summer.

The mechanics at VW Clear Lake are specifically trained on all models of Volkswagen vehicles, meaning they are the most qualified to service yours. Make your appointment with the VW service department today to arrange VW care maintenance services.

Volkswagen Clear Lake is located at 15100 Gulf Fwy in Houston. Contact us by phone at (832) 432-7969 or email us using the contact form on our website.

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