Routine maintenance

Billywizz · Mar 17, 2019

morning all,

Has anyone got a maintenance schedule they use to prevent issues like blocked drainage in the slide windows and roof?
Can you give advice on other common things to check regularly and what techniques you use?

Thanks in advance.

jts46 · Mar 17, 2019

Expansion tank water
oil dipstick
tyre pressures
windscreen washer
all lamps outside and inside
air con working, run regularly
fridge working
heater working

There you go to start with

Billywizz · Mar 17, 2019

Thanks for reply, sorry I must sound a complete numpty, I should of quoted not the normal checks of oils water and fluid levels.

Meoncoast · Mar 17, 2019

I tend to put on Hook up monthly and run the fridge while on hook up. I also run the heater as well. ( I note you have a beach so no fridge)

Eber123 · Mar 17, 2019

Good afternoon,

I must admit that checks depend a little bit on the weather. I wait for a weekend with have way good weather (no or little wind):

Recharge batteries - once month
Cleaning outside - when needed and the weather conditions are OK
Cleaning inside - one a week
Wiper cleaning fluids - once a week
Heater - only when it is cold
Fridge - no regular checks (I might change this)
Oil - no regular checks (I get the oil changed every year, beside this I trust that the new engine will have no problems with extensive oil use)
Tyre pressure - no regular checks (I did this on the Tiguan, but I don't know why I don't do this regularly on the van)
Roof - every 2 month (but this depends if the weather is suitable at the weekend)
Water tank cleaning - I have not done this at all (I will look into this in April ((may be Easter))
Gas system - only use it when out and about for picnic (not that often)
Awning - during the winter once a month (again this depends on the weather)

Regards,
Eberhard

WelshGas · Mar 17, 2019

Eber123 said:
Good afternoon,

I must admit that checks depend a little bit on the weather. I wait for a weekend with have way good weather (no or little wind):

Recharge batteries - once month

Cleaning outside - when needed and the weather conditions are OK

Cleaning inside - one a week

Wiper cleaning fluids - once a week

Heater - only when it is cold

Fridge - no regular checks (I might change this)

Oil - no regular checks (I get the oil changed every year, beside this I trust that the new engine will have no problems with extensive oil use)

Tyre pressure - no regular checks (I did this on the Tiguan, but I don't know why I don't do this regularly on the van)

Roof - every 2 month (but this depends if the weather is suitable at the weekend)

Water tank cleaning - I have not done this at all (I will look into this in April ((may be Easter))

Gas system - only use it when out and about for picnic (not that often)

Awning - during the winter once a month (again this depends on the weather)

Regards,
Eberhard

It is recommended, by Eberspacher, that the Heater is fired up for a hour or so monthly throughout the year, including summer months.

Grumpy Mike · Mar 23, 2019

I would also remove each wheel and put some copper slip on the joint. I did it before my last Spain trip after reading something on here.... Glad I did.... they were almost welded on. Had to resort to Tyre and exhaust centre for one. Would not like that scenario when out on the open road...

Can swap the wheels around and clean/wax whilst doing this...

MrP · Mar 26, 2019

Grumpy Mike said:
I would also remove each wheel and put some copper slip on the joint. I did it before my last Spain trip after reading something on here.... Glad I did.... they were almost welded on. Had to resort to Tyre and exhaust centre for one. Would not like that scenario when out on the open road...

Can swap the wheels around and clean/wax whilst doing this...

Agree completely, had a right disaster on a campsite in France trying to get a wheel off. Took two guys with breaker bars in a workshop to get it off.

ALSO, once a year unwind and wind back up the spare hangar bolts as they can seize too!

Elmo3 · Mar 26, 2019

Most of mine covered above, plus...
Grease the spare hanger bolts and sparesafe bolt.
Silicon spray on roof mechanism / sliders.
Silicon spray on awning legs, door hinges, sliding door rails, boot struts, bike rack locks and arms and pretty much every moving part to keep things nice and smooth!

Billywizz · Mar 26, 2019

Thanks for all your reply’s, some good points to note :thumb

mountainman · Feb 23, 2021

More on the spare wheel, if you have one. I have just given my Cali a good first post-winter wash. I always make sure I hose the underside well to get all the salt off. Others have mentioned backing out the spare hanger bolts and greasing them. Indeed, vital! But while you are at it, drop the spare wheel out and jet wash the wheel to get out all the salt and grit that has accumulated in the wheel over the winter. More vital the further north you are but getting that salt off early will prevent a lot of the spare wheel corrosion. It also has the added advantage of giving familiarity to spare removal so its not an issue when you really need it. Don't forget to check the tyre pressure while you are at it

wilburthewombat · Apr 9, 2021

Some help, please.
I installed the sparesafe bolt a few weeks ago, and have just been reading about the need to grease it.
I've bought a tube of 'Copaslip' from Molyslip. Is this the right stuff to use? How do I apply it? Should I grease the other (pre-existing) bolt too? Surely if I grease the bolts they will work themselves loose and fall out, or am I being stoopid?
Thx

mountainman · Apr 9, 2021

I'm not a mechanic/expert but, in my view and experience, any old grease will do and if tightened up about the same as a wheel nut say, then they don't come undone.

Yes, grease them both. It's all about being able to get the spare out when you need it, and not having to bust a gut trying to get rusted up bolts out when you are lying on your back in the dark and the rain on the hard shoulder.

wilburthewombat · Apr 10, 2021

Thx mountainman. I'll grease them both.

Perfectos · Apr 10, 2021

depends on how OCD you want to be :

Clean sliding door roller channels, top one bottom with a clean cloth, taking care not to remove the factory applied wax lubricant from the roller running surface, clean the white rollers with a cloth and a little silicone spray or dry PTFE spray to remove any crud.
silicone Spray to the sliding door release mech ( remove triangular cover at the rear bottom of sliding door)

apply white lithium grease:
front door hinge mechanism, rollers and springs ( spray can type is easiest to apply)
White lithium grease to sliding door latch / roller catch ( bottom rear of sliding door channel).
bonnet mechanism / catch
panel fixings
tailgate hinge ( high level)

Clean all rubber seals and apply Gummi Pflege to all rubber seals (whole vehicle) including roof seal, engine bay and tailgate, sliding window seals

remove lower (rear) fixing from each wheel arch liners remove the surprising amount of debris and wash out (enjoy the amazing amount of compost Accumulated! )

silicone spray to all visible fixings to prevent corrosion, roof, mud flaps, door shuts etc.

clean out tailgate lock mechanism and lube with silicone spray (slide back
the plastic wings to see how much of the beach you’ve brought home)

check-all bump stops are present and correct and that they are doing the intended job: two on tailgate either side halfway down, several under bonnet. lightly press the panel to determine is the panel moves / clonks, if it does adjust and recheck. (Tailgate stop adjusting is in the down load resource section of the forum, I do wonder if some people rear rattles are associated tailgate bump stops)

removable tow bar, if fitted,: remove clean and re-grease spigot, silicone spray the lock mech.

all the usual, check and clean roof drains, front and rear, clean out roof channels, apply wax polish to the roof channels and shuts (where the seal meets the roof) silicone to roof mech etc.

clean the fixed windows reveals, soft cloth pushed into the recess ( window perimeter) run the puckered up cloth carefully around the perimeter of the glass (it’ll be black with crud, cleaning prevents black strips on recently cleaned bodywork after it’s rained)

check sliding window drains are operating correctly : Air / water or silicone spray into each drain

clean the front window rubbers removing and green / grit

wind out awning mechs, clean and silicone, including extending legs.

As you can tell, i am really OCD, I periodically clean the wheel arch liners, underbody panels, spare wheel and apply silicone tyre oil to the liners / underbody, mud flaps etc and ensure there is no build up of crud where the liners meet the body work particularly the wheel arch edge. (And clean out behind the liners - see above)

clean the fuel filler flap inside, silicone the hinges / mech / spring etc.

clean the underside of the siding bench, rollers, mech + swivel front seats etc.

that lot should keep you busy for the weekend :thumb

Edit: remove the roof seal periodically (in section) clean the roof / rubber dry refit, checking for corrosion as you go

check the roof rubber seal for signs of rust - mine had failed within 1 year from new !