All City and County of Denver motor vehicle equipment is maintained in the fleet maintenance program. Agencies that use fleet vehicle must ensure that the vehicles used are on a regular maintenance schedule and notify Fleet Maintenance should a safety concern arise.
For those who use a personal vehicle for city business the following guidelines are appropriate for your own vehicle
- Tire Pressure: Over-inflated tires ride rough and suffer premature wear at the center of their tread. Under-inflated tires decrease fuel economy, cause imprecise handling, suffer premature wear at tread edges and can overheat and fail at highway speeds. Check tire pressures monthly (including the spare) when tires are cold.
- Engine Air Filters: Your vehicle’s air filter prevents dust and dirt from entering the engine and restricting airflow, reducing engine performance and increasing exhaust emission levels. Check every six months or 7,500 miles. Dirty air filters affect fuel economy and other vehicle systems, such as the emissions control system and spark plugs. \
- Spare Cables/Clamps/Terminals: Battery power flows to the vehicle’s electrical system through cables, clamps and terminals. If corroded or loose, your car won’t have the power needed to start the engine and operate other systems. Inspect at oil changes. \
- Windshield Washer Fluid: Rain, insects, grime and other debris on your windshield hamper your vision if wipers cannot remove them. Check your fluid reservoir monthly.
- Engine Oil: Without an adequate supply of clean oil, your engine wears more rapidly and could seize and be destroyed. Lighter grade oils allow more rapid cranking and starting and reach crucial engine lubrication areas quicker, reducing wear. Change oil and filter at specified intervals. Oil is your engine’s lifeblood.
- Windshield Wiper Blades: Windshield wipers are easy to overlook. If wiper blades are worn, cracked or rigid with age, your vision may be impaired. Check wiper blades at oil changes. Worn windshield wipers can damage your windshield.
- Antifreeze/Coolant Protection: Engine coolant transfers heat from engine to radiator. Modern coolants prevent freezing or boiling, protect against rust and corrosion and lubricate water pump seals and other cooling components. Check the coolant level at oil change to avoid overheating in Summer or freezing in Winter.
- Tire Tread: The area where tires meet the road is the entire grip for your auto. In wet or snowy road conditions, good tread depth is crucial. Insert a penny upside down into a tire groove. If you can see above Lincoln’s head, replace the tire.
- Drive Belt Tensioner: One or more rubber drive belts transfer the rotation of the engine’s crankshaft to various accessories. Loose belts allow slippage and reduce efficiency. Too tight belts can damage bearings and cause premature component failure. Check at oil changes. Many cars today have automatic belt tensioners.
- Brake Fluid: The fluid in your car’s brake hydraulic system transfers brake pedal foot pressure into wheel-stopping power. Clean brake fluid is essential for safe vehicle operation. Old, moisture-contaminated brake fluid or a low fluid level that allows air to enter the system can lead to braking power loss. Inspect brake fluid level at oil changes. A leak in the brake line can cause a vehicle fire if the fluid drips onto a heated surface.
For Defensive Driving Training – contact Ginger Abeyta (720) 913-3344 for available times.
Sharon Bankes
Safety and Industrial Hygiene Administrator
Risk Management / Safety Unit
Resource: American Automobile Association (AAA)
Have a work related safety concern, comment, idea? Contact your department/agency safety representative or e-mail
Buzzonsafety@denvergov.org
