Just got my 1st Chevy Equinox

[Discovery]

Hello everybody, new member here of course, and new to the Chevy Equinox as well!

I just got a 2012 Equinox LS with around 90,000 miles on it, clean title, no accidents or anything, and seems pretty decent so far. I'm planning on a little road trip though very soon (nothing real major, just a couple hundred miles at the most), and just wanted to know what some recommendations would be for some pre-trip maintenance, like fluid checks/changes, etc.

Thank you so much!

 

[bagbyjw]

I would definitely check the oil and change if necessary. Another suggestion would be to carry extra oil and coolant just in case. I just purchased my first Equinox a 2022 LS with 24K at the end of January and I do keep extra oil and coolant as a just in case situation

 

[sdhow]

If your transmission fluid has no record of being changed, do so. This is pretty straightforward and there are several YouTube videos out there on how to do it. Use Dextron VI; Valvoline Max synthetic is available at Walmart for under $35.

 

[Travis Bickle]

New owner here too.

Yes definitely check all fluids. And yes take a quart of oil with your due to the oil consumption issues these things can have. I keep a quart in the car at all times, along with the usual toolkit & jumper box & cables.

ETA: this is also a great time to start your maintenance log!

Just get a notebook, and start writing mileage and date for everything you do to the car. Staple receipts for parts on the page. Make any relevant notes about it's performance.

Been doing that with all our cars for years. I find it extremely useful.

 

[bagbyjw]

I keep a log book for maintenance in the glove box. Use this one from Amazon

Maintenance Log book

 

[sdhow]

New owner here too.

Yes definitely check all fluids. And yes take a quart of oil with your due to the oil consumption issues these things can have. I keep a quart in the car at all times, along with the usual toolkit & jumper box & cables.

ETA: this is also a great time to start your maintenance log!

Just get a notebook, and start writing mileage and date for everything you do to the car. Staple receipts for parts on the page. Make any relevant notes about it's performance.

Been doing that with all our cars for years. I find it extremely useful.

Note: Don't just check fluids...CHANGE them! DexCool is NOT a permanent antifreeze. There's NO SUCH THING as a "lifetime" fluid. Unless you only want your car to go 100k miles.

 

[Travis Bickle]

So very true!

 

[Autoworker 74]

Hello everybody, new member here of course, and new to the Chevy Equinox as well!

I just got a 2012 Equinox LS with around 90,000 miles on it, clean title, no accidents or anything, and seems pretty decent so far. I'm planning on a little road trip though very soon (nothing real major, just a couple hundred miles at the most), and just wanted to know what some recommendations would be for some pre-trip maintenance, like fluid checks/changes, etc.

Thank you so much!

Have you looked in the radiator yet to see if you can spot a lot of rust. Hopefully the serpentine belt was changed but you should check it for severe cracks

So very true!