Although you have had years of practice in driving on the road, long trips can be daunting. Whether it’s for the reason that you’re strange with your surroundings or because you’re putting confidence into your car, hopeful that it can survive with hundreds of miles, there are a few things that you can check before having a long journey to bring you confidence.
Engine oil
Oil is the fluid that lubricates your engine and put off friction occurring. The oil level on your car should be inspected at least once a month and before every time you make a long journey. If your car runs out of oil when on the road, you may smash up the engine itself – a restore can be costly. You may also find that the car constantly stalls as the friction approaching from the engine is overheating your car. You can inspect your car’s oil level by taking out the dipstick and cleaning it with a lint-free material, such as a piece of kitchen roll. Then, re-insert the dipstick, take it out again and see where the oil reaches to. If the result doesn’t fall among the two marks on the dipstick, more oil will need to be added before you set off.
Tyres
You should also check that your tyres meet the legal requirements prior to making a long journey and make sure that you have an extra to swap any tyres that may be damaged while on the trip.
Alongside this, you should also check your tyre pressure, which you can do yourself using a pressure gauge. The suggested pressure does be at variance from manufacturer to manufacturer. Keeping your pressure as close to the recommended level is vital as it boosts to longevity of your tyres, and ensures that they’re operating safely.
External lights
The lights are frequently one of the most forgotten elements of a car but they’re questionably the mainly dangerous if not operating correctly. Before you make a long journey, you should double-check that all of your external lights are working properly. Ask somebody to walk around the car while you turn the lights on and off. Indicators, brake lights and sidelights should all be tested.If you spot a missing light or one that flashes intermittently, replace the bulb before your trip.
Windscreen washer
Another significant thing to check before making a long road trip is how much windscreen washer is in the storage compartment of your car. Despite sounding like a small thing to check, not having enough detergent can be the reason of serious accidents as you may be left powerless to see through your windscreen. The level of your windscreen washer can be checked by lifting the bonnet of your car and locating the reservoir.
Brake system
Check your brake reservoir for the color of the fluid, and make sure that it is topped up to the “full” mark. If you haven’t had a flush in two or three years, get one before you leave. Water-laden brake fluid also lowers the fluid’s boiling point. A lowered boiling point can lead to a squishy brake pedal, which may give more excitement than you want while descending out of the Rockies with a 24-foot camper in tow. If your car is newer, it may be running DOT5 fluid, which is silicon-based and not subject to water absorption. Still, you will want to flush this fluid per the recommendations in your owner’s manual.
