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Travel Tips: Making Sure Your Car Is in Peak Condition

  


With a family in tow, making sure your car is in peak condition ahead of a road trip is a must to ensure the car is roadworthy, and safe and will get you to your desired destination in good time.


For some info on how to get the best out of your vehicle before your travels, here are a few essential car checks to make.

Tire Safety

There are three things to check when assessing your tires, these are tire pressure, tread depth, and condition. 


Avoiding those could lead to reduced fuel efficiency, poor handling of the car, and potential tire blowouts. 


If you’re confident in performing these checks yourself, it's relatively straightforward to do. You will need a tread depth measuring tool, a tire pressure gauge, and good vision to inspect the tires thoroughly. 


Should you require new tires, choose a premium provider such as Atturo tires, to guarantee quality wheels and fast shipping so they’ll arrive in time before your trip.


Alternatively, you can head to a local service station to perform the checks for you.


Fluid Levels

Another important part of car maintenance before a long trip on the road is checking the fluid levels. These are the three fluids to check and top up if needed: 


Engine oil - Check the oil level when the car has been switched off for a little while. This allows the oil from the engine to cool and disperse to normal levels. This will give you an accurate perception of how much oil, if any, the engine needs.


Coolant - A necessity, particularly in hot weather, simply locate the radiator reservoir, and read the coolant level. It should ideally be between the minimum and maximum lines on the side of the reservoir. If it’s below, top it up slowly with a coolant that’s fitting for your specific vehicle.


Brake Fluid - For optimal braking power, ensure brake fluids are sufficiently topped up. You can usually locate the brake fluid on the master cylinder. If the fluid is low, purchase your car's required fluid and top it up. If the fluids are dirty, consider taking the vehicle to an auto shop to have the brake fluid changed.


Visibility Checks

A few car components to check to ensure maximum visibility on the road include:


  • Headlights
  • Brake lights 
  • Windscreen wipers
  • Washer fluid


Each component should be free from debris, to ensure headlights and brake lights are visible. Equally, headlight and brake light bulbs need changing if they’re beginning to dim or have broken completely. 


On top of that, test the windscreen wipers and windscreen washer fluid to see if it’s still effective.


If windscreen wipers are making friction sounds on the glass, or leaving more marks than they are erasing, it’s time to change your wipers. This is a simple task that most vehicle owners can manage alone. But you will need to find the right size and model of wipers needed for your particular vehicle. 


With the washer fluid, check the reservoir under the hood and top it up if it’s looking low. In colder weather conditions, antifreeze washer fluid solutions are preferable.


Emergency Preparation

An essential part of traveling for a long journey by car is making sure you’re prepared for the worst. This includes keeping a selection of tools and supplies ready for unexpected situations. 


Things you should look to bring with you on your travels include a spare wheel and tire jack, just in case a wheel pops and you need to change it. A torch and reflective vest can also help. Particularly, if you find yourself changing a tire at night.


As an added tip, take your warranty and breakdown details with you in case you require assistance fixing your car which stems beyond your ability.


Depending on how long the journey is, you may also want to consider taking additional fluids to service the car on the way, such as engine oil. This avoids the prospect of having to find engine oil on a whim should the car require it when you’re far away from home. 


Taking time to prepare ahead for your holiday by car is essential. In summary, you will want to check the vehicle is fit to drive and withstand the journey you intend to fulfil. As above, this includes checking the tires, fluid levels, and visibility, and making sure you’re prepared for an emergency.

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