Things to Check on Your Car Before a Long Trip

Are you planning to go on a Road Trip soon? Before your trip, you should check your auto to make sure you can have a safe trip and avoid any mechanical issues. Then you can turn on your radio, bring your favorite coffee, and enjoy the sunshine with your car. After the road trip, do not forget to check your machinery buddy again.

Checking the car before the road trip has been wild-known, but we just noticed that maintaining your car after the road trip is also critical to your car and your safety.

Car checking before your road trip
Car checking after your road trip

Before your trip

Step 1: Change the engine oil of your car

Check your oil level and the date that you may need an oil change. If it is almost the time to change your oil, then do it. A long trip can give more stress on your vehicle.

Attention: adding extra oil will not work as changing the oil, because the sludge from your old oil cannot be cleared. If possible, the oil filter can also be changed at the same time.

Step 2: Check the fluids of your car.

Make sure to check the various fluid levels in your car and make sure they are all topped off, including the oil, coolant, windscreen wash levels and brake fluids. This is an efficient way to avoid unnecessary breakdowns that could lead to possible accidents

Step 3: Check air pressure of your car

As we all know, tires are your contact with the road, which means that if tire checks are neglected, severe on-road consequences may follow. The number marked on the tires is the maximum amount of pressure that tires can contain. If this capacity is exceeded, it may cause a tire blowout. On the contrary, low tire pressure may lead to wasted fuel and hotter tires. To insert the perfect amount of air pressure into your tires, use a gauge (available from auto stores) and an air hose (at the gas station). This will make sure that every tire is safe and can be changed during your journey.

Step 4: check the tire wear by using tread gauge

Apart from air pressure, checking whether your tires can last the whole journey is also important. Ensure the tread is 1/16th" or 1.6mm and if the gauge shows less than 2/32", it is time to use a new tire for the journey. The worn-out tires may blow out during long trips.

Step 5: Check the car's air filter

The car's performance and efficiency will be improved if the supply of clean air to the engine is plentiful. Also, do not forget the cabin filter since the air is not fresh inside the car if the cabin filter is worn-out.

Step 6: Make sure all car lights and signals are working

It is important to make sure all the signals are functional to avoid the accidents. Ask for another person's hand to finish this check. Sit in the car and turn on all the lights and signals and ask him or her if the lights are functioning properly. Spare bulbs can also be prepared during your trip, just in case. (At least one for each light, including headlights, indicators, reverse lights and tail lights.)

Step 7: check battery in your car

If the battery has not been changed for many years, check whether it can work well or not. If the sound of your starter is sluggish, it may indicate corrosion or a dying battery. Go change it as soon as possible.

Step 8: make sure that you have all auto emergency equipment and they can work functionally

Emergency equipment includes: a cell phone, spare tire and emergency tools (like flashlights and screwdrivers). Also, make sure that you know the specific road rules in countries and areas you head to. For example, if travelling to an EU country, you should bring a reflective warning triangle, which is mandatory according to their laws.

Step 9: Wash your car

Give your machinery buddy a fresh shower before the trip. This is for two reasons: Cleaning car windows is important for good visibility while driving and allows you to check the conditions of wider blades before your journey.

Step 10: give your car a test ride

Have a test ride on your local road to check the sounds, feel the shakes and watch for the signs around you. The moaning from the wheels may indicate a bad wheel and a worn CV joint; the squeal from the brake may point to warped rotors and worn pads; a soft brake pedal may mean worn pads and lacking fluid levels. Do not think everything in your car is good just because you drive it every day. Give your buddy a test and make sure it is actually all right.

For most people, a long trip can always be spent with their families. Most families, especially American ones, usually have week-long outings across the entire country and family members can enjoy quality time together. It is a superb way to enhance the family bond and enjoy the summer break. But when you return, it is important to check your vehicle again to maintain its condition.

After the trip

Step 1: Clean up the car, inside and outside

After a few weeks on the road, your vehicle must be dirty, both inside and outside, which means that cleaning work will be a hassle when you go back home. Removing stains and spills is a hard but necessary job. After a long-term trip, the outside of the vehicle is also dirty. The bottom of the car may be covered with mud and dirt. A car wash is necessary to get your car looking and feeling good.

Step 2: Repair the car if something goes wrong during the journey

You may also experience a sudden breakdown during the trip, even when everything gets prepared before travel. Stay calm when something bad happens and try to fix it so it doesn't ruin your trip. When you go back home, do not forget to get that part repaired and checked again, just in case.

Step 3: Have the car maintenance and get ready for next journey

You may have quality time during the journey, but it is a tiring time for your car. Therefore, after taking you around different places for the visit, it also deserves a complete car maintenance, which can not only improve driving safety and prepare for the next journey but can also save you the possible expensive repair costs and avoid emergencies. If you are tired of doing maintenance by yourself, people from auto services can also do that for you, providing expert advice.

The summer travel season is quite upon us and families are all getting ready to heat to their destinations. Make sure that everyone, especially your car, is ready for this trip. Pack your bags, prepare your vehicle and take your kids, it is a time to make your fun road-trip plans come true!

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Things to Check on Your Car Before a Long Trip

Source: https://www.ingearauto.com/blogs/news/how-to-check-your-car-before-and-after-a-road-trip