No matter whether you are planning to roam around your country to explore the untamed nature, or you want to head out to a foreign country on a holiday with your car, you must have your car prepared.
If you drive an older car, then the concern is greater, but if you have a relatively new vehicle the rule is the same – better be safe than sorry. Avoid having to stop for lack of oil in your car or to change the burst tire, and make your road trip an exciting adventure by not having to worry about car issues.
For that matter, here you have five lucrative and helpful tips to prepare your vehicle for a riveting Australian road trip.
1. Inspect all the oils
Before heading out anywhere far from your home, you need to, first of all, check whether you have sufficient oil. The engine oils lubricate the moving components like crankshaft, camshaft, and pistons. Thus, they have to move smoothly without interruption, otherwise, you might be in for a lot of troubles.
Implement a habit of changing the oil after every 4000 miles. Next, inspect the radiators fluid in order to avoid engine overheating itself. The same rule applies for the brake and transmission fluids.
You might not be aware of this, but when you push the brake pedal, the fluids inside the brake lines tend to clamp on the rotors, thus they may slow down your car. Therefore, checking all the oils is extremely vital.
2. Get any major repairs done
Planning to take a long road trip takes time and diligence. Likewise, you need to take extra care of your car before embarking on an exciting journey. For that reason, you might want first to do a thorough service or check up.
Make sure that you entrust your car to experts and find a professional auto service in Carlingford to do the essential heavy-duty service. The mechanics would check whether you need to do any major repair or only fix a few minor issues, they would run the engine diagnostics in order to avoid any potential mishaps on the road, plus they will check your cooling system, the functionality of the breaks and shock absorbers.
For that reason, you might want first to do a thorough service or check-up. You can do some of this yourself if you are a bit of a handyman. Check out OnlyManuals to see if they have a free manual for your car.
Safety on the road is what you have to strive for, so do any repair that must be completed.
3. Check the tires
Tires are the ones who will take you to your desired destination, they are your contact with the road, thus they should be a pivotal point of your concern. Inspect whether all four tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
When combined with extreme heat or cold on the road, or high speed, tires can easily blow out the needed pressure without you noticing it. Be safe and make sure that the tires have the appropriate pressure level.
Then, check the tread on all the four tires to ensure that they are not worn out or unevenly worn. You can use a penny to check the depth, and if the depth is below Lincoln’s shoulder then you need to get a new tire. Tread depth should be around 10/32″.
4. Focus on the electrical and battery check up
New cars are meticulously equipped with high-tech, top-notch electrical equipment, but that doesn’t mean that you can leave everything unattended. This inspection is crucial for any type of car, old or new, for that matter. Start with lights and lights switch. Ensure that everything is properly working. Then, check the function of your headlights and taillights and if necessary replace them.
If you are aiming to go on a long trip, you had better bring spare lights with you in case one burns out. At service, the mechanic will connect your car to inspect all other electrical inquiries.
Batteries can also be easily worn out so you might want to check if the terminals are corrosion-free and that the positive and negative leads are tight. Any strange or sluggish sounds is the sound of a dead battery. Don’t get stranded on your road trip due to a bad battery, so inspect it and replace it.
5. Don’t neglect the minor issues
The great visibility on the road is your priority amongst all previous things. Check and replace the old windshield wipers especially if they are unevenly cleaning and leaving smudges. Then, fill up the windshield washer fluid to always have fluid in your reservoir for clean windows on the road. Secondly, check if your air conditioning needs refilling as well.
Also, check for potential leaks in the A/C system. Later, clean out the air filter for any debris, bugs or dust. Very often air filters get clogged after 12000 miles which can impact the engine performance and affect the fuel. Last but not least, look under to hood to see if everything is in order. Check if the belt is tightened and that hoses are not leaking any fluid.
Consider your car as your family member. In order for everything to run smoothly and promote safety, you simply must take proper care and do regular maintenance.