What are the things to be taken care for the car, before setting off on a long journey?
By Cars & Motorcycles on May 15, 2009 with Comments 9
bprakki asked: I am driving from Columbus to Detroit in 2 weeks. It is not too long, but I thought it would be nice to know for experts out there about maintainence tips for future reference too.
Filed Under: Car Care • Car Maintenance
About the Author:
Change your oil, check air filter, check and or flush all fluids, check your brakes etc…..
easiest thing to do is bring it to a shop and tell them about the trip and have them look it over but if your car has been running fine just check all of your fluids and make sure your tires are properly inflated
If you take good care of your car in general not too much. Change the oil and filter, make sure your tires are in good shape. If the tires are good, just inflate them, it they are not, replace them. If your car has over 100,000 miles I would not take a long trip without replacing the timing belt. If it is less don’t worry about it. Have fun!
If you have been taking care of the car all along, you shouldn’t have to do much…….Just drive………PA to Outer Banks, NC for about 600 miles….didn’t do anything except fill the gas tank twice.
Have the oil and oil filter changed and maybe an air filter
After all fluid checks, bring a blanket, a cell phone, water (for humans) and several candles (some matches will help). A candle will raise the cabin (inside the car) temperature up several degrees without endangering you with carbon monoxide poising for quite a long time.
All answers above are great ones..Oil change, check air in tires and check air filter.. The thing to remember is even though you may have it checked professionally, be prepared for the unexpected. ie..waterpump may have not been leaking when you had it checked, but could leak while on the road..expect the unexpected.
Check the tires, belts, brake fluid, oil change if it has been more that 2000 miles since your last one. Make damned sure that your hoses are good and make the sure radiator is topped off and in good condition. Check that the brake pads are in good shape also. The last thing to check is the battery fluid. Having a battery go bad really sucks on long trip. And last but not least, join the Auto Club. You know triple A. AAA. It is not expensive and is well worth the peace of mind. Have a good trip!
A good tune up, change oil and all filters,oil, gas, air, and depending on the milage the transmission fluid&filter. Check all belts for wear and replace if needed. Check your owners manual for service needed at the proper milage intervals. Check tires for proper air pressure, unusual wear or defects, cuts, nails, etc. Have a nice trip.
Good grief! Such answers!
If your oil and filter would have to be changed before completing the trip, change them early.
Check your tire condition and air pressures, a little over- inflated is best.
Only change fluids/ components if they are already in bad order.
On the trip, check oil level and tyre pressures daily, check radiator water level first thing while engine is cold.
There’s really no difference between doing a long trip and doing a lot of short ones making up the same distance. In fact, the longer trip is kinder on the engine.
Don’t forget transmission fluid level also.