Hitting the road? Whether you are going on a family road trip, visiting someone that lives far away or going on a business trip, you should always carry out a few checks before going on a long drive. This will help to ensure that the car is in a good condition before you head off and hopefully prevent you from encountering any car trouble that could ruin your trip. Here are the main checks to carry out before a long drive.
Fluid Levels
One of the most important checks is to check your different fluid levels and to top them all up to the max. This means that you do not have to worry about running low on a key fluid that could lead to car trouble. The main fluids to check include:
- Engine oil
- Coolant
- Windscreen washer fluid
- Transmission fluid
- Power steering fluid
Tyres
Car tyres are constantly being worn down, so you want to make sure that they are in good condition before you head off to avoid any issues. This will include testing and topping up the tyre pressure and checking the tread depth – 1.6mm is the legal minimum but it is recommended that you change once you reach 3mm to be safe (especially when going on a long drive). You should also inspect each tyre (including the spare) looking out for any signs of damage. If you have any problems, you can buy Michelin tyres and change these yourself before you hit the road.
Brakes
You need to have assurance that your brakes are in good condition before heading off, so you should inspect the brake pads and make sure that there are no strange noises or changes in performance (a short drive a few days before leaving is a good idea).
Lights
You also need to make sure that all of your lights are working properly before leaving. You should get someone to walk around and check all of these while you operate them and give yourself enough time to get any bulbs changed if required.
Fuel
You don’t want to run out of fuel on a long trip in the middle of nowhere. This is why you should fill up the tank before you hit the road and plan out where you will stop off to take a break and refuel if required.
Emergency Kit
Finally, you should put together an emergency kit in case you encounter any problems on the road. This should include:
- Tyre changing equipment
- Mobile charger
- First aid kit
- Blanket
- Spare clothes
- Torch
- Food and drink
- High-vis jacket
- Shovel
- Jump leads
These are the main checks to conduct before you hit the road on a long journey. The above will ensure that your car is in a good condition before you head off and hopefully prevent any issues from arising.