With the onset of spring, blue skies and warm Australian weather are a reason enough to get your car ready for a road trip. However, even the best holiday planning can go awry if your car is not up to the game. An engine overheating en route to work is one thing, but when a fully loaded car grinds to a halt miles from the nearest mechanic, it’s a nervous breakdown scenario. Although regular car maintenance is recommended all year round, it’s especially important to check all the vital systems before a road trip.
Top off the fluids
While the service interval of your five essential fluids usually depends on mileage, consider how long it’s been since the last service interval, so you know what needs attention. For example, oil needs changing every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer’s guide. Radiator fluid, also known as coolant, is critical for removing heat from the engine, which prevents it from overheating. The cooling system needs to be flushed at 50,000-mile intervals. Contaminated brake fluid results in a spongy feel at the brake pedal or extra braking lengths. Refill if necessary and flush every 35,000 miles. On the other hand, contaminated power steering fluid makes your steering less responsive, and the factory recommendation for most cars is to flush it every 24,000 miles. A jerky transmission is often caused by ‘worn out’ transmission fluid. Luckily, issues with this fluid are rarely encountered before 100,000 miles are behind you.
Check the tyres
Although a bit comfier on rough patches of the road, under-inflated tyres are guaranteed to waste fuel and make handling more sluggish. Over-inflated tyres, on the other hand, make for much less comfortable ride. One way or another, incorrect air pressure causes tyres to wear unevenly and they will need replacing sooner. It’s a good habit to check tyre pressure every 1,000 miles. The right PSI value for your car is stamped on the manufacturer-issued sticker on the inside of the driver’s door. Even if you get the pressure right, variations in suspension calibration, weight balance and road conditions make tyres wear out at different rates. This is why it’s important to periodically rotate tyres between different points on your car. By exposing them to similar variations and loads, they all last longer as a set.
General maintenance
Cars have numerous components and subsystems that need maintenance in order to stay in good working conditions, so make sure you check these yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Many Australian cities have specialized mobile service teams that come to your address and service or repair your car. This arrangement has many benefits, the biggest probably being that your cars stays at your driveway all the time. So, find a reliable mobile mechanic in Sydney that services the greater city area and has more than 10 years of experience in maintaining vehicles across various industries in New South Wales and don’t worry about a thing. One of most important things for your mechanic to check are the brake pads. Depending on how you use your brakes, they can last from 25,000 to 70,000 miles.
Essential tools and gear
Packing and finding place for everything can be a pain, but it’s not as nearly as bad as having a road trip holiday ruined by not being prepared. First of all, make sure the tyre iron and jack are in the car. It goes without saying that the spare tyre needs to be inflated. Pack a fire extinguisher and a set of universal towels for cleaning spills or handling hot engine components. Keep a spare key on your person all the time in case you lock your keys in the car or lose the whole bunch. A plastic funnel is always useful if you need to add water or other fluids, while water from a river or lake can serve as emergency coolant. Finally, make sure you have a length of towing rope and a set of wrenches and screwdrivers.
No matter how much maintenance you and your mechanic did on a car before a trip, there’s always a chance of something going wrong. However, a detailed maintenance routine and a professional eye can prevent many potential problems while your car is still in your driveway.
