Getting the Car Ready for a Long Road Trip

How do I get my car ready for a long roadtrip?

1. Get an oil change if your car is due for it. You can check by checking if your oil is black, gritty, or below minimum.
2. Always have enough radiation fluid and change it every 80,000 km.
3. Always have enough transmission fluid and change it every 96,000 km.
4. Refill your windshield fluid with water if it’s running low.
5. Replace tires that are in bad condition.

Regular maintenance is something that every car owner needs to stay on top of. This is especially true when you constantly rely on your car for transport in the Philippines. Muffler sellers, aircon repairmen, body repair shop workers, etc. are all people that you need to build rapport with as you’ll want to have someone to trust with maintenance and repairs. After all, you wouldn’t want to risk becoming late for an appointment or getting stranded due to any malfunction. This is especially true when you’re on a road trip and are likely to be in unfamiliar roads and far, far away from home. Read further to learn how to get your car ready for a long road trip.

Oil Change

Now, you don’t need to be a super car enthusiast to know that an engine runs on oil. But what the common car user doesn’t know is that it is critical for lubricating the moving parts of the engine. For this reason, it’s important to change the oil every 5,000-8,000 km your car has travelled. But if you have recently done this, you’ll still need to check the dipstick. If you see that the oil is either, black, gritty, or below minimum, then bring the car to the shop right away.

Radiator Fluid

The radiator is what keeps the engine cool. Thus, it must always be filled with radiator fluid (or coolant). If the level of this fluid is too low, then the car may overheat! Refill it if so. Afterwards, be sure to flush the system every 80,000 km your car travels.

Transmission Fluid

The transmission is what lets the gears transition smoothly from one to the other. When there is a lack of this fluid, then the car’s shifting can be uncomfortable. Luckily, most transmission fluids last for a long time and some are even said to be able to last for a lifetime. Regardless, it’s a good practice to change the fluid every 96,000 km. This is because more shifting problems are likely to happen when the fluid is old.

Windshield Fluid

In order to see well, you need a clean windshield; on a long drive, this can tend to get really dirty. You will need a way to be able to clean it on the go, which is obviously the purpose of the windshield wiper. Simply make sure that the reservoir is filled with water. This can be done at any gas station so compared to everything on the list, this is least priority.

Tires

This is pretty basic; bad tires are not fit for the road. As for old ones are in danger of popping and they don’t provide smooth ride. In fact, it will make the drive so inefficient that you made end up spending more fuel than you need to. Always make sure your tires are in good condition. If they are not, then replace them.

Key Takeaway

There are still more items to cover in this list, and we will be releasing pt. 2 very soon. But you can still check your car today regarding the items mentioned above to see if your car is road-trip-ready. For now, you might want to learn how to prepare a DIY roadside emergency kit in your car.