Getting your vehicle ready is just as important as packing your bags or making reservations. It is all part of a well thought out plan for your journey. Whatever your vehicle type, make sure it is ready for your journey. You can accomplish this by taking it to your trusted local mechanic’s shop or performing the work yourself. Whichever you choose to do, you should be able to perform at least the basic inspections yourself. This should help minimize the need for you to pull out your vehicle emergency kit — if you don’t have one, see what we recommend here.
Here is a quick list of the items that should be included in your vehicle check:
- Oil
- Coolant / Antifreeze
- Tires (including your spare)
- Brakes
- Belts and hoses
- Windshield wipers
- Windshield washer fluid
- Headlights / Turn signals
- Heating / Air conditioning
Items you should be able to check yourself
Everyone should have, or learn, some basic inspection and maintenance skills related to your vehicle. Checking these items yourself will help keep your vehicle running longer and alert you to possible problems areas. If anything looks out of the ordinary or you are unsure, get it looked at or repaired before you leave on your journey.
Being able to check your tire pressure and tread levels (perform the penny test), oil level, wiper blades, and fluid (windshield, transmission, coolant, brake, power steering) levels are all simple to check and your vehicle owner’s manual should be able to provide both the location of and procedure for checking them.
Check around and under the vehicle’s engine for fluid leaks. Generally, you can identify the type of fluid that is leaking by its color and all of these fluids are oily to the touch:
- Oil – black
- Coolant – bright greenish yellow
- Automatic transmission fluid – pink(ish)
- Power steering fluid – clear (might have a slight brown tinge)
- Brake fluid – clear (might have a slight brown tinge)
Don’t be confused by water under your vehicle. When you are running the air conditioner in the warmer months, the condensate from your air conditioning system will create a small pool of water under your vehicle after you have had it parked for a short time.
Top off any fluids that appear to be low, following the vehicle’s manufacturer recommendations and procedures.
Oil
Car engines run particularly well when they are regularly lubricated. Keep track of the last oil change you performed, or had performed, on your vehicle and get it changed, if needed, before you leave – this interval is usually between 3,000 and 5,000 miles or per your manufacturer’s recommendation. Regularly changing the oil allows your vehicle to perform more efficiently, maintain fuel economy, and help it last longer.
Coolant / Antifreeze
This fluid is vital to keep the engine components cool in the warmer months and keep them from freezing in the colder months.
DO NOT OPEN THE RADIATOR CAP! Especially if the vehicle has just been driven; the coolant will be hot and is likely under high pressure. Opening the cap is sure to spray hot coolant everywhere, including your skin, causing a nasty burn. Instead, take a look at the level of coolant in the coolant overflow reservoir, this will allow you to see the level compared to the “full” mark on the container. If needed, fill to the “full” mark per your manufacturer’s specifications.
Tires
Tires are arguably one of the most important items to review before a journey, they are designed to grip the road in all kinds of weather conditions and provide directional control. Severely worn, bald, or improperly inflated tires decrease your ability to maintain control of the vehicle on the roadway. Rotate your tires at each oil change to prolong their life and to maintain fuel economy. Consult your owner’s manual for the recommended rotation pattern and frequency for your vehicle.
Make sure that your tires are properly inflated and not worn. The best way to maintain fuel economy is to reduce rolling resistance by maintaining the correct tire pressure. Excess heat and friction from under-inflated tires can result in premature tread wear. The tire pressure requirements for your vehicle should be on a sticker located in the door well of the driver’s side door or on a sticker in the front of the vehicle just under the hood. Learn how to check the air pressure in your tires and add air to any tires that are low. Most local gas stations have an air hose and pressure gauge that you can use for around a dollar. You also want to make sure you have enough tread depth to properly grip the road. Performing the penny test is a quick, simple, and good indicator of your tires tread condition.
Wheel alignment should be checked, at minimum, once a year or any time you feel a consistent “wobble” while driving. One way to check is on a straight, flat and traffic-free stretch of road, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel and drive at an even speed. If the vehicle pulls to one side, the wheels may be misaligned.
A slight “wobble” could also indicate you have an unbalanced wheel. You will need to take your vehicle into your local mechanic’s shop to have them checked.
Remember to check the spare tire also; make sure the necessary tools for replacing a tire are appropriately accessible and functional. Knowing how to change a tire on your vehicle is another important and helpful skill.
Brakes
Going is great but stopping is equally important! Making sure your brakes are in good functional order is critical. Here is an easy way to check. On a straight, flat and traffic-free stretch of road, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel and apply the brakes gradually. If the vehicle veers to one side, you should have your vehicle’s brakes checked at your local mechanic’s shop.
Your vehicle’s owners manual will supply you with the correct information on maintaining the correct level and type of brake fluid.
Belts and hoses
Have your belts and hoses checked at the regularly scheduled time periods mentioned in your owner’s manual. You can perform a visual inspection to look for any cracked or worn spots on them. Look for any leaks around where hoses meet other parts. NOTE: DO NOT DO THIS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING!
Windshield wipers and washer fluid
As windshield wiper blades age and become worn, the seal against the window lessens. This can be due to nicks or cracks in the rubber or from becoming brittle with age, heat, or cold. Worn blades can leave streaks on the windshield that interfere with your ability to see clearly. Remove any dirt, leaves, or twigs that may be impeding the proper functioning of the wipers. Use your washer fluid frequently to help keep the windshield (and wipers) clean.
When you notice any change in visibility due to the wiper’s performance, replace them with new ones; this is another task you should be able to perform yourself. Your local auto parts store or mechanic can help you find the correct fitment for your vehicle.
Don’t for get about the inside of your windshield too. Dirt can build up on the inside, affecting your ability to see clearly on sunny or rainy days, as well as at night.
Headlights / Turn signals
You might need a helper for this one, but you need make sure that all of your lights work and the lenses are clean. One of the things we do is to use the squeegee at the gas station, when filling-up the vehicle with fuel, to clean off the lenses. Getting in this habit is easy and most gas stations have these items available at the pump.
Changing the bulbs on your vehicle is also something that you can, and should, know how to do. Consult your owner’s manual for the proper type and procedure for doing so.
Heating / Air conditioning
We want all of your journey’s to be comfortable, and nothing provides more discomfort on a trip then when the temperature is too hot or too cold in your vehicle. Taking a look at the weather along your route should help you determine which of these systems to check before you leave but it is important to make sure they are in good working order.
Conclusion
Every vehicle type is different and the items you want to check before setting out on your adventure may vary a little, but these are the basics of what you should be checking before you leave. Taking a little time to ensure your vehicle is ready to go will help you enjoy your trip more and lessen the possibility you will need to utilize your vehicle emergency kit.
Enjoy the journey! – Rob and Trish