Taking a long drive increases stress on many components of your vehicle
and if you’re not used to taking long journeys, it’s important that you ensure
your car is up to the job before leaving.
There are some aspects FRSC wants us to know.
1. Engine oil: This is the
lifeblood of the the engine. Engine oil needs to be changed as recommended in
your vehicle manual as it becomes less efficient over time
2. Engine coolant: This is essentially a combination of
antifreeze and water. Antifreeze does help to prevent the coolant from freezing
during subzero temperatures.. but the chemicals in antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
actually increase the boiling point of water which also helps to prevent
engines from overheating.
3. Windscreen washer fluid: It
is often neglected and only noticed when you really need it. The last thing you
want is to be traveling on a road you don’t know with smears on the windscreen
making it difficult to see.
4. Brake fluid: Similarly to the engine coolant system,
the brake system should be a sealed unit. Spongy brake pedal or frequent
top-ups of brake fluid may indicate a leak in the system, or degraded fluid in
the system that requires draining and replacing.
5. Battery: If your car is
quite new, then this shouldn’t be an issue. A car battery lasts from around
four years onward. There’s not really a specific time when they need replacing
as it’s dependent on various factors such as quality of the battery, driving
habits – frequent short drives can lessen a battery's life and colder climates
may shorten a battery's lifespan.
6. Tyres: Check all tyres to
ensure your vehicle remains legal and stable whilst driving.
7. Lights: It is a legal
requirement to have working external lighting on your vehicle, so have an
all-round check to see if they’re all working. Activate the hazards for an
easier method of checking indicators.
Other items that can be taken along includes: Water and Food, First Aid
Kit, Torch / Flash Light etc.
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