When going on a long trip by car, it is useful to think about its preparation, and about the minimum required set spare parts and tools.1. The technical condition of the machine (or what to check first).
* Replace all consumables: engine oil, brake fluid, spark plugs, belts, filters (air, fuel), brake pads, if the time has come to do this or the need for this will come during the trip.
* Check the oil level not only in the engine, but also in the gearbox, steering.
* Arrange a complete inspection of the brake system, replace cracked brake hoses on new ones, eliminate even the slightest smudges of brake fluid.
* Make sure the suspension components and chassis in good condition (including rubber anthers and covers), especially carefully check the covers of the CV joints.
* Check condition wheel bearings(having hung the wheel, vertically, i.e. with one hand push the wheel from top to front, with the other hand pull the wheel from below towards you, and also horizontally, if there is play, it is better to replace the wheel bearing).
* In the engine, everything that is only subject to adjustment should be adjusted (belt tension, gaps in valve mechanism, ignition timing).
* It would be useful to check the condition of the candles, high voltage wires, battery and terminals. Old spark plugs should be replaced. High voltage wires it is better to check in the evening or at night - if the wires spark, it will be clearly visible. Replace old wires. The battery must be completely filled, the density of the electrolyte is 1.27. The terminals must be free of sulfate deposits. If the terminals are dirty and overgrown with salt, they must be cleaned either special device for cleaning, or a round file, at worst, just a knife. Heavily salted terminals can be placed for a day in a solution of ordinary baking soda. After that, it will be much easier to remove plaque. Check at the same time the operation of the regulator relay. With the engine running, the alternator should produce a stable voltage of about 14.5 V.
* It is highly desirable to adjust the angles of the front wheels, and to balance the wheels.
* Electrician, inspect everything is on, whether the headlights are shining correctly, if a malfunction is found, we change the light bulbs, it does not light up again, we clean the place of poor contact.
* Mandatory inspection and prevention of windshield wipers.
* Checking tire pressure, not less than 2 atm. and better 2.2 atm.2. What to take with you on the road.
* Fire extinguisher, Rope, Flashlight, Warning triangle.
* Jack, spare wheel, balloon wrench.
* A set of tools (not very bulky, but varied).
* Complete the set with a medium weight hammer, a set of various wires, clamps and wires, and a tester
* A small bottle of brake fluid.
* In the first-aid kit, do not forget to add funds for headaches and stomach pain.
* Products, money.3. Just in case You will be prudent if you make a photocopy of the first pages of your passport, driving license, technical passport on the car and hide these papers somewhere in the car. In case of loss of documents and when contacting the police, verifying your identity and issuing relevant certificates that allow you to continue moving or return home without problems will take a minimum amount of time and nerves.
As for money: do not keep all the money in one wallet, you can write a fake pin code on a plastic card, they will think that it is correct, and enter it several times, which is what we need :)
Many insurance companies can insure your car for the duration of the trip, and it will cost quite inexpensively. It is only necessary to clarify in detail with the agent the conditions for obtaining insurance upon the occurrence insured event especially if you are away from home.Do not forget to bring atlases and maps with you. With their help, develop the best route - calculate the consumption of gasoline in advance. In addition, you can immediately highlight for yourself some priority places that you definitely need to visit. Calculate the speed of movement and consider the places of the proposed stops. It is better to choose them closer to settlements or traffic police posts. Just in case. Better yet, install a GPS navigation system in your car. For such a trip, this is the most indispensable thing. If you can still contemptuously brush aside in the city - this is for people suffering from topographical cretinism, who cannot distinguish Polyanka Street from Yakimanka Street - then traveling without a navigator is indispensable. And if you are a solid person, and a simple navigator does not suit you, you can install a real computer in the car (What? A smart idea!). This is a DVD, and MP3, and a connection with the whole world!
You already feel confident behind the wheel while driving around the city or not yet very confident, but you assume that by the beginning of the next holiday season you will have gained the appropriate practice. Almost every novice driver, even just sitting behind the wheel, hatches plans for his first long trip. The charm of the oncoming road, new impressions, freedom in choosing a place of rest, as well as the absence of dependence on bus, train, plane schedules and wide opportunities for staffing luggage, not limited, as before, only by your muscular strength and the number of hands, as if they themselves are pushing: "Ride, ride, ride..."
How experienced driver, I will say - expectations do not deceive you. But if, on the one hand, long journey driving a car is a truly exciting adventure, on the other hand, it is a serious and responsible event that requires careful preparation. Driving a long distance (500 km or more) is fundamentally different from driving around the city, and if you are not ready or miss something, instead of joy, it can bring you, best case, unnecessary worries and problems. And now let's analyze everything in detail:
Preparing your car for a long trip
The first thing to do is prepare the car. Show the car to a service station or mechanic you trust three to four weeks before your expected departure time. Let them inspect it, diagnose the chassis, tighten all connections, replace everything that needs to be replaced and adjust the “camber / convergence”. Ask the masters to turn Special attention on the reliability of the brake system and steering.
Be sure to make sure that the tread on the tires of the car is not worn out, and that the rubber is appropriate for the season. Balance the wheels and equalize the pressure in the tires (this can be done at any tire shop). Naturally, your car must be equipped with a “fresh” first aid kit and a fire extinguisher, an inflated spare tire, a jack, tow rope and an emergency stop sign.
After carrying out all the activities, do not put the car "on a joke". It needs to be well “run in” around the city so that all the new details get used and minor flaws have time to appear. Before the trip, you will still have time to eliminate them.
Determining the route and connection
A GPS navigator is a very useful device and I advise you to definitely buy it, but it is not reasonable to rely on it alone, especially if you are not an advanced user of such devices. To be sure, pre-lay the route on the map. For this purpose, you can use the special services of Google or Yandex. Pay attention to complex interchanges, branches and turns. If possible, print the entire route, and on an enlarged scale the most difficult sections.
When plotting a route from all possible ways, choose the largest roads and do not listen to the "experts" who will convince you to go in a roundabout way, where it is "faster and freer."
On busy highway more gas stations Maintenance, first-aid posts and almost always works mobile connection. Therefore, on a major road, you are ten times more likely to receive timely assistance than in the middle of a field or forest, where one car passes an hour.
"Appoint" one of the relatives or friends left at home as the "dispatcher". This is the person who will know the route of your movement, and to whom you will report the distance traveled. Set a clear communication schedule. For example, say that you will send SMS every three hours indicating the distance traveled or the name of the nearest settlement from you.
During the trip, strictly adhere to the communication schedule with the "dispatcher". Such a simple precaution, on the one hand, will allow you not to be distracted by “soothing” calls to your mother, grandmother, sister and girlfriend at the same time, and on the other hand, it will make it possible to quickly find you if something unforeseen happens when you cannot inform where are you and what happened to you.
Determine departure time
It will take you approximately 12-14 hours to drive a distance of 1000 km (subject to compliance with the speed limit within the rules traffic). For summer, this time is enough to leave and arrive before dark, but I do not advise doing this, and here's why.
If you are going to the South, then most of the trip the sun will shine in your face, and if you go to the North, then you will encounter such a phenomenon as bright blinding sun glare from rear windows vehicles ahead of you.
Trails during the day are much busier than in the evening, at night or in the morning. Finally, I don’t think it’s very good to come in the evening, when the coming darkness will “drive” you.
Plan your trip to dark time days, so as to arrive in the morning before lunch. Do the same if the duration of the trip inevitably forces you to do part of the journey at night. In a nutshell - you can meet the dawn while driving, but not the sunset.
Before leaving
You need to have a good rest before the trip. About a day before departure, you must be free from any work. During this period, your work is rest, mostly lying down. Sleep as much as possible, do not sit at the computer, do not read and try not to watch TV. Instruct your friends, relatives and loved ones not to disturb you over trifles.
You should not eat before the road. The last meal - no later than 4 hours before departure.
What to take with you on the road?
Buy several small bottles of clean drinking water without gas. Throughout the trip, you will need to replenish fluids, even if you do not feel thirsty. Dehydration on the road comes unnoticed, which is fraught with a decrease in attention and slow reaction.
Prepare a few slices of fresh lemon (no sugar). A lemon slice placed under the tongue perfectly “chases away sleep” and increases visual acuity. I do not recommend using the now popular energy drinks, because most of them are bad for the stomach, and the effect is very doubtful.
To satisfy the feeling of hunger on the road, you can use chocolate or protein bars.
Discipline, safety and your passengers
If you are not traveling alone, explain to your passengers that you are the "ship's captain" and are responsible for all on board. First of all, their life and health depend on you, so all the actions of passengers should be aimed at creating maximum comfort for you, not for yourself. Based on the above, you:
- determine what music will be played, and at what volume;
- decide when and where the next stop will be;
- seat passengers in the car;
- distribute luggage (what, where and how it will lie).
Ask your companions to inform you in advance about the need to go to the toilet, and not force you to frantically look for a place to stop when it becomes “unbearable”.
Place a person next to you who will share the “hardships” of a long trip with you or, to put it more simply, will entertain you with conversations, serve water, light a cigarette and not sleep.
Move the first aid kit and fire extinguisher to the passenger compartment, so that they can be obtained without leaving the car. In many cases, the seconds it takes you to get out of the car, open the trunk, find and pull those first aid items from under bags and bags can be decisive.
Everyone in the car must wear seat belts. An unfastened person at the time of a collision can not only suffer himself, but also injure or even crush to death other people in the car, especially children.
2011-09-15Tatyana Solomatina
Traveling to the sea by car: how to prepare and what to consider?
Hello, friends! A trip to the sea by car is a great adventure, the opportunity to see new places and visit interesting sights along the way, as well as independently plan the route and time of arrival at your destination.
However, not all so simple. Traveling by car should be considered in advance in order to easily bypass all the pitfalls. That is where this article will help you!
Here you will find all the necessary information about traveling on own car. The advantages and disadvantages of such a trip are listed, there are recommendations on preparation, route planning and things that you need to take with you. Also given helpful tips and safety rules along the way.
Of course, traveling south by car has many advantages, and it is better to start with them:
- Budget. Traveling by car will cost you much less than bus, train or plane tickets. Especially if not two people are driving in the car, but at least four.
- Comfortable. You can make stops at will, see the sights along the way, make an interesting and unusual route, etc.
- Roomy. You don't have to carry your luggage from train to taxi and back, so you can take whatever you want. And on the way back, you can easily buy a bunch of all sorts of goodies and souvenirs for yourself and your relatives.
- Easy to lift. Didn't like your current vacation spot? No problem! It won't be too hard to get to the next one. In addition, you can independently go on all the excursions without buying expensive tours from intermediaries!
- Freedom in time. No need to rely on the time on the tickets. You can leave and go back when convenient. Or stay on the road or on vacation for a couple more days.
- Freedom from unnecessary companions. You choose who to travel with by car, which means you don't have to listen to life stories strangers and polyphonic snoring.
Flaws
However, this method of transportation has many disadvantages. You need to know them in advance in order to decide whether to travel by car or not:
- Additional spending. Anything can happen on the road: from a toll road or a traffic police fine to a serious breakdown. Therefore, such a trip can easily go beyond the planned budget.
- Long time. Even if you go with several drivers, you still need to follow the daily routine and have a good rest. So, stop for the night and for a short rest during the day. That is, it is worth counting that the duration of the trip will be comparable to traveling on a train that is not the fastest.
- Difficult for the driver. Rest is relaxation. I got on a train / plane / bus and that's it, you can already start relaxing on your legal vacation. But with the car you have to work a little more to get where you need to.
- It's hard for passengers. IN regular car during the movement it will not be possible to stand up and stretch the stiff parts of the body. It is uncomfortable to sit in one position for a long time.
- Lots of time to prepare. To go somewhere far away by car, you need to carefully plan the entire route, take into account all the details, make lists, and prepare the car. And this is a big waste of your personal time.
- Traffic jams. In summer, you can often find road repairs on the tracks, and the traffic is very busy this season, so you should keep in mind that you can get bored in traffic jams for some time.
Preparation
- Since the car will play the main role in your trip, carefully prepare it for a long journey. Go through MOT, add oil, pump up tires, etc.
- Consider where you will sleep and eat. If you plan to spend the night in tents and eat on your own, be sure to make a list of the necessary equipment.
- Think over the route well, study the reviews on the Internet about certain sections of the road.
- Make a list of everything you will take with you. Do not get ready at the last moment in a hurry, otherwise there is a high probability of forgetting something, not buying more, etc.
- If you are driving big company, before the trip, discuss all issues several times: meals, stops, overnight stays, etc. Make sure that there are no disagreements, otherwise you risk losing a lot of time in disputes.
How to technically prepare a car? Watch the video for expert advice.
What to bring?
Necessarily:
- Tent and sleeping bags. Even if you're going to be staying overnight at motels along the way or staying with relatives, it doesn't hurt to consider an alternative. You never know, all the motels along the way will be packed, and for some reason you will not have time to reach your relatives.
- DVR. In any controversial situation, he will help to figure out who is right and who is wrong. In addition, the DVR will be an excellent deterrent against dishonest traffic police officers.
- First aid kit. The more drugs in it, the better. You most likely won't need them. However, it is better to have them than not to have them at all.
- Spare and tools. Don't take too many tools. Take only what you know how to use and what will definitely come in handy on the track in case of a breakdown. For other problems, it is better to contact the repair shop to qualified specialists.
- Cash. They will be needed anytime, anywhere. So it is better to have some kind of cash reserve so as not to run around looking for an ATM in an unfamiliar place.
- Road map and/or navigator. Of course, the language will bring you to Rome, but it is better that all navigational assistants are at your fingertips. You can choose a simple road atlas, but then you will simply need a navigator. Or you can choose a navigator, and completely rely on it. The choice is yours.
- Documentation. Own (rights, passports, medical policies, insurance, birth certificates of children) and a car.
Desirable:
- Tire repair kit. It is not very expensive, but it takes a little practice to use it.
- Thermos for boiling water. In any roadside cafe, for a fee or just like that, they can pour boiling water. And there already brew tea, coffee or instant noodles.
- Canister for gasoline, 5-10 l. Many emergencies can arise on the road, you need to be prepared for anything. Including the fact that the gas tank may be empty a little earlier than you get to the gas station.
- Camping mini-fridge. Suitable for a variety of edibles. With such storage, they will not deteriorate much longer.
Not necessary:
- Walkie-talkie. Many people find that a walkie-talkie is very useful on long trips. Truckers politely warn of traffic police ambushes, traffic jams and bad road. But in fact, you can only hear silence all the way, or talk about nothing mixed with a three-story mat. And if you have children in the car, this is not the best soundtrack.
- Antiradar. The device is not essential, although it can help out a lot. But if you fully comply with the rules of the road and pay attention to speed mode, you will not need a radar detector.
How to create a route?
Not everyone is a hereditary trucker and not everyone travels thousands of kilometers by car every month. Therefore, the issue of planning a route is often very relevant.
- Most easy way make a route - find a good site or forum for autotravelers or truckers and find suitable ready-made routes there. There you can also find information about traffic police posts, repair work, the best gas stations, etc.
- In extreme cases, you can rely on the Navigator. Just determine the main points of the route and hammer all this into the device, it will pave the best path.
- Well, or do it the old fashioned way, that is, buy a road atlas and plot your own route.
What is the best way to navigate?
In matters of navigation, many people prefer to turn to the good old road atlas and find a route along it. However best solution on the trip there will still be a navigator. You can load the original route into it and then modify it as needed. It is also recommended to add an additional route to the navigator, a kind of "Plan B". If the first route becomes difficult, you can easily switch to an additional route and not waste precious time compiling it on the spot.
- Surely you know where there is good and inexpensive gasoline in your area, so fill up full tank checked fuel at home. After all, then you can not meet good gas stations for a long time yet.
- stock up big amount water (liters 5-10, drink and pour over in the heat) and food, at least some snacks. Even if you are going to eat in a cafe, you may not come across anything worthwhile along the way.
- The more drivers with good experience in the car, the better. For comfortable travel you need at least two people with rights and great experience driving.
- Write down the numbers of tow trucks and repair shops along the way. It is better that you have them, but are not useful, than vice versa.
- The same applies to the traffic police helpline. Write it down, or better still, memorize it.
- Don't forget to turn on your DVR as soon as you hit the road.
- Choose a route so that you bypass cities you don’t need, and not pass through them, otherwise you will spend a lot of time and nerves.
- Hotels and hotels located in cities are more comfortable and cleaner than their roadside counterparts. And sometimes even cheaper.
- In many roadside complexes on the track there is a shower where, for a fee, you can freshen up and put yourself in order. The prices for this service are usually low.
- Some gas stations have maps of the area that you can explore for free. This will help you if you suddenly get lost.
Safety
- Never drive at night on an unfamiliar road. Better rest and sleep, and leave in the morning.
- Do not drive or break any traffic rules. This is fraught not only with high fines, but also creates emergency on road.
- If you are staying overnight in a tent, make sure that your car, tent and campfire are not visible from the side of the track. Better yet, find a guarded campsite.
- If you are tired on the road and want to sleep, immediately stop and sleep. Better to arrive late than not to arrive at all.
- Keep cards and cash in more than one place. Divide everything into several parts and hide with passengers and in the car.
- Don't eat at suspicious eateries or cafes. If you have even the slightest suspicion that the food is not very fresh and of high quality, it is better not to eat it. Poisoning on the road is not pleasant enough.
- Avoid overheating of people and the machine when driving in hot weather. Stop often, pour water.
- And most importantly, don't forget to buckle up, always! And buckle up the kids. And for the smallest, be sure to provide car child seats, convenient and comfortable for long journeys by car.
Conclusion
Traveling by car can be both a pleasant trip and a dangerous adventure. It is better to prepare for everything that awaits you and be as careful as possible. Then you will reach your destination without any difficulty.
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On this I say goodbye to you.
Have a nice trip!
Tatyana Solomatina
29.05.2019
Summer by car!Preparing the car for the summer. Or south by car.
Summer. Sun. Heat. It is getting more and more difficult to sit at the workplace, any thought ends something like this - would rather go on vacation, or maybe go somewhere for the weekend??!!! In a word, it doesn’t sit still, it pulls on long distance. And if possible by car! A trip to the sea by car gives whole line advantages: you do not need to worry about tickets or an inconvenient departure date, you can stop at any place you like and take a closer look at natural beauties, you can drive without stopping, or you can appreciate the comfort of a roadside hotel - a car for a person, like wings for a bird, only flies on the way to.
And so you decided - I'm going on vacation by car! We bought a navigator, a new swimsuit for my wife, slippers for ourselves - it remains to pack a suitcase and a car. Perhaps you yourself will figure it out with a suitcase, but we will talk about preparing a car for a long-distance trip in the heat, along a serpentine road and other not the most favorable conditions in this article.
We stand for quality brakes!
High-quality preparation of the car for the trip is a guarantee of safety for you and your family. After all, if you are completely confident in every detail, then you will feel calmer (which, of course, affects driving) and the likelihood of various kinds of car troubles will become much less. If the timing routine maintenance already close, then spend it a little earlier and replace the maximum Supplies and parts, get it diagnosed at a car service you trust. Be sure to check the suspension and brakes. If the resource brake pads comes to an end (worn out by more than 50%), it is better to put new ones. Because there is nothing scarier long road than "trigger to the floor - and the reaction is zero."
Brakes need to be replaced if:
1. The brake pedal is too easy or hard to depress.
2. The brake pedal is either too low or too high.
3. On dashboard warning light is on.
4. You constantly hear loud creaking noises when you apply the brakes.
However, squeaking brakes can also be caused simply by water entering the brake system. In this case, it will be enough to dry the brakes. But if the creak turns into an unpleasant rattle, then this is a sign that metal is rubbing against metal, and brake system threatened by.
The car is not tolerant of heat and long trips. What you should pay attention to:
Among the main factors that can lead to a breakdown are cracked pipes, a radiator leak, dirty filters, a faulty thermostat, flat tires.
Cooling system.
I remember such a picture - Moscow, the year is 2008, heat, traffic jam. Every third car boiled… Unfortunately, summer is a magical period of the year when the car turns into a kettle and periodically boils. Better not to let that happen.
The engine is running at very high temperatures, however, there are limitations here as well. To maintain and prevent engine overheating (which is fraught with various and often costly problems) for everyone modern cars there is a cooling system: antifreeze, pipes, pumps, fans, thermostats are designed to protect the car from overheating. However, even a minimal failure in one of the components of the system - the coolant level will drop, cracks will appear in the pipes, belts will loosen, the radiator will leak or the cap will be lost - and the engine is at risk of overheating. Add here the summer 40 C heat.
Be sure to check the pipes and belts. The pipes coming from the radiator supply coolant, and poly V-belts provide smooth operation engine fan. The minimum error leads to overheating - and the engine stalls. Check general state, make sure that the nozzles are securely fastened and that there are no cracks or leaks. Please note that there is an opinion that after 60,000 km the risk of a belt break increases significantly. Speaking of coolant! Do not be lazy - and check its level from time to time.If you check the fluid with a cold engine, its level should be above the "minimum" mark on the tank. If hot, its level should be slightly lower or at the level of the "maximum" mark on the tank.
IN standard conditions the coolant is completely changed once every two years, it is believed that during this period it loses its properties, but it is topped up as needed. You can even take some coolant with you on the road so that you can add exactly the one that is filled with you along the way.If you see a small puddle of coolant under the car as you approach the car, you have a leak. It is necessary to drive the car to a car repair shop to check the entire cooling system.
It is also advised to flush the radiator once every two years. You can perform this procedure at a service station. A special substance removes scale and dirt.
Good visibility is not visibility, but a guarantee of safety on the road.
When your Windshield"Like glass" in the truest sense of the word - the level of safety is much higher than if you drive with dirty glass. Visibility is affected by many factors, both external (rain, mud, etc.) and internal (fogging).
Wiper blades are responsible for external cleaning. Or our janitors were playing - our janitors were tired.
Or rather lost their high performance for glass cleaning. Properly working wipers are the key to good visibility in a summer tropical downpour. At night, heavy rain reduces visibility to 5 meters. If the wipers leave visible streaks, this is a sure sign that it's time to change them. And in general, it is better to change them after the winter, since frost and snow in any case significantly reduced their performance. By the way, if possible, treat the glass with anti-rain - this will greatly facilitate the work of the wipers, and also correct the situation on those glasses where the wipers are not provided.
It has a very strong influence on internal purity. cabin filter. In addition, it is also a guarantee of clean air in the cabin. Agree, it is better to breathe fresh air than particles of bitumen, asphalt and dust.
There is no such driver who would not use the “anti-freeze”, but many people refuse summer wiper fluid, but in vain. Especially on a long journey. Midges, flies, bugs and other small flying brethren on high speed crashes into the windshield and leaves streaks and stains. plain water will not cope with them, and you will need to stop to thoroughly wipe the glass. But the summer “washer” can do it, and to get rid of the stains, it will be enough to turn on the wipers. And a couple of words - if you use a concentrate, then carefully follow the instructions, or take it already finished liquid, in which the required proportion is observed.
Total: wiper blade kit, cabin filter and summer washer glass will significantly improve visibility, and hence the safety of your car.
Fresh oil is great for the engine!
If in the spring you did not have time or did not begin to change the oil, then it is already necessary to do this before a long trip in the heat. A few thousand more kilometers that could be driven on this oil are not worth it. worn engine. Most travel involves long drives. high speed, which creates a very stressful regime for the engine, which is prone to overheating, and the oil is responsible for lubrication and cooling. Therefore, it is better if it is fresh engine oil. Check it - if dirty - change it. If the oil is clean but low, top up (the oil level should be between min marks and max). pure oil more often it should be a pleasant brownish-yellow color.
The battery is not so terrible in winter as in summer.
Summer heat can do much more damage. battery than bitter cold. In the heat of the chemical reactions occurring in the battery, significantly accelerated. Electrolyte fumes can also piss off the battery. Here the principle is the same as everywhere else - it is better to prevent than to cure. Keep distilled water handy just in case.
Air conditioning is not a luxury, but a means of maintaining a comfortable temperature in the car.
Therefore, its breakdown in summer heat we don't need anything. The air conditioner must keep the temperature 10 degrees lower than outside. If not, then this is the first sign of its malfunction. And you will have to go to a car service to fix this problem. Modern vehicles use the atmosphere-friendly refrigerant R-134a, and new ones are currently being developed.
The most common cause of air conditioner failure is insufficient level coolant. More often than not, this is due to leakage. Inspection of modern complex air conditioning systems is best done at certified service stations.
No tire, no car!
Be sure to check your tire pressure. An increase in temperature by 10 degrees leads to a change in tire pressure, by about 7-14 kPa (0.07 - 0.14 bar). At insufficient pressure the tire in the heat can even explode. Make it a rule to control the level of tire pressure. Also remember that worn tire- loses almost all its properties! These tires are dangerous to drive. There is a homemade way to find out if your tire is still fit with a two-ruble coin: insert the coin into the tread with the eagle's head down. If the top of the bird is not visible above the tire, the tire has not yet reached its end of life.
What elements and systems should be checked first.
With the onset of warm weather, traveling by car turns into a great vacation option. We will tell you what you need to do in the car before leaving home for a long time.
The first question that a novice traveler may have is: why prepare your car at all? The answer is quite simple: to avoid unpleasant breakdowns on the road, and not turn an unforgettable experience into a real nightmare. In addition, the preparation of the machine is a test of the operation of all critical systems. Therefore, if you monitor the condition of your car, then this procedure will not take you a lot of strength and nerves, but it will allow you to detect malfunctions, if any.
So, what do you need to check if you are going on a long journey?
Liquids
You do not need to be a professional mechanic to understand that technical fluids play a role in a car similar to human blood. So be sure to pay attention to them. Before driving, check the engine oil level first and top up if necessary. By the way, the oil itself must be changed every 10,000 - 15,000 kilometers, depending on the accepted technical regulations. Many people know that in Europe, automakers accept extended service intervals for many of their models - from 20,000 to 30,000 kilometers. But we must not forget that, firstly, Europeans do not stand in such traffic jams as residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and secondly, the quality of fuel in Europe on average is also higher than in Russia. Therefore, the existing oil change interval is a reasonable compromise. So if you're going on a road trip and haven't changed your oil in a long time, be sure to do so.
The second thing you should pay attention to is the coolant - antifreeze or antifreeze. As you might guess from the name, their main function is to cool the parts of a running engine. Therefore, if you do not want to "boil" in the middle of the track, be sure to make sure that the level of antifreeze is normal, and the hoses and expansion tank no leaks. By the way, the coolant itself also needs to be changed once every few years, depending on the regulations.
The third fluid to check before a long trip is brake fluid. If you suddenly noticed lately that the brake pedal began to fall a little more than usual, it may be brake fluid needs replacement. Also, do not forget about the windshield washer fluid. Of course, in spring and summer it will have to be used much less frequently than in winter, but it will still be much better if it is in a tank. By the way, it is best to buy a special summer “washer”, but if it is not available, ordinary water will do.
Finally, we must not forget about such points as power steering fluid and transmission oil. Both need to be replaced from time to time, even contrary to what automakers sometimes say. Therefore, if you have a middle-aged car, be sure to ask when this procedure was last carried out.
Tires
After verification technical liquids motorists should pay attention to tires. First of all, check the pressure - it should be normal. If you are going to go not alone, but with family or friends, you may need to pump up the tires. On modern vehicles, information about required pressure sometimes placed on the cover of the gas tank hatch. You also need to pay attention to the condition of the tires themselves. Understand that the rubber needs to be replaced with a new one, help special indicators wear. It would also be useful to remember when the last time the wheels were balanced and wheel alignment was done. These operations should preferably be carried out at least once a year. Well, is it worth saying that if the rubber has hernias and cracks on the side wall, does it need to be replaced?
lighting technology
With this item, everything is quite simple. To understand if all external lighting fixtures, ask a relative or friend for help. Let him stand next to the car, and you turn on the parking lights, near and high beam, turn signals, etc. If something from lighting equipment does not work, you should not immediately sound the alarm - most likely, the light bulb just burned out or the fuse burned out. Replacing them usually takes a matter of minutes and can easily be done on your own. So be sure to check them out before you travel. By the way, taking one or two spare lamps with you will be very smart decision, and in some countries it is generally mandatory requirement SDA.
pads
Brake pads, like many other elements, require replacement from time to time. If you have a car with high mileage note what condition they are in. If you have disc brakes, it is quite simple to do this - just look at the place where the block is adjacent to brake disc. And other
Of course, the above list is not entirely complete and includes only those elements that you can check on your own, without outside help. But speaking more globally, the main preparation of the car for long trip is its regular maintenance.
For example, it is during maintenance on a car that the fuel and air filters. Also on service station they will check the condition of the timing belt, suspension elements, as well as the condition of the exhaust and fuel systems. In general, if you regularly service the machine, and do all maintenance work then most likely you have nothing to fear. If you have recently bought a car, or are not completely sure about it technical condition, it is better to go to the nearest workshop and check everything properly.
Thus, preparing a car for a long trip does not require too much effort from the owner. The most important thing is to allocate time for this procedure, and how to do it properly. If you constantly use the car, then almost certainly all the preparation will be limited to visual inspection of certain elements. But if not, then it is much better to find and fix the problem before the trip than to deal with it on a long journey.