The Importance of Pre-Trip Vehicle Checks: A Road Trip Companion's Guide

For me, the open road is like a blank canvas. You can go anywhere, but first, you need a car. Choosing the right car is important, but for me, choosing the right companion is even more important. When it comes to embarking on a long road trip, having a reliable vehicle is crucial. In this article, we will explore the essential pre-trip checks that every driver should consider.

Before We Hit the Road

When preparing for a road trip, I always feel up for a good adventure. However, before we can start our journey, there are a few things to check on the car. My friend Mike is actually here with me today, and he's kindly agreed to help me go over these checks. First, we want to make sure that the motor oil is at the right level. "The oil is the lifeblood of the engine," I explain to Mike. "So it's important that it's at the right level." We grab the yellow dipstick and check the oil level. If it's been a while since the last oil change, we'll want to do one before we head out on our trip.

Checking the Air Filter

In addition to checking the motor oil, we also need to make sure that the air filter is clean. "If it's clogged with dirt or debris, the engine isn't going to run as efficiently," I warn Mike. We check the air filter box and ensure that it's not dirty. This is an important part of our pre-trip checks because a dirty air filter can decrease fuel efficiency and cause the engine to work harder.

Coolant Level

Next, we need to check the coolant level. "The engine coolant keeps the engine running at the proper temperature," I explain to Mike. We locate the reservoir and ensure that it's at the correct level. If it needs topping up, we'll do so before continuing with our checks.

Battery Terminals

We also need to make sure that the battery terminals are properly hooked up. "If there's white debris on the terminals, you'd want to wipe that off with a wire brush," I advise Mike. This is an important part of our pre-trip checks because dirty terminals can cause the car to not start.

Windshield Washer Fluid

Another essential check is the windshield washer fluid level. "You don't want to have to stop at a gas station and buy more windshield washer fluid," I warn Mike. We top up the reservoir to ensure that we're prepared for any unexpected delays on our trip.

Hoses and Belts

Before putting the hood down, we need to check the hoses and belts. "Just want to grab them and make sure they're not soft or mushy anywhere," I instruct Mike. This is an important part of our pre-trip checks because worn-out hoses and belts can cause the car to break down on us.

Tires

Tires are also a critical component of our vehicle. We need to check the tire pressures when they're cold, as this will give us an accurate reading. "You always want to set them according to what the manual says they should be set to," I advise Mike. Additionally, we want to check the tread wear and make sure there aren't any abnormalities on the sidewall.

Headlights and Brake Lights

When it comes to safety on the road, our headlights and brake lights are essential. We need to ensure that both headlights are working properly, as this will help us navigate through dark conditions safely. I turn on the headlights, and Mike confirms that they're both working correctly.

Brake Lights

We also need to check the brake lights to make sure they're functioning properly. "It's very important that the brake lights are working because you want cars behind you to know when you're slowing down," I explain to Mike. We test the brake lights and confirm that they're working correctly.

Are We Ready?

With all of our pre-trip checks complete, we're ready to hit the road. "I'm tired," Mike says, but I reassure him that it's actually a pretty good idea to pull over every couple of hours or so. Taking breaks can help us recharge and stretch out our legs before continuing with our journey.

As we prepare to leave, I ask Mike if he has any food for the road trip. "Yeah," he replies, and we pack some snacks to keep us fueled throughout our adventure.

Pulling Over

Just as we're about to set off, I notice a rest area nearby. "Why don't we pull over here?" I suggest to Mike. We take a break and stretch out our legs before continuing with our journey. As we sit down for a snack, I ask Mike how far we'll be going. He's not sure, but he thinks it would be a good idea to take some food with us.

And that's where our pre-trip checks come in – they're essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable road trip. By following these simple steps, you can help prevent breakdowns and make the most of your time on the open road.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enFor me, the open roadis like a blank canvas.You can go anywhere, butfirst, you need a car.This car looks likeit'll get the job done.Choosing the rightcar is important.But for me, choosingthe right companionis even more important.Hey, Mike, how are you?I'm great, Jack.How are you?Good.You feeling up for a drive?Maybe to some place amazingwe've never been before?Heck, yeah, I'm alwaysup for a good road trip.But there's a few thingswe should check on the carbefore we go.Mike, don't worry about it.I got you covered.Looks great.How you like that?OK, so the first thing we wantto check under the hood here,Jack, is the motor oil.I mean, the oil is thelifeblood of the engine.So it's important thatit's at the right level.So you can just grab thatyellow dipstick right there.And then after youwipe it off with a rag,we'll put it back in, andwe'll check the oil level.And of course, if you haven'tchanged your oil or your oilfilter in a while,then you're goingto want to do that before youhead out on a trip as well.Oh, looks good.And you can see this oneis at the correct level.So we're good to go with that.Perfect.So you also want tomake sure that youcheck the air filter, whichis in that box right there.Yep.And so the importantthing about thatis if it's cloggedwith dirt or debris,the engine isn't goingto run as efficiently.So that's very important.You're going to want tomake sure your coolantlevel is at the right amount.And that's thisreservoir right here.The engine coolantkeeps the enginerunning at theproper temperature,make sure it isn'tgoing to overheat.There's lines right here thathelp you with making surethat it's at the right amount.So you could add someif you needed to.OK.Of course, you alsowant to make surethat your battery terminalsare properly hooked up,and that there'sno white debris.And if there was, you'dwant to wipe that offwith a wire brush.And then you've got yourwindshield washer fluid here.You're going to probably beusing your windshield wipersif the windshield gets dirty,if it's dusty out therewhere you're driving.Bugs hitting the windshield.Yeah, so you're going to wantto make sure that's full now.You don't want to haveto stop at a gas stationand buy more windshieldwasher fluid.And the last thingwe want to checkbefore we put the hood downis your hoses and belts.So you just want to grab them,make sure that they're not softor mushy anywhere.Or any leaking anyway.Make sure they're not leaking.Make sure that your belts,which are down here,make sure they aren'tfraying at all.If there's any problems likethat-- fraying or cracks--then you're going to want toget those replaced before yougo out on a long road trip.Sounds great, Mike.Let's move on.Great, well, you knowhow we talked beforeabout how it's importantthat your window washerfluid is full?Well, it's also important tocheck your windshield wipers.And so you want to make surethat the rubber is stillsoft and supple-- thatthere aren't any cracks.And our tests haveactually shownthat you shouldreplace your windshieldwipers about every six months.Now, what about tires?They're prettyimportant too, no?Well, they're super important.I mean, they're how the caris connected to the road.So the first thing you want todo is check the tire pressures.You always want to checkthose when they're cold.Like, the firstthing in the morningis a great time to check them.And you want toset them accordingto what the manual saysthey should be set to.You also want tocheck the tread wear.You want to make surethat there's stillplenty of tread left--that there aren't anyabnormalities on the sidewall.If you hit a curb sometimes,you can damage the tire.And if that happens, youwant to replace that tire.But these tireslook pretty good.Jack, we also need to checkthe car's lights, boththe headlights andthe brake lights.We want to make sure that bothheadlights are working properlyso that if you're drivingin very dark conditions,you can see asclearly as possible.So I'm going togo up front here.And why don't youturn the lights on?Yep.They're both working.We're good.Great.Now, we also want tocheck the brake lights.And it's very importantthat the brake lightsare working becauseyou want carsbehind you to know when you'reslowing down so that they won'tpotentially hit you.So I'm going tohave you go aheadand step on thebrake pedal, Jack.Yep, both brakelights are working.We're good.Ah, Mike, blankcanvas of a road trip.You ready for a drive?Let's do it.I'm tired.Yeah, well, it's actuallya pretty good ideato pull over everycouple hours or so.Take a little break,recharge, stretch out.Actually, this lookslike a pretty good restarea over here.Why don't we pull off theroad and take a little break?OK, hold on.How far we going, Jack?I don't know but, I thinkwe should packed some food.Yeah.\n"