5 places in the car that need to be checked before every long trip

This year's April 30 - May 1 holiday coincides with the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, so most workers have up to 5 days off, causing the demand for car travel of many families to increase dramatically. Journeys home or travel of up to several hundred kilometers always require the car to be in good technical condition.

According to safe driving experts, before each trip, car owners need to take some time to check some items themselves, instead of just getting in the car, starting the engine and going right away. As for old cars, if possible, they should take the car to a reputable garage to "check" and maintain some necessary items a few days before so that the long trip is safe and secure.

Checking some basic items of the vehicle will make long trips safer. Photo: Hoang Hiep

Below are 5 locations on the car that car owners need to pay special attention to:

1. Cooling water system

When the car is running, the temperature from the car's engine is very high. Without coolant, the metal parts inside the engine will expand and seize, causing damage to the car. A car cannot operate stably and durably without coolant.

In particular, with old cars that have been used for more or less 10 years, the parts of the cooling system such as the water tank, water pump, wires, etc. will more or less deteriorate. If unfortunately this system malfunctions or leaks, running out of coolant can cause the engine to overheat, overheat, seize, etc., which is very dangerous when traveling long distances.

Therefore, the cooling system in general and the coolant in particular need to be constantly checked. If the coolant is lost, it can be due to many reasons such as a punctured radiator, leakage through the line, evaporation or a broken coolant pump, etc. It needs to be carefully considered to have a thorough solution.

Engine oil and coolant leaks need to be fixed immediately. Photo: Dinh Quy

2. Engine compartment

Before each long trip, you should open the hood to check the details inside. "Examining" the details below in the engine compartment does not take too much time but can somewhat assess the possible errors that may arise in the car.

When opening the hood, you should check if there is enough engine oil? Are there any signs of oil leakage? In addition, you should check the brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, belts, ... electrical wires to see if they have been bitten by rats? If you see any problems, fix them immediately.

Another thing to note is that if there are a lot of dry leaves stuck under the engine compartment, you should also clean them because while moving, the high temperature of the engine compartment during long trips can burn dry leaves, which is very dangerous.

3. Injector, intake manifold, spark plug, air filter

The injectors, intake manifold, spark plugs, high-voltage wires, air filters, etc. directly affect the vehicle's performance and efficiency. These parts, when working well, will help optimize engine power, save fuel, and make the vehicle move smoothly and quietly.

Check the ignition system to ensure the vehicle operates smoothly and stably. Photo: Hoang Hiep

For cars that have been used for many years, the injectors, intakes, and spark plugs are often dirty, leading to blockages and clogging. Therefore, you need to pay close attention to these parts. If your car has not had these parts cleaned for a long time, do not hesitate to bring them to the garage for washing and cleaning.

4. Tires

Tires are an extremely important part, so you need to pay attention to the tire condition and promptly handle it before each long trip. You can also recognize the condition or problems of the tire with the naked eye. If the tire is too old and worn, do not hesitate to replace it for more peace of mind on your journey.

If you discover that your car has a tire problem such as low air pressure, a nail stuck in it, etc., you must promptly add air with a mini pump or go to the nearest garage to thoroughly handle it before going out on the road. A tip is that if you discover a nail, do not pull it out because that will make the tire deflate faster.

With the naked eye, you can also recognize the condition or problems of the tire to promptly fix it. Photo: Hoang Hiep

5. Brake system

Brakes are an extremely important part, helping to regulate speed and keep the vehicle safe, however many people only take it for repair when there is a problem with the brakes.

Before long trips like the upcoming April 30 - May 1 holiday, car owners should check their brakes to ensure they do not encounter unfortunate risks when operating their cars, especially when driving on steep mountain passes and using the brakes a lot.

Normally, at garages, mechanics will remove the wheel, then remove the brake to check the pads and oil. Finally, clean the brake pads if they are dirty due to dust, grease the brake caliper and reassemble them as before.

For disc brakes, after a period of use, under the impact of braking and the external environment such as soil, rocks, temperature, etc., the brake disc can warp, making the brake disc rough or uneven in thickness. In such cases, refinishing the brake disc is considered the most effective solution to solve the braking problem.

Above are some parts that should be prioritized for inspection and maintenance to ensure peace of mind when traveling far away. With the above 5 items, car owners can check themselves within 5-7 minutes.

If any problems arise, this is the "golden" time to help you bring it to the garage to fix it in no more than 1-2 hours, but will minimize unnecessary risks that may arise on the road.