There are some essential car checks you should perform before making a long journey. Luckily we’ve got a handy checklist to help you before you set off. Follow our simple acronym and you can’t go wrong!
Essential Car Checks Acronym
F.L.O.W.E.R.
F is for Fuel
Fuel may be the most obvious fluid your car needs for a long journey but you would be amazed at how many people set off without having enough petrol in the tank. OK, so you may have to make a few ‘pit stops’ if you’ve got children, but you shouldn’t need to add petrol to your stop as well. Besides, everyone knows that motorway service stations are more expensive than your local garage.
L is for Lights
Making sure all your vehicles lights are working before you set off is an essential and surprisingly one of the most overlooked essential car checks. After all the last thing you need is to be pulled over because a bulb has burnt out and you didn’t realise.
I recommend asking someone to help you with this, because unless you’re Superman you can’t be pressing the brake pedal and checking the brake lights at the same time. Luckily checking the rest of your lights is easy to do. Simply put your headlights and hazard lights on and walk around the car. If a light bulb has burnt out you’ll spot it very easily. Even in broad daylight.
O is for Oil
Oil is the third of our essential car checks before you set off on a long journey. Yes you might have recently had a service on your car, but it’s still an important check to carry out as every engine needs a healthy supply of oil in order to run smoothly.
The best way to check your engine oil is when your cars’ engine is cold and the vehicle is parked on a flat, level surface. It goes without saying but make sure your engine is off when you check the engine oil. Simply pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with some kitchen paper, replace it and then check the markings on the dipstick. If the oil level is low it’s best to top it up before setting off as low engine oil levels can cause damage and could lead to your engine overheating. If you’re not sure which oil is best suited for your engine I suggest checking the owners’ manual to see what the manufacturer recommends.
W is for Water
Whilst you’re under the bonnet checking your oil level, it’s also a good idea to check the other important fluids your engine needs to run smoothly. Your coolant level should be visible through the side of the reservoir. If it’s slightly low don’t worry as you can top it up with a little water. You shouldn’t however mix different anti-freezes, so make sure you have the right one. If you aren’t sure, it can be a good idea to ask a local mechanic for help.
Whilst we’re performing essential car checks on fluids, I suggest checking, and if necessary topping up your screen wash. This is one of the simplest things to do, and let’s be honest, you’ve probably done it plenty of times. You can fill the screen wash reservoir with a ready mixed bottle or plain water. After all you need to see where you’re going!
E is for Electrics
All vehicles (especially electric ones) need a battery to run. There isn’t a lot you can do with modern batteries. Just make sure you have one and that it’s secure. If you can’t find your battery under the bonnet, don’t worry. Stay positive and check your vehicles manual, some modern cars have the battery hidden in the boot; others just have a plastic cover over them.
R is for Rubber
The last of our essential car checks is your tyres! After all these small round things connect you to the road, so you should want to make sure they are in good condition for your journey.
There are four things to look out for when it comes to checking your tyres before a long journey.
- Pressure
- Uneven Wear
- Side Wall Damage
- Tread Depth
If you aren’t sure what your tyre pressures should be (and yes there’s a good chance the front and rear tyres need to be a different pressures) there are two places you can find out. The first place is in your vehicles manual, simply search the index for the right page. The second place, and probably the easiest place, is on the driver side door frame. Depending on how many passengers and luggage you will be carrying will depend on what pressure your tyres should be at.
It is important to make sure you don’t over or under inflate your tyres as this can lead to uneven wear, which can reduce a tyres lifespan.
Whilst I’ve got you making essential car checks on your tyres, it’s also a good idea to check the overall condition. Lumps, bulges, tears or cuts in a tyres sidewall could lead to a dangerous failure if ignored. Sidewall bulges cannot be repaired, they show that the tyre is unsafe and must be replaced as soon as possible. Tyres are illegal if you find a cut longer than 25mm or a cut deep enough that the cords are exposed.
Cracking in the sidewall is a sign of general aging, exposure to sunlight or salty air. Usually your tyres will wear out before they start to show signs of aging, however it can become an issue on tyres that aren’t used very often, such as caravans and trailers.
The last of our car checks for your tyres is the tread depth. It’s important to note that the legal tread depth is 1.6mm. Most garages and tyre shops will recommend changing your tyres if the tread depth is less than 2mm. Luckily there are two easy ways to check the tread depth yourself.
Every tyre has a tread wear indicator built into it. These are small notches of rubber in the groove of a tyre to indicate the legal tread limit. If these are level with the outer layer of the tyre then it’s time for fresh rubber on your wheels.
The second way is the 20p test. “20p test, what’s that?” I hear your cry. Well this is simple, take a 20p piece and insert it into the deepest part of the tread on your tyre. If you can’t see the outer band of the 20p coin then your tyre is legal. If however you can see the outer band of the 20p coin, then your tyre is illegal, and you should change it before setting off.
If you have a spare wheel in the boot of your car it’s also worth checking this, as no matter how carefully you drive you may need it.
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