If you’re not flying to visit family this holiday season, then you are likely driving. But unless your car is ready to take on the weather and potentially hazardous road conditions, you could end up spending the holidays in the waiting room of a mechanic’s shop. It doesn’t matter if your car is an Audi, Mercedes, BMW or another foreign make—your European master repair service in Conway, AR suggests doing a pre-trip inspection and maintenance check so you are better prepared for holiday travel. Here’s what such a checkup entails:
- Change the oil: Even if you’ve recently changed the oil in your car, it’s important that you check the oil level and quality before taking to the road this holiday season. Since oil is needed to lubricate working parts, smelling a burning odor is a sign that you are driving on old or dirty oil. Hopefully, if this does happen, it’s before your trip, so you can get the oil changed and the engine inspected.
- Keep gas in the tank: There’s potential for your gas tank to run into problems when freezing temperatures hit. Don’t let your gas tank go too low or run on empty. Letting this happen can lead to moisture forming in the gasoline system, and this moisture may freeze throughout the fuel line, causing your vehicle to stall. So, while making your holiday travel plans, it would be a good idea to map out some strategically located gas stations along the way. A full gas tank equals a happy car!
- Check tires: It’s likely that the cold winter weather has left your tires a little low on air. Therefore, you should check your tire pressure before inspecting anything else, and recheck the pressure after you get to your destination and again prior to leaving. Now that you’ve checked the air, you will want to make sure you’re not driving on bald tires. Especially since road conditions are likely snowy and icy, it’s crucial that the tire tread is adequate and free of damage to avoid spinouts or getting a flat en route.
- Test the heater: You don’t want to be cold your entire trip, which is why getting the heater tested is a good course of action. Without heat coming through the vents, not only will you be uncomfortable, but it also means that your window defroster may not be functioning properly either.
- Pack an emergency car kit: An emergency roadside kit is something you should have in each of your vehicles at all times, not just for holiday travel. In your kit, there should be items like flashlights, extra batteries, a cell phone charger, road flares and a first aid kit, as well as bottled water and non-perishable foods. And since the weather is very cold this time of year, bring a bag filled with blankets, jackets and waterproof gloves and socks to keep warm. A small shovel to deal with snow and ice isn’t a bad idea, either.
In need of care for your foreign auto? Lucky for you, the team at Riverdale Automotive is ready to provide superior European master repair service in Conway, AR. Call us today!