Going On Your First Road Trip And Have An Old Car? Make Sure You Check These 2 Things First
Posted on: 2 July 2017
If you are planning to go on your first road trip and you have an old car, you need to make sure your car is in good condition. The last thing you want to have happen is to break down in an area far away from home. To prevent this from happening, below are two things you can do to keep your car on the road:
Change the Oil
If you have not had the oil changed in some time, you need to change it before you leave. Dirty oil can wreak havoc on a car. The one part in your car that dirty oil affects most is your engine. As you likely know, the engine is the most expensive part in your car if you had to have it replaced or repaired.
As oil moves through the engine, it picks up dirt and other debris to keep the engine clean. As it does this, the oil becomes dirtier and dirtier. Once it becomes very dirty it will not be able to pick up the dirt and debris so these things will start to build up on the engine. Over time, this will cause parts in the engine to overheat and cause components to wear out and warp. There will also be less lubrication, which will cause friction between the moving parts, which results in even more problems.
All of this can be easily prevented by getting oil changes. Refer to your car's owner's manual on how often you should have this done.
Tune it Up
Another thing you should do before you leave on your road trip is to have your car tuned up. This tune up will involve things like replacing the fuel filters, replacing the spark plugs and if needed, installing a new rotor and distributor cap. If there are oil leaks in your car the mechanic will install new gaskets. A full evaluation will be done on the timing and ignition system, all fluid levels will be checked and topped off if needed, and valves will be adjusted.
These things will help your car run much more efficiently and prevent you from breaking down. You will notice your car has more power and you will also likely notice that you are getting better gas mileage.
Take your car to a mechanic to have these things done. They will also do other maintenance on your car, such as check your tires, breaks, etc. Contact a company like Hillis 66 Service for more information and assistance.
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