Car Maintenance Tips Before a Family Road Trip

Heading out on the open road and taking a meandering tour should be all about kicking back and relaxing. There's no need to push on mile after mile, especially when you have kids in the back with you. After all, a road trip is just us much enjoying the journey as it is about the destination. However, breaking down or suffering from a mechanical problem is never pleasant and is certainly something you want to avoid if your car is full of suitcases and family members. Therefore, make sure you run through the following checklist before embarking on your next family road trip.

• Check your tyres before you make any long journey, particularly if you are driving for longer than you usually would. Tyre pressure should be correct and you must also look at the sides of your tyres, as well as the tread depth, to make sure no cracks or bulges are forming.

• Confirm your oil level. Although your vehicle's oil will be changed during a usual car service, it is necessary to top it up now and then. In the strong Australian sun, oil can get used up keeping your motor's components cool. Always use your dipstick to check the oil level when the engine is cool and don't just rely on warning lights.

• Look at all of your lights. Drivers who only travel during the day can sometimes get caught out on longer journeys, such as family road trips. You need to make sure that all of your bulbs light up properly before heading off, not just your indicators and brake lights. Check your dipped and full beam headlamps, plus your fog light and reversing lamps.

• Re-pressurise your air conditioning because, over time, most car air conditioning systems lose pressure. You may notice that your car takes longer to become cool than it used to or that only certain parts of the interior tend to feel the benefit. If so, it is a sure sign that your system needs to be re-pressurised.

• Have your tracking looked at by a professional. Car servicing engineers will soon be able to adjust the tracking of your car. If your wheels are incorrectly aligned, then you may notice that your car begins to pull in one direction or the other. Even if you don't detect this, incorrectly aligned wheels can impact on your ability to drive efficiently and even to swerve properly if you are unlucky enough to come upon a hazard on the road.