Engine Maintenance - Top Tips Before Taking Your Car On Holiday

If you've decided you're going to stay in the country for your holiday this year and you're planning on driving, you're going to need to perform a bit of basic engine maintenance first. There's no substitute for a professional service, and if you've noticed anything out of the ordinary get it checked and sorted before you leave.

Engine Oil

The first place to start would be with the engine oil. Engine oil is essential as it not only helps carry heat away from the hotter parts of the engine but it also keeps vital parts of the engine lubricated and prevents friction which in turn helps prevent corrosion, if you notice any leaks or engine oil seeping out from pipes you need to get your car seen by a trained mechanic. When topping up the engine oil, only ever use the viscosity recommended by the manufacture for your car, do not buy engine oil for a petrol engine of you drive a diesel just because it was on special offer, your engine will not thank you for this. Engine oil needs to be not only checked but also changed on a regular basis, old oil can get clogged or contaminated which means not only is it not dong it's job, it's also going to damage your engine too. Try to change the engine oil a few times a year or about every 3,000 miles, you'll need to change it more often if you do a lot of stop start driving rather than long commuting trips.

Engine Coolant

Engine coolant also helps keep your engine cool by carrying the heat away from the hotter parts of the engine, we all know that anti freeze stops vital engine fluids freezing in cold weather, but it also helps stop those same fluids over heating in the hotter weather, like the engine oil, it is also there to help prevent corrosion. You ideally want the fluid in your radiator to be half water then half anti freeze. If we do get some hot weather this summer and you're stuck in a traffic jam in it, your engine will appreciate the anti freeze running through the radiator. Again like the engine oil, if you notice a leak get it seen to straight away by someone who knows what they're doing.

Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluids will also need to be checked, although this may not be as common or as easy as checking the engine oil, it's still imperative it's done. Some of the signs the transmission fluid needs to be checked could be gear changes not being very smooth, or the brakes not performing as well as they should be, if too much water gets into the brake fluid, the brakes wont work at all and so should be checked at least once a year. If your car has power steering, this fluid will need to be checked too. Although this may not seem as serious as brake fluid, it's still essential it's topped up and checked regularly, your steering wheel is just as important as your brakes.

Windscreen Washer

Another simple thing you should check is your windscreen washer, those of you who are a little more optimistic may be hoping you wont need to use your windscreen wipers whilst you're on holiday, but it's not just rain that could cause you to need them. If you're driving somewhere particularly dry or dusty or even if the guy in front hasn't got his windscreen washers set right and ends up getting more washer over your windscreen than his. If you're not sure where you're going you may need to clear your windscreen instantly and having no windscreen wash can prove very dangerous.

Water

One last fluid that everyone can afford is water, always keep a big bottle in your boot, you never know when your engine or one of your passengers may need it.