There is nothing better than getting into your car in summer, rolling the windows down and just driving. It doesn’t matter if you are going to the beach, into the countryside or heading to the nearest big city: there is something indulgent about just going wherever you want to during your at-home summer holiday. But a breakdown – inconvenient, annoying and often expensive – is one thing that you don’t want to happen.
Here’s how to get your car summer ready so breakdowns are less likely to occur…
1 A GOOD SERVICE
If you’ve not had your car serviced in a while, it’s probably time to get it checked out before you hit the open road. If you’re making a long journey for a UK-based holiday, a thorough car service will make sure that your vehicle is in good condition and will be able to cope with long hours of driving as you get to and around your holiday destination. A service is a great way to achieve peace of mind and ensure that you avoid the expense of an unexpected mechanical problem, plus it’ll help your vehicle process fuel more efficiently – making savings on every mile. You can get car servicing for your vehicle at DAT Tyres.
2 TOP UP FLUIDS
If you have recently had a service and don’t need another, make sure you at least check and top up all your fluids. Some car systems are sealed and these will not need topping up, but others do allow for manual refilling of brake fluid, water and oil. Ensuring that all these small but significant measures are filled correctly will prevent any issues caused by running out – hopefully, for long enough that you can enjoy your holiday and get home comfortably! It’s a small effort to ensure that your vehicle’s fluids are at optimum levels so it’s worth doing before you set off, especially you consider the costly alternatives.
3 TYRE CHECK
Check your tyres before any long drive – it would put a real downer on your holiday if you were changing a tyre on the hard-shoulder. And, with that in mind, make sure that you at least have a spare tyre, car jack and all the tools you’ll need to be able to change a tyre if needed! Not only should this, but you should keep all your tyres inflated to the correct levels given in your user’s manual, make sure your tread depth is within legal limits and check that there are no visible flaws or distortions in the sidewalls of the tyres.
4 THE INTERIOR
What other things will you need in your car during a long hot drive? Well, it very much depends on the other travellers in the car with you but your summer essentials will probably include snacks, maybe a selection of music and something to keep kids entertained. Most important is plenty of water, preferably in thermal flasks or a coolbag to keep it chilled. I can say this from experience as I once got stuck in a very long traffic jam in the hot summer heat with nothing to drink for hours – not fun.
Let me know what other things you think are essential for summer journeys in the comments below. I’d love to hear your tips, especially for travelling to your holiday destination with little ones in the car! 🙂
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