Before you head for your next road trip, make sure you follow these essential car maintenance checklist and you’re fully prepared.

Certainly, going on a road trip is a fun experience of your life. It’s a great way to enjoy your vacation or having a great moment with your friends and family.

But if any problem arises in your car while you are on a road trip, it isn’t a pleasant experience. And, of course, if you drive through remote areas of Nepal, you’ll not have easy access to an experienced mechanic at all places. This is why it is a good idea to go through a car maintenance checklist before you hit the road.

By having a car maintenance checklist, you can actually save a lot of time and hassles along the way. To make it easier, we have created an essential car maintenance checklist for you.

Engine

The engine is the heart of the vehicle. So, every part of the car engine should be well inspected before going on the road trip.

Engine oil

When you drive for long hours, engine parts build up friction and heat. That’s why engine parts need to be well lubricated to prevent the engine breakdown from long exposure of heat and friction. To know more about the benefits of an engine oil change, read our article: “how right engine oil change can bring out the best in your vehicle?”

Check the level of engine oil by inserting a dipstick. If you find it below the minimum level, you need to change the engine oil. Also, notice the color of the engine oil. The color should be black or brown. If you observe light, milky appearance, it suggests that coolant is leaking.

If you need to change engine oil, you need to look for quality products that are designed for optimal engine performance of your vehicle. A synthetic engine oil such as Petronas Urania and Petronas Sprinta can protect your engine against thermal breakdown and friction in the engine.

Engine coolant

Check the quantity and color of the engine coolant. The color of the coolant should be green or orange, not rusty red. If the car is running without coolant, this might cause overheating and damage to engine parts.

Engine sound

Listen to engine sound properly before you hot take your car for a road trip. The engine should run smoothly without any excess noise. If you find alteration in engine sound, it indicates the possibility of engine wear. A kind of heavy rattling or knocking noises on engine signifies the wear of crankshaft and big end bearing. Similarly, clattering or light knocking noises implies the camshaft wear in the engine.

Transmission

The transmission system allows a vehicle to change gears. It is responsible for power distribution and regulating speed in the vehicle.

When you’re driving a car with manual transmission, you need to check out the operation of the clutch and gear. You can do this by driving a car uphill in top gear, and noticing the shift in the gear from top speed to normal speed. If you notice crunch or whine sound in the gearbox, you should replace it.

Also, consider changing transmission oil at regular intervals. It lubricates the transmission components and prevents the wear of the system.

Suspension

The cars’ suspension system is made up of chassis, steering, shock absorbers, and tyres.  They support the vehicle for a smooth ride while riding in the bumpy roads. While you inspect the suspension, take the car on a levelled ground and observe carefully. If it is tilted to any one side more than others, it is likely due to the broken suspension system.  

If you feel more shakes as you drive, this may indicate the issue with the suspension. Furthermore, to check the condition of a shock absorber, you can conduct the bounce test. For that, press down on the front of the vehicle and observe how it recovers. A good condition car settles down in a single bounce. If it rebounds for few times before settling, this indicates the problem in a shock absorber.

Wheels and Tyres

Aside from looking at the general condition of the suspension system, do not forget to check the condition of the wheels. Most of the roads in Nepal is challenging, mainly rough terrains and unwinding road. As you drive, you are more likely to have problems with your tyres and wheels. So, you must be well prepared in advance.

When driving, notice the movement of the front wheel. There shouldn’t be any noticeable delay while you steer the car. Check for wheel wobble at speed. If the steering wheel produces shimmy noise, this indicates distorted wheel rims.

Always take spare wheels with you. Prepare yourself with the basics of tyre change so that you can change without any hurdles in case your tyre goes flat. Make sure you’ve necessary tools such as spare tyre, jack, and spanner present in your vehicle.

The tyres are more liable to wears and physical damage than any other parts of your vehicle as they are in constant contact with road surfaces. So you need to look for scuffing, cracking, cuts and bulges in the circumference of the tyres. Besides that, check out the tread depth gauge of all the four tyres and pay attention to any mismatched tyres.

Also, you can inspect at all four corners of the car whether the same model of the tyre has been used or not. If not checked on time, this might create a problem while handling ypur car. It also affects the braking performance.

Make sure your vehicle has recommended tyre pressure before you leave for a road trip. Both maximum and minimum tyre pressure creates extra friction and consumes more fuel.

Lights

The lighting system ensures your safety. It is an important communication tool when driving a vehicle. Before you go on a road trip, make sure you check all the lighting system of your vehicle. For that, you may need your friend  to monitor lights on the outside while you are activating them from inside. If you find any fault, you should rectify it as soon as possible because a car is unworthy to drive if it’s lighting system is not working properly.

Emergency tool kit

When it comes to travelling long distances, you must always prepare for unexpected events. An emergency toolkit saves you from hassles and being stranded for hours. If any problem arises, you can set out for a quick repair and get back on the road quickly.

Here is a list of items you need to have in your emergency tool kit. It includes first aid box, water bottles, flashlight, warm clothing, snacks, spare tyre, tyre pressure gauge and inflator, flashlight, toolkit, safety triangles, jumper cables, gloves, and paper towels.

About us

BATAS Brothers Private Limited is automobile dealership in Pokhara, renowned for selling a wide range of Maruti Suzuki cars and spare parts in Nepal. Moreover, we provide easy financing and after-sales services for our customers.

For more information, contact us– 061530028, 9856035410, 9856024795 or visit our showroom at Nayabazar, Pokhara.