Finally! You’ve booked your destination and are ready to enjoy your much-needed vacation. But can your car safely drive long distances? If you’re driving a high-mileage vehicle, you might be wondering, “Will my car handle a road trip?” “Before hitting the road, check out these driving do’s and don’ts to see if your car is ready for a long drive.
Is My Car Too Old for a Road Trip?
The first thing you might want to know is “Can my car travel long distances?” Usually, the answer is “it depends”.
The age of the car usually doesn’t determine whether you should drive a car for long journeys or not. An old car or a high-mileage car that is regularly serviced should be safe on a road trip. However, if your car has any of the following issues, it may not be safe to travel long distances.
Your car is leaking oil
An oil spill is never a good sign and could be a sign of a more serious problem. Damaged engine gaskets, frayed seals, and oil pan leaks can all lead to oil leaks, and in some cases, this can cause serious damage to your vehicle – especially if you’re driving long distances.
If your car shows signs of an oil leak, such as oil puddles under your car when parked, the engine is smoking, it smells of burnt oil, the oil light is on, or you find yourself constantly topping up your oil between oil changes, your car may no longer be roadworthy.
You often need to replace or repair parts
Are your car parts failing? Have you made friends with a local towing company? Then your car may not be on the road yet. If you need to replace parts such as brake parts, engine parts, tires, or batteries, or parts such as gearboxes or engines that require frequent repairs, then it’s likely that there are some serious underlying issues that need to be addressed.
Your vehicle is prone to overheating while driving
There are several situations that can cause your vehicle to overheat frequently, and none of these situations are good. Leaks in the cooling system, damaged water pumps, faulty radiator fans, and even severe engine oil leaks can cause an engine to overheat. These problems, in turn, can lead to many other serious problems. If your engine thermometer tends to rise during driving, then your vehicle may not be ready for a road trip.
Feeling violent shaking or shaking while driving
Suspension issues can’t be ignored – if your vehicle rocks violently every time you hit the highway, these issues can be hard to ignore! Shaking or vibration while driving can sometimes indicate an unbalanced tire. But other times, it may indicate a more serious problem, such as a damaged suspension system, a problem with the brakes or wheels, or a damaged engine mount.
Excessive shaking while driving is not only annoying but also dangerous. If your vehicle is subjected to too much severe vibration, other parts may become loose, damaged, or fail completely. So, if you’ve been feeling like your car is shaking a bit lately, a road trip might make it worse.
How to Get Your Old Car Ready for Road Trips
When preparing a car for road trips, it’s usually not about the age of the car, it’s about reliability. If you can use your car with confidence every day and perform regular routine maintenance, your car may be able to cope with road trips.
Get a comprehensive vehicle inspection before you go to help you get your high-mileage car ready for the road. With a comprehensive vehicle inspection, you can help diagnose potential problems before they become bigger problems later!