What Should You Check Before Taking the Car on the Highway?
1 Answers
Before taking the car on the highway, you need to check the tires, engine oil, coolant, lights, and brakes. Here are the specific details: 1. Tires: Carefully inspect the appearance of each tire for any scratches. If it's just a rubber scratch, it doesn't affect usage, but if the inner tire cords are damaged, the tire must be replaced. If the tires haven't been rotated in over two years, it's best to swap the front tires with the rear ones. Thoroughly check the consistency of all four tires. Drive on a flat road without holding the steering wheel to see if the car moves straight; otherwise, get a four-wheel alignment immediately. 2. Engine Oil: Park the car on a level surface, wait for it to cool, then pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert it fully, and pull it out again to check. The oil level should be between the minimum and maximum marks on the dipstick; it must not exceed these limits. 3. Coolant: Coolant prevents the engine's cooling liquid from freezing and expanding during cold winter stops, which could crack the radiator and engine block. Coolant should be used year-round. 4. Lights: This includes headlights, reverse lights, brake lights, turn signals, interior lights, fog lights, etc., especially fog lights—if there's an issue, replace them immediately. 5. Brakes: Check the thickness of the brake pads; if they seem too thin (less than 2mm), they need replacement. Drive at normal speed and test the brakes for any abnormalities. Park the car on a slope to check if the handbrake works effectively.
