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Technical problems on a long road are unpleasant in themselves, and all the more undesirable if the driver encounters them in winter, when both the repair and his waiting are especially unpleasant.
Read about several actions that will make the car more reliable in winter in the RBC-Ukraine article.
On a long journey, especially in winter, no driver can be "100%" confident in his car. Yes, the probability of technical problems is lower on a new car, but even a not-so-new car can be brought up to a younger one in terms of reliability, if you give the car a little time. At least the risk of failure can be significantly reduced for the near term.
What threatens the car on a long road
The fact that the car gives us surprises far from home actually has a completely natural explanation. At least from an engineering point of view.
- Significant mileage. When we go somewhere far away, we put more kilometers on the gimbal every day than usual. Often, in such cases, we pass our weekly, or even monthly, rate in a day. It is clear that according to the theory of reliability, the probability of failure increases many times.
- Fast movement in conditions of low temperature and high humidity additionally loads the car's systems. On the one hand, this is a standard mode for modern models, but on the other hand, few Ukrainian drivers follow it for such a long time. So it is not surprising that it is precisely in such trips that those problems that are rare during everyday operation manifest themselves.
- Full download. We usually go on vacation with a full trunk, a full tank (or even two, if the car is equipped with HBO) and a full interior. Accordingly, the machine is subjected to additional loads. In light of the previous three points, this reduces the reliability of the machine.
- Unfamiliar roads. If we are talking about domestic routes, unfortunately, not all of them are smooth asphalt. And on an unfamiliar road, it is much easier to miss a dangerous pothole, even if you are a generally attentive driver. Therefore, it is not surprising that the undercarriage can be subjected to excessive loads during such trips.
On a long road in winter: what to check in the car
Even taking into account all the factors listed above, the driver cannot rule them all out in principle. However, something can be done by preparing the car accordingly.
- Tightness. Before a long journey, an inspection of systems containing liquids is required. It is about fluid levels, hose joints, nozzles, radiators. Leaks should be eliminated, and on a car with a mileage of more than 150 - 200 thousand kilometers, ideally, all old rubber and plastic parts of the cooling system should be replaced.
- Expendable details. Brake pads and hoses, suspension hinges, drive belts - everything that shows signs of significant wear should be adjusted or replaced.
- Electrical equipment. Spark plug wires, connectors under the hood, alarm, lamps in headlights should be checked for correct operation and reliable connection. If consumable parts have been working for a long time, they can be replaced with new ones as a preventive measure.
- Fuel system. It is very desirable to check the cleanliness of the nozzles (injectors) and filter meshes of the fuel pump (pumps). Diagnostics of the engine with a scanner will help in the conditions of the service station.
- Filters. Find out how many kilometers are left before the scheduled replacement of filters. And if this should happen soon, it is better to replace them ahead of time. The fact is that some filters can clog prematurely during a long trip in winter - for example, due to inadequate fuel at an unknown gas station.
- Tires should be winter tires and preferably not too worn (the legal limit of 1,6 mm of tread depth is a critical figure that should not be exceeded). Also check if there are no cuts or bulges on the sidewalls, because with long-term movement with a full load, such damage can lead to the destruction of the tire.
There is one important rule that, unfortunately, not all drivers know about: before a long road, it is impossible to perform work related to intervention in the systems and units of the machine. Because after such actions, the probability of failure of a certain system increases - even if you dealt with responsible service station employees.
It is necessary to bring the car into working order not a day or two before the planned journey, but not less than a week. After the repair, you need time so that you have time to “wind up” at least a hundred kilometers on the odometer and detect possible defects of new spare parts or errors of servicemen.
