CHECK YOUR CAR WELL BEFORE THAT LONG XMAS TRIP !

------ AUTOMOBILE 101 ------

Christmas & New year is around the corner and definitely people will travel but "CAN YOUR CAR HANDLE THAT LONG TRIP?"

Before you start blaming anybody first ask yourself, is it this car you drive only on Sundays or once a week you want to do that 7-16hrs journey with?

That car that has been sleeping in your garage for months now, don't mind its body and engine are looking sharp it's depreciating day by day due to long parking.

Now listen, Engr Gozie Atueyi  is advising you now, if your car didt meet up with most of the requirements below I will advice you not to put the car on the road for that long journey, find an alternative way of traveling so you woun't blame yourself. 

1▪︎If the car have not done at least a complete 3-4hrs journey in the last 6 months please don't put her on that 7-16hrs journey, she may disappoint you because the pistons, valves, injector nozzles or even the exhaust catalyst must have blocked and need time and constant driving to free up again.

2▪︎ If your tyres are above 4 years from date of manufacture, thou they may still look sharp but it's tensile strength and elasticity has depreciated.

For the people turning the date inside out your just deceiving yourself.

3▪︎ If you just finished a fire brigade servicing on the car, for example if you just serviced it and have not test drive it for at least one week before hitting the road on that long journey please reconsider. Some mechanics are very careless,there may still be some bolts they didt lock well.

4▪︎ If you have not been doing long distance driving before and familer with the road please don't come and endanger other people's lives.

City driving is totally different from highway driving.

5▪︎If you noticed your car average temperature has increased from what it use to be or you now top your radiator water more often than before consider not traveling with the car because it's likely your water pump, top gasket, fans or your radiator have got some hidden issues which will blow out when you fire the car for hours on the highway.

6▪︎ If you notice cracks on your fan belt pls replace it immediately and keep the old one in your boot as spare.

7▪︎If your car drifts to one side (left or right) when you apply brakes at top speed, go and work on your tie rods, ball joint, bushings or even  brake pads if not the car may drift and enter any nearby bush if you apply emergency brake on the highway. 

8▪︎ Stop over pumping your tyres. Look at the sticker by the driver side door your normal tyre Psi is written there and most times its around 30-35 psi but your vulcanizer will make you pump the tyres to 45-60 psi when you put the car on long journey under hot sun the tyres will build more pressure and burst then you will start blaming your village people for no reason, my brother your the cause.

9▪︎ Load Recommendation.

Check the sticker at the driver side door you will see your maximum load recommendation, don't go and overload your car especially on this our wonderful roads.

10▪︎Above all have a test ride on the car and observe sounds, noise, feel the shakes and fluids. Don't think everything in your car is good because you drive if everyday.

Most times car breakdown and accidents dont just happen, we cause most of  them by our carelessness and negligence.

You see those towing van people perching around like vultures, they are there to eat from you. They pray your car breaks  down regularly. They have families to take care of from your pocket due to your negligence so try not to be the carcass on which vultures feed.

Let us play safe to see the rest of this year and enter next year peacefully.

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Happy Weekend to you all and Merry Christmas in advance.

©️ Engr Gozie Atueyi.