PRE-TRIP MAINTENANCE: HOW TO PREVENT EXPENSIVE MISHAPS

Tom Olthoff looks at the sorts of things that could spoil a good holiday if left unattended

Words and photography by Tom Olthoff

To a large extent the enjoyment of a holiday, whether it is caravanning or travelling overseas, depends on the planning carried out beforehand. This doesn’t necessarily include booking each night’s accommodation, but it certainly covers the sorts of things that could come under the heading of ‘prevention’.

This is where preparation goes a long way

In regard to caravanning, high on the ‘to-do’ list is the maintenance that should be performed on the car and trailer to ensure reliability on the road. While ‘accidents’ do happen, the majority of breakdowns are due to a lack of servicing or attention before leaving home. And there are those who believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. While that may have appeal, it shouldn’t be applied to an RV that has been standing in the corner of the yard for the last year or so.

Over the years I have heard many tales of woe in regard to the way that a oliday turned sour because the family car or caravan didn’t perform the way it had been expected to. Just because a car behaves itself every morning when you use it to go and buy the daily newspaper doesn’t guarantee that it will do the same on a longer journey. Similarly, it can’t be assumed that the caravan or camper will not give any problems just because it behaved itself on the last outing. Some of the reasons for unexpected breakdowns are covered below.

Tow Vehicle Servicing

Every vehicle has a preventative maintenance service schedule that is designed to provide reliable vehicle operation under ‘normal’ driving conditions. In reality, very few of us use a vehicle under ‘normal’ conditions. Towing, in particular, is considered to come under the heading of severe operation. Stop-start motoring, driving in hot or dusty conditions and operating a car for long periods at high speeds also do not come under the ‘normal’ heading. Yet, all these conditions could be considered as being typically Australian. For this reason certain components or areas of a vehicle may need attention more often.

Over the last few years there has been a tendency to increase the service intervals for vehicles. However, most manufacturers also place time limitations on the maintenance that may be required. So it could be that your car needs a service at 10,000km or six-month intervals, whichever occurs first, or even more often if conditions are unusual or severe.

Severe Conditions

Most manufacturers list what they believe are severe or abnormal conditions in the owners or workshop manuals. These can include:

• Driving less than 10,000km in a year
• When most trips are less than ten kilometres
• When temperatures are extremely cold or hot
• Driving in stop-start traffic
• Idling for extended periods
• Towing a heavy trailer
• Carrying heavy loads in the car
• Carrying big loads on a roof rack
• Driving in dusty or sandy conditions

This would certainly be classed as severe operating conditions

If your vehicle is operated under any of the above conditions on a one-off basis like, for example, a month’s holiday, then additional servicing is needed for that period only. On the other hand, if you are caravanning around the country for a couple of years, regular servicing should have a constant high priority.

DIY MAINTENANCE

Many motorists pride themselves on being able to look after their vehicle personally even though they may not have gained any formal training in this work. Some do the servicing because they enjoy it, others because they believe that they are saving lots of money, and a few because it must help the bonding of the car to the driver. But let’s get to the point.

Over the years I have seen many mechanical breakdowns of vehicles owned by DIY experts that could have been avoided if the vehicle had been given the once-over by an experienced service technician. And before readers start writing in that good mechanics are hard to come by, I’ll concede that there are some who you wouldn’t trust to change a tyre on a wheelbarrow. However, the reality is that there are more good apples than bad. If you ask around someone will generally recommend a trusty and capable mechanic. These days it is not enough to simply be able to change the oil. You also need access to the correct data as well as have state of the art diagnostic equipment.

When servicing a vehicle you can’t beat being up in the air

Making sure that the engine can breathe clean air is very important

Coolant should be changed regularly as well as checking that the battery is in first class order

The hydraulic brake system should be flushed about every two years

Brakes should be inspected on a regular basis

Tyres must be checked regularly for damage, particularly in rough conditions

Uneven wear patterns generally indicate mechanical problems

So what is the bottom line? It is simple, leave the servicing of a car to a person with the qualifications and the product knowledge. And remember, it is all about prevention – not cure. If the car is still under warranty, make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s servicing recommendations. And if you purchased an extended warranty, read all the small print on the contract – several times. If you believe that mechanical repairs and maintenance are expensive, just think what you pay a plumber or electrician to attend to a problem in the house.

Service Requirements to Ensure Trouble-Free Motoring

ENGINE OIL – When a vehicle is used mainly in the city or suburbs, the engine often does not reach the temperatures needed to prevent the formation of condensation, sludge or other by-products of burning fuel that are harmful to long engine life. Hence the oil has to be changed more often. Prolonged hard work like towing a van can reduce the protective life of the oil so the same applies. And while you are at it, make sure that a new oil filter is fitted every time the oil is changed.

AIR CLEANER ELEMENT – The air entering an engine must be free of dust particles which could cause rapid wear of the engine’s internal components. In dusty conditions, even when driving along sealed country roads, the air cleaner element can become blocked more quickly and cause more fuel to be used and performance to be affected.

COOLING SYSTEM – A cooling system is to a car’s engine what the blood circulation system is to our body. We all know what happens when a blockage occurs in the arteries. When the radiator core becomes blocked or the coolant is in a poor state, the engine can overheat or expensive damage can occur.

A cooling system should be flushed and refilled with the recommended coolant every couple of years. Don’t wait until a problem arises. If you feel that the cooling system is not functioning like it should, consult a specialist. Simply taking the radiator hoses off and flushing with a garden hose won’t do the job.

When venturing beyond suburbia, a screen in front of the grill to keep out the insects is highly recommended.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – On some vehicles, automatic transmission oil changes are not required. But if you read the small print you will discover that this only applies to ‘normal’ operating conditions. When contemplating towing long distances or through a lot of hilly terrain, it is highly desirable to change the automatic transmission fluid before departure. Regular servicing of the transmission is also recommended. Discuss your vehicle’s requirements with a transmission specialist.

BRAKE FLUID – Using technical terminology, brake fluid is hygroscopic. That means it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, even when the hydraulic parts of the braking system are fully sealed. When moisture enters the hydraulic system it can cause corrosion. More importantly, however, it lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid. This can result in loss of braking when going down hills and an increase in system temperature due to increased braking.

To ensure that the braking system always operates at its optimum level, the hydraulic system should ideally be drained and refilled every two years, or perhaps even more frequently under conditions of high humidity. This applies regardless of the distance travelled. Most hydraulic brake system repairs can be avoided by regular replacement of the fluid.

TYRES – There is a general rule that whenever the speed or the load increases there should be higher pressures in the tyres. This also applies to caravanning. When a trailer is hitched on to your vehicle there is certainly more load, and while towing speeds may not be considered high when compared to solo motoring, they are nevertheless faster than when driving around the suburbs. Hence tyre pressures and conditions must be checked regularly.

Caravanners should be in the habit of looking at all the tyres every time they stop. If the pressure is in doubt get out the tyre gauge. Inspecting the tyres for objects like nails, pieces of glass, bulges and cracks should also have a high priority. This doesn’t mean jacking up each wheel but simply walking alongside the car while someone drives it slowly forward.

OTHER AREAS – The above should not be considered as the only items that need some attention before departure day. A full vehicle service should also include the condition of belts and hoses, the braking and exhaust systems, wheel bearings, steering and suspension components and anything else that can affect reliability. Remember that many components deteriorate whether you are actually using the car or not.

SPARE PARTS – Some people believe that it is necessary to carry lots of spare parts when going on holiday. While this can offer benefits when an unforseen breakdown occurs, it is much better to replace parts that are in doubt. For example, it may be comforting to have a spare radiator hose when the cooling system erupts in a cloud of steam but it would be better to replace the hoses on a regular basis to prevent the mishap in the first place. You can always carry the hose that you took off as a spare. The same applies to drive belts.

By spending a little more time and perhaps a little more money before you set off on the next trip, you will minimise the possibility of anything going wrong and perhaps paying for unbudgeted expensive repairs. More importantly you will be ensured of a relaxing, stress free and enjoyable holiday. And that is what it’s all about.

Next month we’ll look at the things to do to your caravan or camper trailer before leaving home.