Remember, check it before you travel!
Even the most enjoyable holiday can be spoiled by an unforeseen problem with your car. TotalEnergies suggests how to minimise the risk of trouble by checking it before you leave. The list below is universal and applies to both older and newer vehicles and all drive types.
1. Documents
Irrespective of whether the driver owns, leases or hires the vehicle in question, it is compulsory to check the validity of the registration certificate and insurance before leaving. This of course also applies to trailers (e.g. caravans). In the case of company, leased or rented vehicles, it is worth checking the terms and conditions of the contract for limitations regarding the area of use or kilometres travelled.
2. Safety equipment
This point also applies to all drivers, regardless of age or type of car they drive. Before leaving, it is important to check your emergency equipment. According to the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, a car should only meet the requirements that apply in the country of registration (for the Polish market, this means a triangle and a fire extinguisher with a valid expiry date), but not all holiday destination countries respect this provision. For your own safety and peace of mind, also put a first aid kit, a reflective waistcoat and a set of spare light bulbs in the boot.
3. Tyres
Even in the newest and most expensive car, it is worth checking the condition of the tyres. Tyre pressure sensors (if fitted) do not always function correctly and do not detect mechanical damage to the tyre (e.g. abrasion on the sidewalls, which may not hold up during motorway driving). Do not forget to check the condition of the spare wheel, jack, wheel spanner and patent bolt cap or to go through the repair kit.
4. Accessories
In the case of electric models, it is worth making sure that you have cables for the various types of chargers, and if you have a car with an LPG system you should make sure you have the popular “adapters” for refuelling. If space in the boot allows, it wouldn't hurt to pack a tow rope and cables for emergency engine "starting" (or a booster).
5. Fluid level, condition of operating parts
In newer cars, many maintenance tasks are performed for the driver by the on-board computer. If it is not on board or does not have these functions, you should check the lighting, oil level, coolant level, brake fluid level, power steering fluid level yourself. Of course, in some types of cars this list may be shorter (e.g. cars with electric power steering do not have power steering fluid). It would not hurt to check the date of the last and next timing gear set replacement (applicable to vehicles equipped with a replaceable set).
6. Battery
The scourge of modern cars is that the on-board electronics draw too much current. It is therefore worth checking the state of the battery and recharging it if necessary. Modern battery chargers are compact, so you can also take them with you when you travel.
7. Oil to spare
It is no secret that even the latest car models sometimes have a problem with over-consumption of engine oil, and often this is even stipulated by the vehicle manufacturer as the norm in a certain amount. It is therefore worth putting a spare litre or two in the boot for a top-up. This will prevent the driver from having to search nervously for oil on the road and having to top up with such oil as happens to be available.
"In modern cars, the closer the oil level is to the MAX level the better. However, if it goes below half then it should be topped up. The best way is, of course, to top up with the same oil as you have. If, however, you do not have a supply, I would suggest adding oil with the same required approval from the vehicle manufacturer. If we are unable to comply with this, let us at least use the same ACEA standard. It is not so much the viscosity of the oil that is important, but the manufacturer's approval or ACEA class. For example, we have Quartz INEO Long Life 5W30 oil in a VW group engine. On the road, we need to top up the oil, but we do not have a supply. It is best to buy and add the same product. If it is not available, we look for a product with VW 504.00/507.00 homologation. If it is not available either, we buy oil in ACEA C3 class, regardless of whether it is 5W-30 or 5W-40 viscosity. Lack of refill will be more dangerous for the engine than deterioration of oil quality in it. In such an emergency situation, it is important to drain the mixture as soon as possible and replace it with a product complying with the instruction manual when you get home". Andrzej Husiatyński, Technical Department TotalEnergies Marketing Poland.
To conclude, two important points. First, before you leave, it is worth checking the speed limits specific to the countries you are travelling to and the list of permitted or prohibited optional equipment. As a reminder, you cannot drive everywhere with a CB-radio and a camera recording the view in front or behind the car. Also questioned in some countries is the mounting of a navigation system which, according to a police officer, restricts the driver's field of vision.
Second, for your own comfort, it is advisable to check the rules governing tolls on motorways or expressways even before you leave.