Checklist : 8 things to do before leaving on vacation!

Coolant
Heat, traffic jam, heavy car: the cooling system is strained. Thus, the level must be checked and its replacement periodicity must be respected. Do not forget the operation of the motor-fan, the latter to be triggered when approaching the 90 °.

Oil level
It is essential for proper operation of the engine. Simple to check, just place the vehicle on flat ground and wait for the engine to cool down.
With a cloth, it is necessary to wipe the gauge and push it until the stop. The level must be between the minimum and the maximum, but in no case beyond. It is necessary to know that the oil also has its role in the cooling of the engine.

Wiper blades
Even in the summer, no one is protected from a shower or a storm. This overriding element of security, which is too often overlooked, needs to be replaced approximately every year.
The latest generation flat blade brushes have a longer life span (3 to 4 years), but their prices are high. To increase efficiency, you can add an anti-mosquito product. Rain treatment improves visibility.

Brake fluid
A brake fluid level below the maximum threshold is not synonymous with a mechanical problem. This indicates more wear and tear on the wafers than the need to top up. On the other hand, the liquid degrades due to moisture. It is replaced every two or four years depending on the vehicle. To be checked in the service booklet.

Lighting
Easy to check alone, just place the car facing a wall. Faulty light bulbs are then quickly identified.
Do not forget to also check that of the trailer or the caravan.

Tire pressure and wear
Overloading your vehicle affects the tires, so it is essential to over-inflate them.
On the other hand, irregular wear is often a sign of improper adjustment of the rolling trains or tired dampers (wear by facet).
It is not advisable to reach the limit of wear (1.6 mm depth of the grooves) to change your envelopes. The spare tire, the caravan or trailer tires are entitled to the same attention.

Air conditioner
For its maintenance, the competence of a professional is indispensable. Only the cabin filter, usually located at the bottom of the windscreen or under the glove compartment, can be controlled by yourself. A changeover to the workshop is recommended every year with a change of the refrigerant, which evaporates naturally (20% loss per year).
Moreover, neglecting the maintenance of the desiccant bottle can damage the compressor with, at the key, costly repairs. It is better to take advantage of the many free checks offered in the summer and the different promotions.
Rates for revisions vary between 60 and 150 €. Finally, the difference between the outside temperature and the programmed temperature must not exceed 10 °. Finally, think of opening the windows to evacuate the heat, rather than activating the air conditioning thoroughly.

Shock absorbers
Manufacturers advice shock absorber testing every year (or 20,000 km) and a change to 80,000 km. These averages, set by the equipment manufacturers (Kyb, Monroe, Delphi ...), depend on the driving style and the types of roads used.
It is a low average, a replacement between 100 000 and 120 000 km is quite conceivable.
There are a number of signs to alert you, such as the car that plunges when braking, vibrations in the steering wheel, loss of cornering grip, irregular tire wear, longer braking distances and Degraded road.


Source: Largus.fr