Long drives regularly: How often and what should you check regularly?

LiveOnce

Hi guys,

What things should you check for if you are traveling at least 100 miles every day using your car?

I check to make sure there's enough water/anti-freeze in the coolent, windscreen cleaning water but just wanted tips from you on other things I should check regularly.

I am a little new to it so would appreciate know what to check and how often to check.

Thanks

BeenThroughItAll

LiveOnce wrote: »

Hi guys,

What things should you check for if you are traveling at least 100 miles every day using your car?

I check to make sure there's enough water/anti-freeze in the coolent, windscreen cleaning water but just wanted tips from you on other things I should check regularly.

I am a little new to it so would appreciate know what to check and how often to check.

Thanks

Oil, tyres (inc. spare), fuel

Moto2

Have a look here
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/breakdown_advice/flower-power.html

Personally, I always carry spare washer fluid in winter as running out is a nightmare

Herzlos

I'd also check the oil level, and the tyre treads and pressures. At least once a week.

Netwizard

Coolant
Oil Level
Windscreen Washer Level
Tyre pressures and tread
Lights / Indicators (inc Brake Lights)

That's about it

WantToBeSE

Oil levels
Tyre pressure
Tyre damage
Windscreen fluid
Water level
Lights working

forgotmyname

I carry a litre of oil just in case. Screenwash with a very low freezing point which can also be used as coolant if required.

I keep a compressor in the car also.

Keep a blanket or similar also for emergencies.

I keep the fuel level high at this time of year also. Ive sat in traffic in the
winter watching the fuel gauge. Thinking do i turn it off and save fuel or keep it running and stay warm hoping the traffic starts moving soon.

Breakdown card and a phone charger.

mad_rich

Plenty of people drive that sort of distance on a commute, so it's not unusual. Just the normal checks mentioned so far. Just be aware, if you're not used to doing that sort of mileage, that things will wear out quicker than you might expect.

Assuming you do that every workday - typically 250 days per year - that's 25,000 miles. Plus personal / weekend mileage.

Have a look at the service schedule for your car and keep on top of it. You might easily be doing a couple of services a year, and going through a set of tyres. And make sure your insurance covers you for that sort of mileage.

ohreally

Oil, oil and, oil.

I do more than 100 miles a day and can go through oil at quite a rate (turbo diesel).

WTFH

This time of year I also check that I have a pair of rigging gloves. Just in case you need to change a tyre etc.

scaredofdebt

I did a 150 mile commute daily for about 2 years. Really gets you down in Winter when you are going to and from work in the dark, more bearable in Summer.

Wear and tear was surprisingly low, but it was all motorway miles, I reckon that's probably the equivalent of doing 20 miles a day around town.

For example, tyres lasted close to 80k miles.

Definitely check oil and tyre pressures and condition regularly, fuel is obviously something you need to top up quite a bit too!

Good idea to carry spare screen wash as noted above.

I remember once running out of screen wash when I was about 21 and doing a 60 mile commute, the roads were gritted heavily and I couldn't see anything so I had to pull over and spit on the windscreen.

A bit wiser nowadays. A bit.