As I woke up I felt nervous. Nervous about my car. Mainly because I was afraid to find a pool of oil underneath it. My car is a Renault Clio and by now 21 years old. It's great for a city but not really meant for driving dirt roads up and down. So far the car didn't let me down just the mechanics did. I can not get rid of the feeling each time I asked for a check-up something new was broke. The great car one mechanic - only two years ago - said about I would have many years of driving pleasure with. It changed into a troubled car, a lemon of a car.
If it comes to cars I might not be a mechanic but I am not an idiot either.
I am able to hear the difference of the motor, I know when a gear is bad and how to check most parts on the list used for the annual test. I do not need a car service for smaller repairs and checking my car before I leave for a long drive or vacation I do myself.
For a 21-year-old Renault, my car is in good shape but there's a noise. I like to know what causes it because it annoys me. After the oil was changed it leaks. Leaking oil isn't something to worry about especially not if it comes to older cars but what eats me is my car never leaked a drop of oil. Why now? Why after the oil was changed? What did this guy do?
As you can see the engine looks fine. It's not the rusty trash I frequently see with cars not even half its age.
I checked all fluids.
Before leaving it's good to know I am able to spray dead insects off the windscreen.
I had a look at the oil level again. Without oil, the motor will get broke which is expensive. Power steering oil and the radiator need to be taken care of too.
All filters need to be clean as well. A dirty filter will not do you any good.
I never use the airconditioning. It's an unhealthy thing and it circulates mold. Mold is bad for health. If you use your airconditioning you need to switch it off the last 15 minutes you are driving and note the difference between the temperature outside and in your car should only be a few degrees Celsius.
My tires are fine. These are meant for summer only. Although most likely I will leave the Clio behind I will not take the winter tires with me on this travel. A journey back home to test and find a different car.
Underneath my car is nothing to complain about. No wet spots and it's not rusty either. Just dirt. I'll drove it to the carwash to clean it. Why? Because I learned if you drive an old car, a rusty or dirty car if you are a woman with children they check your car at each border. This includes drug trained dogs sniffing at you and your stuff. The biggest chance to cross a border is being clean and drive behind a dirty car, if possible a dirty, rusty van.
What to check before you travel by car?
- tires (flat tires are no good plus it costs way more gasoline)
- oil levels and other fluids (some modern cars tell you if you start the car)
- lights/signals (take some extra with you, gas stations sell them but are expensive)
- breaks
- window screen wipers
- safety vests
- first aid kit
I hope to arrive within 24 hours.
I will not stay in a hotel or go to a restaurant and have no idea how the Covid19 situation will be in Germany and Austria. Summer holidays, extra traffic, road works, the weather, accidents, car trouble, tiredness, etc will all influence my journey.
Food and drinks I'll take with me, toilet paper, wipes, gloves, face masks plus two jerry cans. If I don't speed it means I visit a gas station before I leave, one in Germany and one in Austria (the gas station where I fill the jerry cans because this one is the cheapest of all four countries).
Your car is so beautiful. 💞 And this article is very helpful for those who are travel by their car.