After going through several Golden Week holidays, many car owners have developed the good habit of giving their cars a thorough maintenance check before setting out on a self-drive trip. Indeed, during travel, even the smallest issue with the vehicle can affect the itinerary to some extent, casting a shadow over the owner's mood. Therefore, many people have realized the importance of maintaining their beloved cars before setting out. However, after returning from a self-drive trip, many car owners neglect vehicle maintenance. In fact, after a long journey, especially driving through harsh road conditions, the wear and tear on urban-oriented small cars can be significant. To cope with frequent daily commutes, we should also give our cars a chance to "rest and recuperate" after a long journey.
**Exterior Inspection**
The cleanliness of the body not only affects aesthetics but also influences other people's impressions of the car owner. It also determines part of the residual value rate. Therefore, this should not be overlooked. A thorough cleaning is necessary, and any minor dents caused by small stones should be dealt with promptly. For minor scratches, use grinding sandpaper for localized grinding and polishing. After all this is done, the entire car can be waxed to restore the paintwork's original luster.
**Interior Cleaning**
Due to prolonged outdoor travel, with windows open for extended periods, a lot of dust accumulates inside the car, especially on carpets, ceilings, and door panels wrapped in velvet fabric, which are difficult to clean. This requires professional steam cleaning machines to dry-clean these areas. Other parts of the cabin, such as the dashboard, may not easily accumulate dust, but hidden corners should still be cleaned with a cloth or cotton swab to avoid dust buildup. This not only concerns aesthetics but also determines the health environment and mood of using the car.
**Checking Oil Circuits and Fluid Levels**
First, check if the engine oil is insufficient. Long-distance bumpy roads make it easy for the bottom of the oil pan to scrape, slightly damaging it and causing oil leakage. Then, check if the coolant, power steering fluid, and brake fluid are normal. Generally, we conduct a comprehensive inspection before departure, so if there is a drop in fluid levels, more attention needs to be paid to checking.
**Chassis Inspection**
If the chassis of a regular family sedan is limited to smooth city roads, checking the chassis every 10,000 kilometers is sufficient. However, if it has traveled on mountain roads or bad roads, mud and dirt easily adhere to the chassis, and even pebbles constantly hitting the chassis can strip away its protective layer, increasing the possibility of rusting. Therefore, even if the vehicle has only traveled a few thousand kilometers, inspecting the chassis is still necessary.
Inspection includes checking whether various transmission components and suspension components (such as drive shafts, half shafts, half-shaft dust covers, suspensions, shock absorbers, ball joints) are loose or damaged, as well as checking for rust on the chassis. Pay attention to any unusual noises during long-distance travel; if present, return for an inspection and repair. Additionally, when washing the car, pay attention to cleaning the chassis thoroughly with a high-pressure water gun.
**Brake Inspection**
This is an important step, mainly including brake pads, brake fluid pipes, master brake cylinder, slave cylinders, and handbrakes. If problems are found, they must be handled promptly. Common issues after long-distance travel include premature wear of brake pads and whether brake fluid pipes are perforated. Do not neglect the handbrake; if possible, perform a four-wheel maintenance check, primarily cleaning the rear brake drums (or disc brakes with handbrake systems). Check if the disc brake pads are evenly worn. If uneven, they can be smoothed with sandpaper. If there are problems with the disc brake pads, they must be replaced.
**Tire Inspection**
This task isn't specifically for post-long-distance checks; it can be done regularly. First, measure the tire pressure to see if it's normal, then check for scratches, cracks, and foreign objects on the tires. If deviation is noticed during long-distance travel, a four-wheel alignment might be necessary. Replace tires that are already severely worn.
**Fuel System Cleaning**
Some scenic spots may not have high-grade gasoline available. The higher the fuel grade, the better its anti-knock performance. Nowadays, car manufacturers specify fuel grades, usually requiring at least 93-octane gasoline. Using low-grade or inferior gasoline can cause engine knocking and noise, and also easily damage the exhaust pipe catalytic converter (three-way catalyst), leading to non-compliance with emissions standards. Some parts may clog the exhaust pipe due to poor exhaust flow, causing weak engine performance and increased fuel consumption. Severe cases can lead to internal engine component damage, such as melting of the piston top. If encountering similar situations, consider cleaning the fuel system.
**Throttle Body Cleaning**
The quality of fuel at gas stations varies across regions. If the fuel contains excessive gum, after vehicle use, large amounts of gum will accumulate around the intake valves, making valve movement less smooth. Severe cases can cause valve movement to jam, making the engine hard to start. Long-distance travel can easily cause throttle body carbon buildup, so a non-disassembly cleaning is important.
**Return Trips from Longhua Bus Station to Huai Xiang or Xinyi**
Answer: At the Longhua bus station isolation camp, there are many vehicles passing through Xinyi. The above content is jointly released by the Environmental Sanitation Garbage Truck Official Website | www_clwlu_com and the Garbage Truck Professional Manufacturer | www_clwwcw_com. For more exciting content: Compressed Garbage Truck Prices. Liu Bingjie says, "seven parts maintenance, three parts repair," since without specialized vehicles like Chengli, heat dissipation can be relatively slow, causing vehicle deviation and a heavy steering wheel.