Kunlun Quick Oil Change: A Vehicle Checkup Is Essential Before Driving Home for Spring Festival

The southern snowstorms before last year's Spring Festival are still fresh in the memory of many self-driving car owners. Heavy snow closed roads and brought traffic to a standstill, creating endless inconvenience for driving home, yet some owners made their journey home even harder by neglecting to check their cars before setting off.
With the Spring Festival holiday approaching once again, what preparations should friends driving long distances home make before setting out? Our reporter interviewed Li Qiming, an automotive maintenance expert at a Kunlun Quick Oil Change outlet, who advises giving the car a comprehensive check before a long journey to ensure smooth driving throughout a long trip.
Checking the "heart" is the top priority
Li Qiming explains that the engine is the heart of a car and the most important part of a motor vehicle. To ensure that the "heart" operates normally during a journey, timely inspection and proper care of the engine are particularly important.
Lubricant plays a role in the engine system in reducing carbon deposits and friction, but cold winter weather makes lubricant thicker and less fluid. At this time, owners using single-grade oil must confirm that they are currently using a winter-grade oil with better fluidity, while owners using multi-grade oil need to check whether there is sludge and carbon deposit inside, because excessive sludge and carbon deposits prevent the engine from being properly lubricated and lead to aggravated wear.
In addition, antifreeze is also a key point in engine system checks. Generally speaking, antifreeze needs to be replaced according to driving mileage or service life. However, some owners substitute alcohol mixed with water for antifreeze, or add water to the antifreeze; these inappropriate operations may all have a negative impact on the vehicle, and owners are advised to buy antifreeze of a reputable brand.
The brake system is a matter of safety
In the course of high-speed driving, a car may need to brake suddenly at any time, so the sensitivity of the brake system is very important. Owners are advised to check before a long journey whether the brake pads are intact and whether the brake fluid is sufficient. Note that brake fluid is not better the more there is: it only needs to be added to above the lowest point on the reservoir, and not necessarily to the highest point.
Tire checks are indispensable
After a vehicle has been used for a certain period, it may show heavy or trembling steering, drifting, improper steering, failure to return to center, or abnormal tire wear such as one-sided wear, wave-like wear, blocky wear or uneven wear, resulting in swaying, floating and similar phenomena while driving. At this point the wheel alignment values should be checked. If the deviation is too great, correction by means such as four-wheel alignment may be required.
Checks on the energy system must not be ignored
A car needs sufficient power for long-distance driving, and the great majority of owners will not forget to fill their car with an ample amount of fuel before a long journey. However, many friends overlook another energy source — the battery. Li Qiming of the Kunlun Quick Oil Change outlet advises motorists to pay attention before a long journey to checking the height of the electrolyte, and to check and top up the battery's stored charge in time, so as to ensure sufficient power and energy along the way.
Choose a legitimate organization for maintenance and inspection
At present there are many organizations on the market providing vehicle maintenance and testing, and their service quality is a mixed bag; in particular, some roadside repair shops do not even possess the maintenance and repair qualifications issued by the relevant departments. Li Qiming particularly reminds motorists that for checking and servicing their cars it is best to choose a legitimate organization such as a Kunlun Quick Oil Change outlet: legitimate organizations not only hold qualification certificates issued by the relevant departments, but also have solid technical expertise. We believe that as long as one sets out well prepared, the road home is certain to be smooth all the way.