Get your car ready for the summer holiday season
As the summer sun begins to shine again (despite all the rain), it’s the perfect time for open-road adventures! Ensure your classic car is in prime condition so that only the weather can hold you back this summer. Don’t let minor issues spoil your drives, trust the experts at Pitt Lane Classic Car Restoration to get your classic car holiday-ready. It’s inevitable that some things might not go as planned. Breakdowns and wear and tear are part of the classic car experience. However, there are steps you can take to minimize these risks.
What CAn YOu DO TO Help?
Help your car out where you can, within your mechanical capabilities. It might seem cliché or obvious, but it’s crucial to:
- Check Fluid Levels: Ensure your oil, coolant, and brake fluid are at proper levels. Lack of lubrication on moving parts is a major cause of vehicle issues.
- Inspect Rubber Components: Long periods of storage or inactivity can cause rubber to dry rot, develop flat spots, or harden. This applies to your tyres and all the rubber bushes and seals holding your car together.
- Check Tyre Pressures: Proper tyre pressure helps avoid mishaps on the road.
- Check your Electrics: Make sure your battery holds a charge and that essential electrics like lights, horn, and windshield wipers are functioning properly.
- Fresh Fuel: Fuel goes stale a lot quicker than you think, usually a couple of months. This step is particularly important for those with a carburettor vs fuel injection. In our experience we have found that it is often stale fuel that causes cars to run poorly, especially after periods of not driving it.
Many of these checks are covered annually during an MOT or standard vehicle service. However, some classic cars are old enough to be exempt from the MOT. Regardless, these checks should ideally be performed every time you drive your classic car. While it might seem unrealistic, making a conscious effort now and then goes a long way in keeping your vehicle roadworthy.
Essential Kit List
We recommend keeping the following essentials in your car:
- Spare Engine Oil (most classics take a 20w50 classic motor oil, but if in doubt give us a ring and we can help you out)
- Spare Coolant (or even just some water)
- Fire Extinguisher
- Spare set of Spark Plugs
Get in touch to enjoy the open road with style this summer
