Even During COVID-19, If You Are Going to Your Hometown... Vehicle Inspection Essential Before Long-Distance Driving

Check Tire Wear
Prepare Winter Tires to Prevent Black Ice

Check Engine Oil and Coolant
Fire Extinguisher Needed for Fire Safety

On the 10th, one day before the nation's biggest holiday, the Lunar New Year holiday, vehicles were lined up moving on both directions of the Gyeongbu Expressway near Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Starting from the 11th, when the Lunar New Year holiday began, the full-scale procession of returning home and returning to the city started. Although the number of people visiting their hometowns is expected to decrease due to the impact of COVID-19, if you have to drive long distances, vehicle inspection to prevent accidents is essential.

Before long-distance driving, drivers should regularly visit a repair shop to receive expert inspection and maintenance. However, if you do not have time to visit a repair shop, you can perform a self-check. At this time, you should check the tire wear condition, engine oil, coolant, and so on.

The tire wear condition can be easily checked with a 100-won coin. Insert a 100-won coin upside down into the tire groove; if Admiral Yi Sun-sin's hat is not visible, the tire is normal, but if more than half of the hat is visible, the tire needs to be replaced. Also, in winter when the temperature drops, the air inside the tire contracts, lowering the air pressure, so you should inflate about 10% more air than usual.

In addition, in winter, accidents caused by black ice, a thin layer of ice on asphalt road surfaces, can occur. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare winter tires that have greater friction than all-season tires.

To check the engine oil, open the hood and pull out the dipstick; if the oil level is between the F and L marks, it is normal. If it is below L, you need to add engine oil. It is advisable to do this after parking on a flat surface, turning off the engine, and letting it cool down.

To check the coolant, open the hood and check the coolant gauge next to the auxiliary tank; if the level is between MAX (maximum) and MIN (minimum), it is normal, but if it is below MIN, you need to add more coolant.

Also, to prepare for fire, a fire extinguisher should be kept in the vehicle. When driving long distances, the possibility of fire due to engine overheating or regular device problems is high, so a vehicle fire extinguisher is essential.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.