I’m an expert mechanic – my five-step checklist before embarking on a long road trip

AN experienced auto technician has listed the most vital things to check your car for before a road trip to ensure you don’t experience mechanical failure along the way.

The gearhead summarized his advice in a video posted on Royalty Auto Service’s TikTok account, boasting over 185,000 followers.

Sherwood is an experienced mechanic that works at Royalty Auto Service in Georgia

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Sherwood is an experienced mechanic that works at Royalty Auto Service in GeorgiaCredit: TikTok/royaltyautoservice
Sherwood stressed the importance of making sure you have a fully-inflated spare tire for your road trip

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Sherwood stressed the importance of making sure you have a fully-inflated spare tire for your road tripCredit: TikTok/royaltyautoservice

This clip from Royalty Auto Service (@royaltyautoservice) begins with a mechanic, Sherwood, instructing viewers to check their wipers and washers.

He emphasized: “You want to be sure the wipers clear the windshield and the washers spray the whole windshield.”

Sherwood added that parts stores typically install new wipers for free.

Next, this expert mechanic suggested checking your car’s headlights, taillights, turn signals, and license plate lights with a friend.

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Sherwood stressed the importance of license plate light functionality since you can receive a ticket when this feature isn’t working.

This experienced technician also instructed viewers to check their tires’ pressure.

He noted that you’d find your tires’ proper inflation level, including your spare, marked on a sticker within your driver’s door jamb.

Sherwood uses a pencil tool that you can buy for around $10 to get an accurate tire pressure reading in minutes.

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This auto mechanic proceeded with his tutorial by asking viewers to open their hoods to check fluid levels for their brakes, washers, coolant, power steering, transmission, and oil.

You can refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to locate each of these liquid reservoir tanks under your hood.

The tanks will have full-to-minimum markings that help you verify their levels.

You’ll check your oil levels with a dipstick under your hood that typically contains a yellow or orange handle.

Pull the dipstick from its sheath under your hood before wiping the tool off and reinserting the component into its holster.

Removing the dipstick a second time will leave oil markings on the bottom of the instrument indicating whether or not you need a change.

Lastly, Sherwood asked viewers to check their vehicle’s battery cables are secure by pulling them to see if they’re tight before cleaning any corrosion from the unit.

Sherwood holding the pencil tool he uses to check a tire’s pressure

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Sherwood holding the pencil tool he uses to check a tire’s pressureCredit: TikTok/royaltyautoservice
Wipe off your dipstick before re-inserting it into its tube to check your car’s oil levels

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Wipe off your dipstick before re-inserting it into its tube to check your car’s oil levelsCredit: TikTok/royaltyautoservice

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