It has gone viral in the United States, on the TikTok platform, the video of a mechanic named Billy, who assures that visits to the auto mechanic before traveling are not a good idea. This man assures that preventive maintenance of the car’s condition should be carried out and not wait until the last minute, since, among other things, it can lead to a hasty repair by the mechanic to meet the deadline.
In addition, we must follow a series of tips for road travel, such as keeping the technical revision of our car up to date, checking aspects such as oil, windshield wipers, the condition of the tires, carrying an emergency kit or making sure that the flashers and lights work properly to avoid skipping any road safety regulations.
Billy, the TikTok mechanic
Billy is a man who has become famous on TikTok for uploading content related to his work as a car mechanic. His latest video has gone viral, with over 400,000 views, where he talks about the big mistake of taking your car in for a service just before going on a road trip. At first the first thought that came to me was, how can it be a mistake? I’ll have to make sure my car is in good shape, right?
Of course, but what Billy indicates is that we must have our vehicles serviced up to date, because otherwise, we might not have time to fix the breakdown at the last minute and therefore, be left without a trip. In one of his videos, Billy shows how a customer goes to the garage just before a trip, only to discover that his car has a breakdown that cannot be repaired without postponing the trip.
When should I have the car serviced?
It seems that this opinion is not exclusive to Billy, but is common among mechanics. Many claim that, as if by magic, when the car is taken to the garage to be tuned for a long trip, there is always something wrong with it. Many use the term “jinxed” to define cars when this happens. They also claim that it is not a good thing for a mechanic to work under pressure, knowing that the car has to be ready because the customer is depending on him to make a trip.
They even go so far as to say that there are mechanics who do shoddy work in order to have the car ready on time, which can be a danger when driving the vehicle.It is recommended that the car be serviced regularly, not just for a trip. However, the ideal schedule would be 7 to 10 days before the trip. Enough time to detect breakdowns, fix them and even order spare parts if necessary.
What revisions can I do on my own?
Although it is not recommended to wait until the last minute, there are several things you can check yourself:
- Lights and brakes.
- Oil, coolant and windshield washer fluid levels.
- Tire pressure and condition, including the spare.
- Correct operation of the air conditioning and windshield wipers.
- Emergency kit including water, first aid and cables.
How to avoid surprises with my car?
Professionals give a series of tips to avoid unwanted and last minute surprises with our cars:
- Schedule visits to the mechanic for regular check-ups.
- Do not mention to the mechanic that you are going on a trip soon, as this will generate more pressure.
- Check tire pressure, fluids, brakes and lights.
- Carry an emergency kit.