How to take care of a car engine?
All the mechanical components of a car are important, but the drive system and, above all, the engine always seem to be the most important. Fortunately, vacations and vacation exploitation give him relatively few problems. Engines love long mileage and run at a given temperature, so even a fast enough (but sensible) motorway crossing won't be a huge burden.
Troubleshooting and possible engine repair before a long trip concerns cars that already have a lot of problems. 
well. It can be assumed that the higher mileage is approximately 100 km and above. It is not recommended to overhaul the main engine immediately before the holiday (if this happens, you should leave time for the initial break-in and inspection of the repaired mechanism), but if your car already has a very high mileage, it is worth paying attention to possible oil leaks and the operation of the cooling system . It is possible that during quiet city operation, minor engine oil leaks occur, which do not cause concern to the driver.
However, when the oil seals - basically the front and rear crankshaft boiling water - stop doing their job well, driving for longer periods with a single warm engine can lead to very serious oil leaks. Of course, it is better not to go on a long journey with a car in this condition, so it is recommended to replace these seals, which in itself is a rather troublesome repair. We also understand that only in some cases (more precisely, if the brew itself is damaged, for example, by hardening), this repair will bring a lasting, good effect. Often the cause of leaks is rather engine wear (bushing play, worn piston rings and exhaust gases entering the crankcase). With such a diagnosis, you have to think about a major overhaul or engine replacement, otherwise it would be better to go on vacation in another car.
When driving on hot days, the condition of the cooling system can be critical. First of all, check the rubber or metal hoses, their connections, the radiator and around the coolant pump. It is worth checking the tension of the pump drive belt, and even better, preventive replacement of the belt. The phenomenon of loss of refrigerant is always worrying, especially when the liquid disappears, but "do not know how." It may signal the invisible 
leaks, but can also indicate serious engine damage. In any case, any visible damage, not to mention leaks, must be repaired. We also remind you that even in summer you cannot use clean water as a heat carrier. A special coolant for radiators protects them from corrosion, and most importantly, it boils at a much higher temperature than water.
Urban operation does not put much stress on the engine, so a partially efficient cooling system may then be sufficient. On a further trip, especially in the mountains (rather not on the highway, because the cooling is good at high speeds), the engine may overheat, for example, if the radiator is partially clogged. The simple conclusion from this is that in preparation for the trip, you should test the engine hard and warm up the engine and the entire drive system to see what the results will be.
In turn, slow driving in traffic jams in the heat “tests” the performance of the radiator fan (if it is electrically driven) 
and, above all, its thermal cut-out installed in the radiator and all the power supply (not to be confused with another sensor used to measure engine temperature). The operation of this system should absolutely be checked before leaving, which is actually quite easy, because it is enough to stand in a traffic jam with the engine running to check if the radiator fan turns on or not. Usually the aforementioned sensor is damaged here - an inexpensive, small and often easily accessible part from the outside, which, however, cannot be replaced ad hoc, because this requires draining the radiator and using a large wrench. By the way, this (new) part is one of the few that we recommend taking with you when your car is already old. It will take up little space, and repairs will be more efficient when you do not have to look for the right sensor far from home.
We add that in the event of such a breakdown, do not go to the workshop with an overheated engine, but disconnect the fan power plug and temporarily connect the wires so that it works constantly.
