Checklist with Tips & Tricks for Your Motorhome Before Summer Trips
- Inspection for gas leakage, testing of the water system, and moisture tightness control.
- Brakes and tires.
- Check the function of the solar cells: - The regulator should show about 60-80% of the panel's specified maximum output under normal Swedish sun conditions when mounted flat, measured in May. Alternatively, measure the voltage and current directly on the panel with a multimeter.
- Load test/capacity test of the batteries:
The starter battery can be condition and/or load tested. This will reveal how much the voltage drops and whether the battery is okay and has enough power to start the engine.
The consumption batteries are a bit trickier to test as it takes longer. A load test gives a certain indication of the battery's condition. However, if you want to know the number of ampere-hours you can get from the battery more specifically, you need to measure the number of Ah down to a certain voltage limit/discharge level under normal load. This can be done manually with a clamp ammeter, using a measuring shunt, or a more advanced capacity tester.
- Check when the last major service was done or if it's time for an intermediate service with an oil change?
- Check if a timing belt replacement is due.
- Ensure current insurances are updated:Do you have Midland Motorhome On The Road (free roadside assistance in Europe)?
Download your value certificate or note the phone numbers of the alarm centers:Sweden: 0200-112 600
Europe: +45-70 10 50 50
Have a pleasant journey, wishes your friends at Midland!
Related Links
Tips from Sunlux on Battery Replacement
Midland Motorhome Product Range
Contacts
PRESS CONTACT
CEO - business development, sales, and marketing
+46-31-725 34 01
Spring service
Allt om mc helps with these tips & tricks:
Sometimes, one might not quite keep up with the whimsical swings of the weather, and suddenly spring turns into full summer overnight, catching one off guard with an unserviced motorcycle. Panic sets in a couple of days before track days at Gelleråsen, but Carlbarks Motor and Midland Oils saved the day with quick service and fine products. We changed all fluids on our KTM 790 Duke, which means oil and oil filter, coolant, and brake fluid. For the KTM, oil change is recommended annually or every 1000 kilometers, and brake fluid change every two years. For the KTM, use a 10W-50 oil and DOT 5.1 brake fluid. Changing the coolant might seem a bit excessive, but it feels good when you're already in motion, and it doesn't take much extra time. A similar "annual service" costs between three and five thousand SEK.
Midland might not be the first brand you think of for lubricants and vehicle care. Midland is an independent European premium oil brand from Switzerland. The Midland brand was born in 2004, but Midland Switzerland started as early as 1880. They offer a wide range of oils and other products to take care of your prized possession in the best possible way.
Contacts
PRESS CONTACT
CEO - business development, sales, and marketing
jonas.udd@midland.se
+46-31-725 34 01
Tips & Tricks for Spring Maintenance of Your ATV, Motorcycle, or Moped
- Check correct tire pressure, as well as brakes to ensure tires have no dry cracks and adequate tread depth.
- Ensure the chain is correctly tensioned and lubricated.
- Check the condition of the battery.
- Verify that the latest service was performed on time, based on whichever comes first: time interval or mileage.
- Engine Oil: Use high-quality engine oil. If you have a wet clutch, ensure the oil meets JASO MA2 standards to provide the correct friction additives for optimal clutch function.
- Fuel: Depending on how the vehicle was stored over winter, consider whether you kept a full tank to prevent condensation or completely emptied the fuel system.
- Safety inspection, including assessing the condition of the helmet.
Related Links
Midland Range for ATV, Motorcycle & Moped
Contacts
PRESS CONTACT
CEO - business development, sales, and marketing
jonas.udd@midland.se
+46-31-725 34 01
7 Tips for Preparing Your Car for Summer
The key tip is to prepare according to how you plan to use your car. If you're driving short distances locally, you may not need much preparation. However, if you're hitting the autobahn with a caravan in tow, you'll need to prepare more, such as ensuring your insurance is up to date, having road assistance contact numbers handy, carrying a reflective vest, and having a first aid kit in the car. It might also be wise to keep a bottle of oil handy in case you need to top up.
- Tires: Check wheel bolts after changing tires with a torque wrench, inspect tread depth, and verify tire pressure.
- Brakes: Ensure wheels roll smoothly and that brake pads and braking performance are adequate (you may need assistance from a workshop; see attached link to "find a workshop").
- Oil and Filter: Check when your car was last serviced. Do you need a full service or just a minor one? If you only need an extra bottle of oil for topping up, you can get it from your workshop or order it with free shipping at midland.se.
- Some workshops offer free inspections: This is a great way to get an overview of brakes, wheel bearings, and lighting.
- Uneven engine idle, cars that have been sitting for a while with half a tank or is it reasonable to do preventive maintenance on the fuel system including the fuel pump? Pour a bottle of Injector Cleaner & Water Remover into the tank. Even if you don't experience any problems, the treatment is a good preventive maintenance measure.
- Automatic transmission (AT, CVT, DCT): Many car manufacturers want to keep down car maintenance costs and do not recommend oil changes for AT, but several transmission manufacturers recommend oil changes. Especially if the car has driven 10-15,000 miles and / or if you have driven with a trailer. Midland recommends oil change in AT for better gear function and protection of the gearbox. We recommend AT oil change either every 4-6,000 miles (part of the oil volume is changed in the converter) or complete flushing of the entire gearbox (best) at least every 6-10,000 miles.
- A clean car doesn't rust: Is it time to pamper your car with an underbody wash?
Your friends at Midland wish you problem-free car journeys on safe roads!
Related Links
Injector Cleaner & Water Remover
Contacts
PRESS CONTACT
CEO - business development, sales, and marketing
jonas.udd@midland.se
+46-31-725 34 01
Tips & Tricks for Prepping Your Boat for the Season
Tongi Erson, at USA On Line AB, which imports engines, helps with these tips & tricks:
Tongi and the friends at Midland wish you a great boating summer!
- Service the engine at a workshop if you’re not handy yourself. This ensures essential tasks like changing the impeller, oil, and filter are done, so the cooling system and oil lubrication work well.
- Many boat engines haven't run more than 1,000 hours but still need renovation. Proper maintenance can allow engines to run up to 10-20,000 hours. The most important thing is: Use high-quality oil and change it often, especially as soon as it turns black. Coked oil wears out engine bearings prematurely.
- Maintain both service and winter storage well. Many forget to winterize the engine mechanically by providing a protective oil film on the upper side of the piston rings, the cylinder wall above the piston, and the valves with their seats. Apply this extra oil via the air intake or directly into the carburetor while the engine runs, never mixed with gasoline, as it can clog injectors or carburetor nozzles. The answer is to add oil protection via the air intake or remove the flame arrestor if you have a carburetor.
- Some DIYers extract old oil via the dipstick hole. After a few years, half a liter of sludge with contaminants remains. If changing oil on an inboard engine, ensure to drain the old oil via the oil plug instead.
- Another tip is to protect the engine with antifreeze by removing the thermostat housing and thermostat, flushing the engine a couple of times with fresh water by opening both water plugs if you have a V6 or V8. Once all saltwater is out, close the plugs and pour in premixed antifreeze. This saves antifreeze and the environment compared to those who run it out with exhaust on land. You can also reuse the antifreeze by starting spring maintenance by draining it into a container. The careless (not environmentally conscious) feed fish with antifreeze. With about 100,000 boats needing frost protection, and engines requiring 5-10 liters of water/antifreeze, a lot is released each fall and spring.
- Check battery condition, ideally taking it home and charging it periodically. In spring, check the boat's tightness and safety equipment, including fire extinguishers.
- 2-stroke outboards: Do not overdose oil. Excess oil negatively impacts cooling and increases smoke emissions. Choose oil with the TC-W3 standard, preferably fully synthetic, to minimize deposits at exhaust ports. The best advice is to switch to a 4-stroke or electric motor to avoid burnt oil in the water, an environmentally better choice.
- 4-stroke outboards: Use engine oils with the NMMA FC-W standard (four-cycle water-cooled with or without a catalyst). Other oils may work, but ensure the oil meets extended requirements for both saltwater and freshwater environments, providing enhanced corrosion protection.
- 4-stroke inboard engines: Midland was the first brand with a semi-synthetic 15W-40, combining the good adhesion of mineral oil with synthetic base oil that withstands higher temperatures.
- Water-resistant grease: For propeller shafts and other applications, choose a long-fiber grease that is water-resistant and stays in place (calcium-base
Related Links
Midland Range for Boat Engines
Caltima Marine Lubricating Grease
Pre-mixed Antifreeze in 1-liter bottle
Fogging Oil for Winter Storage
Contacts
PRESS CONTACT
CEO - business development, sales, and marketing
jonas.udd@midland.se
+46-31-725 34 01