Car Horror Stories: Road Mishaps You Should Avoid this Undas

Pasig City, Philippines – October 17, 2025 – Undas or All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day, is a time for families to come together, honor loved ones and reconnect with their roots. But for many, it also means long drives, packed highways, and unpredictable road conditions. As thousands of Filipinos prepare to travel to the provinces this season, Prestone®, the #1 Brake Fluid and #1 Coolant in the Philippines, reminds motorists that a safe journey begins with preparation, because road horror stories can creep up on you when you least expect them.

 

From flat tires to overheated engines, here are some of the most common car horror stories that can ruin your Undas trip, and how you can avoid them through proper car preventive maintenance and the right coolant for your car.

 

The flat tire surprise

Image you’re driving to your hometown, and you only have a few kilometers away to reach your destination when you hear a loud thud. You stop and check your car, and it turns out your tire gave up. Whether it’s a nail on the road or a worn-out tire, this classic road mishap can throw off your entire schedule.

 

That is why it’s important to inspect your tires before traveling. Make sure they have proper air pressure and don’t forget to bring a spare tire, jack, and tools. A quick check before the trip can spare you hours of roadside trouble.

 

The lost case of dead batteries

After a short stopover, you return to your car, only to find that it won’t start. A weak or drained battery is a common culprit during long weekends when cars sit idle for days before the trip.

 

Have your battery checked before you travel and clean any corrosion around the terminals. Keeping your lights, dash cameras, and accessories off when parked helps extend battery life. This is a simple car maintenance tip every driver should practice, even on casual daily drives.

 

The broken brakes scare

You’re in heavy traffic when your brakes suddenly feel soft or unresponsive. It’s every driver’s nightmare, and it usually stems from neglected car maintenance which often includes old brake fluid, worn pads, or leaks in the system.

 

Schedule a quick check-up at your nearest car maintenance service centers or talyers. Brake health is non-negotiable, especially on long drives. Remember, it’s always better to prevent than repair.

 

The curious case of stalled engine

You’re halfway through your journey when the car suddenly stalls in the middle of the road. The reason? Old coolant or a system leak that caused the engine to overheat.

 

When you’re far from a mechanic, Prestone Coolant Ready To Use can be a real lifesaver. Formulated with 5X Superior Cooling Protection Guaranteed, it protects your engine from overheating, rust, corrosion, and boilover, ensuring long-lasting protection for key components like the radiator, water pump, thermostat, and aluminum parts.

 

Because it’s pre-diluted and ready to pour, there’s no need to add distilled water or mix. Just top up your coolant anywhere and you’re good to go. Siguradong compatible with all makes and models, even motorcycles, and meets ASTM standards for superior performance.

 

The overheating nightmare

Few things are as stressful as seeing steam rising from your hood in the middle of a long drive. Overheating often happens when drivers skip basic car maintenance or use incompatible coolant for car.

 

Before you hit the road, make sure your car’s engine is protected with Prestone Asian Coolant. Engineered with 5X Superior Cooling Action and Cor-Guard™ Technology, siguradong compatible with your car brand.

 

The Prestone Asian Coolant 1L is available in RED/PINK, BLUE, and GREEN color variants.

 

• RED/PINK COOLANT: For all Toyota®, Lexus®, and Scion® vehicles, all years
• BLUE COOLANT: For all Honda®, Nissan®, Subaru® vehicles, pre-2009 to 2011 & Newer
• GREEN COOLANT: For all Isuzu®, Suzuki®, Hyundai®, KIA®, Mazda® Mitsubishi® vehicles, pre-2009 to 2011 & Newer

 

Turn your Undas trip into memories, not horror stories

As Filipinos gear up for the long Undas weekend, Prestone reminds every driver to take extra precautions before hitting the road. From checking your brakes to topping up your coolant, a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring a smooth and safe journey for you and your loved ones.

 

Don’t let car troubles become your real-life horror story this Undas. Keep your engine cool with Prestone Asian Coolant and Prestone Coolant Ready to Use— siguradong compatible with 5X superior protection your vehicle deserves.

 

Both Prestone Coolants are available at leading automotive stores and retail outlets nationwide, including True Value, Handyman, Ace Hardware, Blade, and online through the official stores on Lazada and Shopee. Prestone also urges customers to purchase only from authorized retailers to ensure product authenticity and vehicle safety.

 

To learn more about Prestone’s full range of products and car preventive maintenance tips, visit www.prestone.com.ph

 

Essential Travel Tips to Keep Everyone Safe

Pasig City, Philippines – [February 08, 2022] – The year 2022 is here! While the start of the year symbolizes hope, it also serves as a reminder that we all remain vigilant, particularly as the threats of new COVID-19 variants still lurk around.

Due to the upward trend in the number of cases, the National Capital Region (NCR) and some of its nearby provinces are now placed under a higher alert level status. And yes, this means stricter safety protocols and limited outside activities for Filipinos.

Long drives, however, are inevitable for some. For instance, those who went to their respective provinces for holidays are starting to go back to the metro. Meanwhile, those in the frontline, especially health workers, sometimes need to travel for long hours to reach their patients.

If you’re one of those who need to travel long hours, Prestone, a proven and trusted quality brand of Auto Care fluids since 1927 and a road safety advocate, reminds you of these safety protocols for your vehicle before you hit the road.

Bring a travel health kit with Prestone Disinfecting Car Wipes. When you’re traveling, it's a given that you will encounter different people and surfaces, maybe in checkpoints, gasoline stations, or tollgates. You may be exposed to various bacteria and viruses, especially COVID-19. With that in mind, bringing a travel health kit can help you prevent their spread and avoid getting sick.

Make it your one-minute habit to wipe down the high-touch surfaces of your vehicle with Prestone Disinfecting Car Wipes. These disinfecting wipes can kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, including the COVID-19 virus in just one minute. It is safe to use on the dashboard, console, steering wheel, window buttons, door handles, and gear stick, among others. (Follow usage instructions as per label).

Include in your kit a few spares of face masks, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or rubbing/sanitizing alcohol, and even a first aid kit, just in case.

Inspect and maintain your brakes with Prestone’s DOT 3 and DOT 4 Synthetic Hi-Temp Brake Fluids. When stepped upon, a vehicle’s brake pedal exhibits an adequate amount of resistance. If you observe your brake pedal has a spongy feeling every time it’s pushed, this indicates that your brakes need to get checked and fixed to avoid any accident. Also, be on the lookout if your brakes produce a sharp squeal as you drive your vehicle. It may mean that you need new brake pads.

Prestone, on the other hand, has reliable and trusted brake fluids for your vehicle’s braking system, delivering the best possible care for all its related parts. Exceeding the standard requirements, Prestone’s DOT 3 and DOT 4 Synthetic Hi-Temp Brake Fluids give an incredible performance in high-temperature braking systems and provide an increased fluid life of 50,000 miles. It also prevents all metal corrosion within the braking system and is suitable for a disc, drum, and anti-lock braking system.

Examine and fuel your engine with Prestone Motor Oil. Early detection of an engine problem may save you trouble on the road. It’s always better to ensure that your engine has no leaks or strange noises that would indicate problems.

Meanwhile, Prestone has a variety of motor oils suitable for gasoline or diesel engines, whether it’s turbo or non-turbo, that you can apply to help your engine achieve its best performance and maintain its tip-top condition.

Made in Singapore, Prestone Motor Oil is packed with quality base oils and significant additives that assist in reaching a high viscosity rate. It is approved by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the largest oil and natural gas trade corporation in the U.S., marking it with an API Donut.

Prestone Motor Oil has G-Tech and D-Tech 500 formulations for gasoline and diesel motors, respectively. G-Tech comes in three variations: the G-Tech Advance (Mineral Oil), the G-Tech Synblend (Synthetic Blend), and the G-Tech Full Synthetic. D-Tech 500, on the other hand, consists of the D-Tech 500 Synblend (Synthetic Blend) and the D-Tech 500 Full Synthetic.

Look at your tires, battery, lights, and other essential components and fluids. Your vehicle’s tires are the only components in contact with the ground. For that reason, you should always pay attention to their air pressures and tread depths while looking for bubbles, bulges, or visible damages.

Then, check to know if your vehicle’s battery has sufficient charge and all the necessary cables are connected to the terminals. Next, look for any faulty or fractured bulbs in your headlights, brake lights, hazard lights, turn signals, and taillights so you can have them changed as nighttime driving is unavoidable.

In addition, don’t forget to inspect the levels of your coolant, windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. Ensure that your vehicle’s belts, hoses, and air filters are in an excellent state.

“Long drive requires more effort from your vehicle. As Prestone continuously advocates for road safety, we hope to encourage motorists to apply these safety measures before their journey for a smoother and more convenient trip. However, as traveling is a part of our daily lives, these protocols should be an everyday routine to be always safe on the road,” said Paolo Lao, marketing director of Prestone Philippines.

Prestone also wants to remind motorists to buy Prestone Disinfecting Car Wipes, Prestone Motor Oil, and Prestone’s DOT 3 and DOT 4 Synthetic Hi-Temp Brake Fluids from reputable stores and distributors to ensure they only get genuine Prestone products to prevent accidents or car damage.

To know its authenticity, check the product details and look for misspelled texts and information on the labels. Be sure it has a PS mark or ICC stickers issued by the Bureau of Product Standards of the Philippines. Many counterfeit products also have 900ml packaging.

Aside from car wipes, motor oils, and brake fluids, Prestone has other cutting-edge car care products, such as coolants, power steering fluids, and more.

Warming Up Your Car the Right Way

Pasig, Philippines; [June 30, 2021] – Amid the ‘new normal,’ most car owners use their vehicles less frequently. Except for frontline workers, the public is encouraged to go out only when necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Despite this, Prestone, a proven and trusted quality brand of Auto Care fluids since 1927, reminds motorists to religiously check their vehicles and go for annual preventive maintenance to avoid the hassle of a car breakdown when they return on the road.

According to Prestone Philippines, car owners need to focus on two frequently overlooked fluids—the Automatic Transmission and Power Steering Fluids.

Shifting With Ease

The Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is an essential fluid that lubricates the bearings and metal parts inside a car’s automatic gearbox. It also keeps them from grinding down as they move.

Car owners need to regularly maintain their vehicle’s ATF since it not only lubricates the moving parts but also provides hydraulic pressure and friction to make the internal parts work. Transmission fluid in both manual and automatic transmissions also helps to keep the transmission cool. Since most cars today use AT transmissions, keeping tabs on them is vital since it is more expensive to repair than manual transmission cars.

Additionally, Prestone said that using auto transmission fluids provide the necessary power for the demands of the city or highway. Prestone’s Auto Transmission Fluid (ATF) helps delay and, at its best, eliminate the need for costly repairs with cracked and dry seals conditioning and its stop leak technology. In addition, its high and low-temperature friction characteristics provide smooth shifting under extreme conditions, meeting the needs of various cars.

Turning With Ease

Meanwhile, Power Steering Fluid (PSF) is a kind of hydraulic fluid transferring power in modern vehicles with power steering. As a vital part of your steering system, power steering fluid allows drivers to turn the steering wheel smoothly. The use of PSF vary depending on the car with some requiring ATF to come along with it.

Unfortunately, topping up PSF is typically not included in regular maintenance but it still needs to be maintained to prevent grit and sludge from accumulating and further getting into the car’s pinion seals and rack, consequently destroying it. Prestone highly recommends that car owners periodically change their car’s PSF, using high-quality fluids and consulting expert mechanics to maintain it.

The Prestone Power Steering Fluid protects pumps against pump breakdown caused by wear, oxidation, and foaming through its stop leak technology. As a result, it lessens pump squealing and aid in smooth power steering operation. It also pours at sub-zero temperatures to help assure cold weather steering performance.

As a final reminder, car owners must stay cautious against counterfeit products sold in the market today, especially Brake Fluid. Using fake products can cause malfunctions or permanently damage various parts of your vehicle, leading to a car breakdown, accidents, or engine replacement.

Watch out for sellers offering products that come from unknown sources and with suspicious prices and discounts. To know its authenticity, check the product’s details, look for imperfections, and ensure it has a PS mark or ICC stickers issued by the Philippine Bureau of Product Standards.

To know more about Prestone Philippines, visit their website at https://www.prestone.com.ph/ and follow their Facebook page, Prestone Philippines. You can also buy authentic Prestone products on their Lazada page, The Clorox Company Flagship Store.