How to Get Your Car Ready for a Road Trip

Few summer traditions are quite as popular as road trips, but planning a road trip can be a lot of work. Between booking lodging, mapping out a route and packing plenty of snacks, you might not give too much thought to the most important part of your road trip: your car. However, it’s essential to take some time to get your vehicle ready for a road trip to avoid any issues while you’re on the road. If you’re preparing for a road trip this summer, keep reading for some essential tips to make sure your car is ready.

Complete this car maintenance checklist before your road trip

Make sure your vehicle is ready for anything the summer has in store for you by following this car maintenance checklist before your big road trip:

• Replace fluids and filters: Cars have a variety of fluids and filters that all serve important roles, including keeping engines cool and optimizing system performance. Before a road trip, have these fluids and filters checked and topped off or replaced if necessary. Usually, mechanics check fluids and filters during routine oil changes, so bring your vehicle in for an oil change on time to make sure everything is topped off and running smoothly before hitting the road.
• Test your car battery: In addition to topping off fluids and checking filters, it’s also important to test the charge in your car’s battery. Most batteries last for five or six years, but it’s still a good idea to test newer batteries, since there might be a defect or issue that’s draining the battery or causing another battery problem.
• Check tire pressure and tread depth: The condition of your tires can make a huge difference in how safe you are on the road. Check your tire pressure and make sure all of your tires are inflated to the appropriate level recommended in your vehicle owner’s manual. In addition, remember to check your tire tread and determine whether it’s time for tire replacement prior to your trip.
• Have belts and hoses inspected: Belts and hoses, including timing belts and fluid hoses, are highly susceptible to wear and tear over the years. Problems with belts and hoses can cause all kinds of problems on the road, ranging from minor electrical malfunctions to full-on breakdowns. With that in mind, make sure to have belts and hoses inspected to check for breakage, fraying and other problems that require repair or replacement.
• Check brakes: Brakes are essential to the safety and performance of a car, so it’s essential to have them checked before a road trip. Checking your brakes prior to a road trip is a great way to make sure your car is safe for travel for long periods of time.

Professional auto maintenance

Get your vehicle ready for a road trip and make sure you’re as safe and comfortable as possible with help from the team at Auto Air & Heating, Inc. For decades, we have been proud to provide expert automotive heating and cooling services in addition to a variety of preventative maintenance services for vehicles of all different makes, models and years. Stop by today or give us a call to schedule a service appointment to get your car road trip ready!

Categorised in: General Maintenance

This post was written by Writer