Whether you’re heading to a national park for a summer getaway or you’re traveling over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house at the holidays, a long road trip can be an incredible way to see the country and spend time with loved ones while you’re on the way to where you’re going. No one wants to have car trouble far from home, though, so read on to learn about some maintenance tasks you can undertake before taking off that should help you stay safe and on the road.
First: Check Your Oil (and Other Fluids)
If you’ve owned a car for any time at all, you know how important it is to check your oil and make sure everything is ship-shape with the engine. If you’re getting ready to put serious miles on your car in a short time, it is critical to make sure that your oil and other fluids are at the appropriate levels. If you’re close to needing an oil change, go ahead and set it up before you leave: a sudden increase in daily mileage will almost certainly accelerate the need for it anyway.
Along with oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and coolant, you’ll also want to make certain that your windshield wiper fluid is topped off and that your windshield wipers themselves are in good working order. Putting fresh windshield wiper blades on your car before a road trip is never a bad idea, and you’ll never regret being able to see clearly in a sudden downpour on the highway far from home.
Next: How Are Your Tires Looking (and Feeling)?
Your tires are literally where the rubber meets the road, so checking your tire pressure and ensuring that each tire is inflated correctly is worth doing at any time, and certainly before hitting the highway.
If you haven’t checked in a while, it is also worth it to assess the tread situation with each tire. A simple way to make that assessment is using a quarter: if you hold it with the heads side facing you, upside down, and insert it into the tread of your tire, you’ll know you need a fresh set of tires if any part of Washington’s head is visible, because that means the tread has worn away enough to merit replacement.
Finally, if your car feels funny at all while driving or turning, or it pulls one way or the other while you’re going straight, you likely need to have your tires aligned. Properly aligned tires help with vehicle stability and also ensure that your tires aren’t being unnecessarily worn down by bad alignment.
Filters: Not Just for Gas Station Coffee
Often overlooked in home maintenance but never underestimated by your friendly local automotive service technician, your oil and air filters need to be checked regularly and replaced when needed. Both filters are important to the proper functioning of your vehicle, and checking them before a long journey just makes good sense.
Brake Check
Your car’s engine helps you go, but your brakes help you stop: the perfect symbiotic relationship. And when it comes to critical safety issues, your brakes are stars deserving of special attention.
If the brakes on your vehicle feel squishy, or perhaps it takes longer for your car to stop than you feel like it should, check your brake fluid. If your brakes are squealing, this could be an indicator that your brake pads are wearing out and need to be replaced. Vibrations — particularly a grinding sensation — coming from braking activity probably warrant a brake inspection with a service technician.
See the Light, Observe the Battery
Your battery should be responsive and functioning properly. For maximum safety and reliability, it should also be securely seated under the hood, properly connected, and free from corrosion. Check your car’s battery connections and stability. If you spot any corrosion near the connectors, you’ll either need to disconnect the battery and clean the connectors with a wire brush or take your car to a professional for a battery check.
Last Touches: Belts, Hoses, and the Roadside Emergency Kit
Belts and hoses wear down, and they are critical to the function of your vehicle’s many systems. Check that your belts and hoses are in good working order, or enlist the help of a service technician to ensure that nothing needs to be replaced. And before taking off into the great American landscape, check (or put together) your roadside emergency kit.
Ideally, your kit should contain:
- jumper cables
- spare fluids
- flares
- a funnel
- a flashlight
- some basic tools
- a roll of paper towels
- duct tape
For extra-credit levels of preparedness, go ahead and consider including drinking water, a first-aid kit, a rain poncho and some gloves, and maybe even some snacks of the non-perishable variety.
Wilson Tire & Auto — Your Auto Repair Partner in Nashville
If you’ll be departing for your grand motoring adventure from the Nashville area, consider bringing your vehicle into Wilson Tire & Auto for a quick check-up and some pre-excursion maintenance. Our friendly and knowledgeable service technicians will help make sure your trip goes off without a hitch… or at least will be less likely to end with your vehicle hitched to a tow truck. Make an appointment today!
