Part 1 - Road Trip Essentials

Memorial Day just passed, and summer is fast approaching. That can only mean one thing: road trips. But before you get behind the wheel, there are a couple of things you should check out to ensure your trip isn’t one big headache. We here at Sansone Automall put together a guide that you can use to make sure your car is ready for the trip ahead.

First, you’re going to want to get the five car fluids that keep your vehicle running smoothly checked out. That means you’ll be popping the hood of your car and making sure the levels of the following are satisfactory: engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid.  Regardless of your skill level, pretty much anyone can check all five with relative ease. There is a lot of information online as well. If you find yourself confused about what type of fluid to purchase or any other general questions, we’re here to help! And, while you’re under the hood, check the battery to make sure the cables are securely fastened and free of corrosion.

Now that we’ve inspected the inside of the car, it’s time to take a look at the exterior. Prior to any long trip, you’ll want to make sure your tires (and the spare!) are in prime condition by checking each one’s air pressure. Make sure you never exceed the max air pressure, which is marked on the side of the tire. An unusable spare can change a bump in the road into a nightmare in the blink of an eye. You’re also going to want to check the tire treads; these help the tires “grip” the road, accelerate quickly, and maximize fuel economy, among other things. Don’t worry about expenses either. Checking your tire treads will only cost you a penny.

Congratulations, you’ve tackled the big hurdles to a successful road trip! You still have a few changes to make, though. Be sure to give your car a good scrub-down and make sure your windshield wipers haven’t become worn down because driving through a thunderstorm without clear visibility is extremely frustrating and a safety hazard! Lights come next. Check to make sure all of them, including signals, are working properly. Get a look at the air filter too; a plentiful supply of clean air to your engine improves its performance.

By now you’re asking yourself: “Have I done all I can?” The answer is yes, but that’s where we come in. Always schedule a basic inspection of your vehicle before you head out. This will ensure that you’ve taken all the necessary steps to keep your car going. Additionally, the checkup will serve as a secondary screening to catch anything you may have overlooked or weren’t capable of doing yourself – such as an oil change or tune-up.

Next week, we’ll be covering what to pack and how to plan ahead for those long hauls.