How to Prep Your Car for a Road Trip

How to Prep Your Car for a Road Trip

1)    Has your car been acting odd lately? If your ride had been making funny noises or leaking any fluid, take it to a trusted mechanic or isolate and fix the problem yourself if you are mechanically inclined. If you car has the check engine or other maintenance lights illuminated take your car to an auto parts store, most places will run your OBD-II codes for free and this helps narrow down your problem.

2)    Check all of your fluids (brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, oil, and even windshield washer fluid) It is extremely important to change your oil every 5-7 thousand miles. If you have been neglecting this for a while change your oil before taking off to anywhere far away. You can find fluid specifications in your vehicle’s owner’s manual if you are unsure of which type or grade of fluid to use.

3)    Check your tires. Your tires are one of the most important systems in your vehicle; they keep your vehicle firmly attached to the road’s surface and can adversely affect your fuel mileage if improperly inflated or excessively worn. Visually inspect each tire for excessive and wear. Excessive wear is when one or more of your tire’s grooves reach a depth of only 2/32 in. deep. This can be checked by placing a penny, with Lincoln’s head upside down, in the shallowest groove of you tire. If you can see the top of his head when on eye level with the surface of the tire, then it is time to replace your tires. To check for proper inflation get a tire pressure gauge and measure each tire’s pressure (it is important to do this while the tire is cold, so check for pressure in the morning before driving anywhere) In my experience the proper inflation pressure is usually 32 Psi, but may vary for each make and model, so verify the correct pressure by looking at the sticker inside of the driver’s door jam.

4)    Verify proper wheel alignment. This can be checked by driving slowly (5-10 MPH) down an empty street and carefully taking your hands off of the wheel. If your car drifts to one side or the other take you car to a trusted mechanic to have your wheels realigned.

5)    Check your brake pads. Brakes are another crucial system that will need a quick check before you head out on the road. You can have your mechanic check the amount of brake pad remaining or you can visually inspect them yourself, but if you are not sure what to look for then have your mechanic check them for you. You probably needs to change at least one set of brake pads if you have noticed a squealing noise under braking the last few times you have driven your car.

6)    One last thing. Be sure that you have your vehicle’s tool kit and spare tire, properly inflated of course, with you before leaving. It should include all of the tools necessary for a roadside tire change. Hopefully you won’t need to use these tools, but they are invaluable if you have a flat.

Thanks for reading this quick guide to preparing your car for a road trip. If you have any other questions or concerns please follow up with a trusted mechanic and remember, always practice safe driving habits.