Prepare Your Vehicle Now for Your Road Trip This Summer
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prep your Vehicle for your next road trip
Get ready for a Fun Summer!
There is nothing more enjoyable than a summer road trip. On the open road, the sights, sounds, and wind in your hair convey a unique sense of freedom. However, car trouble can dampen these positive emotions. Fortunately, a small amount of planning can safeguard your road trip from vehicle problems. Check out the following tips to prepare your vehicle now for your road trip this Summer.
Tip#1 Start With The Tires
Check the tread on your tires. When the tread is worn, it can make driving unsafe.
In the U.S., 32nds of an inch are used to measure the depth of a tire’s tread. Most new tires have tread depths of either 10/32″ or 11/32″, but some truck, SUV, and winter tires have more. The U.S. Department of Transportation says that tires should be replaced when the depth of the tread reaches 2/32″. It’s easy to see if your tread is deep enough; all you need is a penny.
Put a penny between the tread ribs of your tire so that the head of Abraham Lincoln faces the tread.
If you can no longer see the top of his head, your tread depth is still more than 2/32″. If you can see his whole head, you should get new tires before you go.
Don’t forget to check all around each tire, especially in spots that look worn. If any of your tires fail the penny test, you should get new ones.
Uneven tread wear could mean that the tires aren’t properly inflated or that the wheels aren’t lined up right, among other things. If the tread wear isn’t even, have a mechanic look at your car before you leave.
Before going on a summer road trip, check the tire pressure and make sure the valve stem caps are tight. Also, it’s a good idea to make sure the lug nuts are tight enough. Find the right foot-pounds in the manual that came with your car.
Don’t forget the spare tire either. Tires tend to lose pressure when they aren’t being used, so make sure they have the right amount of air in them.
Tip#2 Change your Motor oil
Changing the oil on your car regularly is important for its performance and longevity. Before you go far from home, check to see if your motor oil can handle the trip. Add the miles the oil has already traveled to the miles you expect to travel on your trip.
If your trip will take you longer than the recommended time between oil changes, change your oil before you leave to protect your engine.
REMEMBER THIS
The best way to protect your engine is with a high-quality synthetic. Also, don’t forget to replace the oil filter when you change the oil.
Tip#3 Check The Antifreeze & Coolant
When you drive for a long time, especially through deserts or mountain passes, your engine will get hot. Checking your antifreeze and coolant will help make sure you don’t overheat and have to stop on a lonely highway.
Find the coolant reservoir near the front or side of the engine under the hood. Usually, it is clear and has a line near the bottom that says “cold” and a line near the top that says “hot.” Remove the reservoir cap when the engine is cold and look to see if the level has dropped below the “cold” line. If that’s the case, the mix is too low.
Make sure the engine is cool before you open the reservoir cap so you don’t hurt yourself badly. If the engine is still hot, liquid can spray out of the radiator if it is under pressure.
Most of the time, a leak is the cause of low coolant. As the hoses, gaskets, and seals on your car get older, they can get hard and leak. As soon as possible, a leak needs to be found and fixed.
Check your owner’s manual or the AMSOIL Product Guide if you don’t know which antifreeze and engine coolant to use.
If you see sludge in the fluid, you should have the system flushed and switch to a better antifreeze and coolant.
Tip#4 Ensure The Transmission Fluid Is In Good Shape
People often forget about transmission fluid. In fact, a lot of new cars have transmissions that are “filled for life,” which means the fluid never needs to be checked or changed. But that is a very dangerous lie.
In reality, you should change the fluid in a filled-for-life or sealed transmission or differential at least once during the life of your vehicle, and more often if you tow or haul. Since you will be pulling a camper, it is especially important to check your transmission fluid before you leave the driveway.
Tip#5 Check your Power Steering Fluid
Checking the fluid in the power steering is an easy job that anyone can do. Yet, people often don’t pay attention to it until there are signs of low fluid, like a whining or squealing pump noise or hard steering at low speeds.
Power steering fluid is needed to keep the pump oiled and cool. So, driving with low fluid could burn out the pump and make it hard to steer or even cause you to lose control.
Find the power steering fluid reservoir to check the fluid level. It is in different places in each car, but it is usually a small, clear container with a black lid. There are “MAX” and “MIN” marks on the outside of the reservoir of many vehicles. In other cars, the dipstick is used to check the level of power steering fluid. In either case, make sure the level of fluid is right.
If it has been a long time (or never) and the fluid looks dirty and dark, change it.
Tip#6 Service The Brakes
If your brakes feel soft, grind, or don’t respond right away, it’s time to change the pads, bleed the system, and maybe even put on new rotors. If you aren’t sure how to fix your brakes, you should make an appointment with a mechanic.
The brake fluid can also go bad. Moisture gets into brake fluid, which makes it less effective.
A car with new brake fluid should feel like you’re pressing down on a brick when you step on the brake pedal. Think about the last new car you drove. Most likely, the brakes made you feel safe and solid. That’s because the system as a whole was brand new and the fluid hadn’t yet gotten wet.
It’s a good idea to change your brake fluid at least once every two years or when you change your brake pads. Also, be careful about how long you leave the product outside.
Use good fluid in your brakes and don’t try to save money. For example, AMSOIL DOT 3 & DOT 4 Synthetic Brake Fluid is packaged with nitrogen, which keeps moisture from getting into the fluid because of how it is packaged. Also, it is made with high boiling points that are higher than the minimum standards. This makes for solid, reliable braking.
Tip#7 Check The Belts, Hoses & Fuses
Check for cracks or other damage in all the hoses around the radiator while you’re under the hood. Also look at the serpentine belt.
A cheap fuse tester shows you which fuses are bad, so it’s easy to know which ones need to be replaced. Putting some extras in your glovebox never hurts, either.
Tip#8 Test your Car Battery
When was the last time your battery was changed? Batteries usually last between two and five years, and they usually don’t give much or any warning before they die. Many places that sell auto parts will test your battery for free, so you can see if you need to get a new one before you hit the road.
Tip#9 Check to see if you can see (& Others Can See You)
Check your brake lights, turn signals, and headlights. Put some extra bulbs with your fuses in case you need one along the way.
Fill up the reservoir for your windshield washer fluid and replace your wiper blades if they are making noises. Good visibility is important for safety, and it’s also a must if you want to see any sights along the way.
Tip#10 Pack A Roadside Emergency Kit
Sometimes, no matter how much you plan, it’s still not enough. Make sure you have some tools and safety gear with you in case you break down. Bring along a flashlight, a tow rope, a portable battery charger, bungee cords, screw drivers, wrenches, and emergency reflectors for the side of the road.
Tip#11 Boost Your Fuel Economy
Just before your summer road trip, gas prices always seem to go up. One way to get the most out of your fuel is to clean your fuel system with a good fuel additive.
AMSOIL P.i.® Performance Improver, for example, cleans deposits off of injectors, valves, and the combustion chamber. It only needs one tank of gas to work.
Tip#12 Have fun on your Summer Road Trip Adventure
When your car is in great shape, you’ll feel confident about taking a road trip this summer.
Hope these tips helped you Prepare Your Vehicle Now for Your Road Trip This Summer.
Now hit the road and starting creating those Summer Memories!! Safe Travels:)
why should you use AMSOIL?
Why AMSOIL? Superior protection against wear, improved fuel economy and better performance under extreme temperatures. AMSOIL is the only oil that is able to last up to 25,000 miles. Save yourself time and money and protect your car or truck by using AMSOIL products. Your vehicle will last longer and you will lower your maintenance expenses. Protect your Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler or any other vehicle with AMSOIL synthetic oil!
We advise you to consult your owners manual for proper fluid recommendations and to consult the appropriate repair manual for proper maintenance procedures and specs. Follow all appropriate safety practices. We are not responsible for misuse of products.
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