Road trips are the ultimate summer vacation for anyone from friends to couples to families seeking an adventure on the open road. But if your car isn’t road-ready for the long haul, you could find yourself stranded on the side of the highway in a place far from home. Oil changes, tire rotation, and regularly scheduled maintenance
Don’t let that happen to you! Here are 10 tips to get your car ready for summer travels on the road to fun!
- Take care of your tires
Tires are so important for performance and safety. Check for bubbles on the sidewalls, uneven or visible wear and if the tire looks too worn, have it replaced. Also, make sure the air pressure is filled accordingly to the specifications detailed on your vehicle.
- Check the brakes
If it’s been a while since you’ve had your brakes maintained, have your mechanic pop off the wheels to inspect them. You don’t want to find out the hard way that your brakes aren’t up to par on the road.
- Look at your brake fluid
Equally as important, your brake fluid needs to be good too. It should be clear and the container should be full. If it’s not clear, let your mechanic flush it out. This is a job for an expert and not something you should try without an mechanical knowledge or you risk damaging your vehicle.
- Get an oil change
Oil is essential for keeping the engine running optimally. Make sure you’re up-to-date on oil changes to have a harmonious driving experience.
- Be cool with your coolant
Engine coolant is another important fluid your car needs for proper performance. The radiator tank should be full and the coolant should have the right ratio of water to ethylene glycol. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, your mechanic will be happy to help you with this.
- Look at your automatic transmission fluid
Most people these days drive an automatic model. If you’re one of them, making sure the automatic transmission fluid is in order will save you many headaches on your summer road trip.
- Take care of your power steering
Keep your power steering fluid clean and topped off. It makes for easier driving too which is always a blessing on long haul drives.
- Make sure your battery is ready to ride
Nothing puts a damper on a summer road adventure more than a car that won’t start. Make sure you’ve checked it to make sure the fluid in the battery is good to go.
- Gussy up the inside
You’ll be spending lots of time inside the car when you hit the road to head to Disney or even drive out of state, so clean things up on the inside. Not keen on doing it yourself? Take it to an auto detailer. It will be money well-spent. Also, consider buying car seat organizers. They’re great if you have kids but even if you don’t, it can make keeping all those little things more organized and tidy.
- Change the wipers
Summer is filled with afternoon showers and thunderstorms in Florida. You’ll be hard-pressed to avoid them. Make sure your wipers are working well so you can see. Replacing the blades is easy!
Let Main Street Automotive get you road-ready this summer! Schedule an appointment for maintenance today for complete peace of mind!
