5 Things You Must Do To Prepare Your Car For A Summer Road Trip

If your car is reaching a certain age, it is normal for you to worry about taking it on a long trip. However, what most people don’t know is that long trips do less damage to your car than short trips around town.

The speed will be constant, you will not need to hit the brakes as often, which will make the car use less gas and the engine does not have too much tension.

But the last thing you want is to have a breakdown away from home. To avoid this, do a few simple checks, the sooner the better; two to four weeks before departure would be the best option.

• Repair major problems: If your car needs major repairs, you should get them done as soon as possible. This will give you time to see if there is something really wrong with the car and you will have time to fix it.

A good thing to check is the coolant. If you go to a warmer or colder place than you are used to, your car may suffer from the changes. Ask the mechanic to check if your vehicle is adequately protected and do so as soon as possible.

• Check tires and spare parts: Make sure your tires have the proper pressure. If you have low pressure, your tires will get hot and this can cause them to explode if you accelerate. The best way to do this is by consulting your owner’s manual to see what pressure is best for your car. Also, check the tread of your tires.

A good thing to do beforehand is to check the spare tire, is it inflated? Also, check if the jack, wrench, and everything you need to change a tire are in the trunk.

• Check the glove compartment: Make sure you have your vehicle owner’s manual and registration. If you no longer have the manual, request a replacement or ask if they don’t have it in PDF format on their websites.

Check the registry to see if it doesn’t expire while you’re on the road, and keep it in your wallet or pocket, in case your car is stolen. It’s also a good idea to have a road atlas there, just in case.

• Check the air filter: If your air filter is clogged or clogged, it will consume more fuel. They are not very expensive and are quite easy to change. If you’ve never changed the filter and your car is over 10,000 miles, it’s time to change it.
• Join Triple A: If you don’t have a roadside assistance program, consider triple A. In case of emergency or if you have a problem, they will tow you, put gas on you if you run out, and change your tire if it goes flat.