friends leaving on a road trip In preparation for your road trip, you put together the basics, from clothing to cash, and map your route. At the same time, you also have the condition of your car to think about. Specifically, can the vehicle handle this long distance?

Road trips naturally present the chance for a potential breakdown, so it’s essential to have your car looked at before clocking in those miles.

Fluid Levels

Everything from your antifreeze to your oil should last the trip, as your engine needs enough lubrication to not die out midway through your trek. Specifically, your car should have enough oil to last at least 7,000 miles. What might need to be topped off?

  • Oil: If you continue pushing through oil that needs to be changed, all that black, gritty sludge won’t lubricate the necessary components correctly, including the pistons, crankshaft and camshaft.
  • Radiator Fluid: Also known as coolant or antifreeze, this fluid is essential to control the engine’s heat. Depending on how many miles you’ve put on your car since the last change, your vehicle also might require a full flush.
  • Brake Fluid: This fluid is essential to your brakes’ operation and, like other fluids, breaks down and picks up contaminants with time. If it’s not changed or flushed after a certain point, you’ll find yourself having to push down harder on the brakes or may sense that the pedal feels soft to the touch.
  • Power Steering Fluid: Fluid contamination and breakdown reduce your steering wheel’s responsiveness.
  • Transmission Fluid: Are you nearing that 60,000-mile mark? If so, have this fluid refilled or flushed, so your car’s gears can smoothly change and shift.
  • Windshield Fluid: To put it simply, depleted fluid means you’ll have a harder time keeping your windshield clean.

Tires

Anyone examining your tires before a longer trip should look for two factors: Pressure and treads. Underinflated tires reduce your car’s gas efficiency and, if overinflated, your tires become harder to control and wear out sooner. Ultimately, you’ll end up wearing out your tires during a lengthy journey – if not blowing them out – if you ignore the pressure.

After your appointment, make a backup plan in case this still happens on the road. Keep a spare in the trunk and check your tire pressure every 1,000 miles.

As far as your treads are concerned, always do the penny test – checking the treads for a depth of 2/32 inches or greater – and survey the surface for flat spots, punctures and bulges. If they display any of these signs, you should get your tires changed. Ideally, regardless of whether they’re new or still holding up, your tires should last anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 miles.

Brakes

Your brake fluid is only part of it. The rest of the system should be able to get through that degree of wear and tear. Particularly, your brakes will need to be replaced if:

  • You hear a squeaking or grinding noise
  • Your brake warning light turns on.
  • You have to press more or farther to stop your car.
  • You feel vibrations whenever you press down.

When it comes to your brake pads, a new, sturdy pair should last anywhere from 25,000 to 70,000 miles, depending on material and degree of use.

Belts and Hoses

Just because you can’t see them, that doesn’t mean these parts are unimportant. Located under the hood, belts and hoses crack, fray or lose teeth at a certain point, which may lead to leaking fluid or an engine that dies when you’re out driving. To start your journey with some stability and avoid a mysterious breakdown later, make sure these two parts get looked at, if not replaced before you leave.

Battery

As a good rule of thumb, replace your car’s battery every five years. If you’re reaching that point, don’t risk it. Instead, begin your journey with a fresh start.

Even if your battery is only a couple years old, you should still have someone give it a once-over for corrosion, tight leads and how your car starts. Also have both the electrolytes and output voltage checked. Ignoring these aspects could lead to a dead battery somewhere down the line, or a “voltage dump” that affects the alternator.
 
Are you planning a road trip this summer or early fall? Don’t drive your car this distance when it’s not ready. For a vehicle review and any maintenance or repairs ahead of time, start by making an appointment with DaSilva’s Auto Body.