10 May Before Your Next Road Trip: 5 Car Maintenance Tips
Did you know National Road Trip Day is the Friday before Memorial Day? Memorial Day weekend is one of the most popular times for road trips. One of the best travel tips I can recommend is to have your vehicle serviced before your next road trip. Start your road trip with car maintenance tips, an oil change, and a tire rotation. Then, continue with a multi-point inspection to verify that all the other prominent systems and safety components are ready for your trip. Finish off with a car wash—both inside and outside.
Road Trip Routine Car Maintenance Tips
Performing routine maintenance on your vehicle is an excellent way to keep it running great and avoid surprise repairs. A good rule of thumb is following the suggested maintenance guidelines in your owner’s manual. Your specific driving style, environment, and other needs may require more or less frequent service appointments. A qualified technician can help you determine the best service schedule for your vehicle. Ask your technician for advice if your next road trip falls between your routine car maintenance intervals.
1. Oil Change
An oil change is a necessary service that helps keep your engine properly lubricated, cool, and running efficiently. This service usually includes replacing the oil filter at the same time you replace the oil. If your engine oil still has plenty of life, your technician may recommend you wait until after your trip to change it. Either way, checking your oil before your trip is an easy way to avoid expensive and preventable repairs when you are far from home.
2. Tire Rotation
Experts recommend a tire rotation every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. If you are taking an extended road trip, you can quickly rack up those miles in no time. During a tire rotation service, the technician will examine the tires for tire tread wear, damage, and correct air pressure. Since your tires don’t always wear at the same rate or in the same way, it’s a good practice to examine them frequently. Uneven tread wear can signal issues with your car’s alignment, suspension, tire pressure, or braking system.
Don’t Forget The Spare Tire
Remember to have the spare tire checked out as well. If you experience a blowout or flat while on your trip, having a spare tire in good working condition is crucial to getting you back on the road quickly and safely.
3. Multi-Point Inspection or Tune-Up
A multi-point inspection covers the most prominent systems, fluids, and safety components. The service technician will let you know if anything should be addressed before your trip. The tune-up usually includes inspections of the following areas:
- Braking System
- Coolant Levels
- Filters, Hoses, Gaskets, Belts
- Fluids Check
- Headlamps, Tail Lights, Turn Indicators
- HVAC System
- Transmission System
- Wheel Alignment & Balancing
- Windshield Wipers And Windshield Washer Fluid
4. Car Wash & Wax
Is washing your car really important before leaving for your road trip? Most experts agree that it is. Road grime, road salt, bird droppings, and bug juice can damage your vehicle’s paint, wheels, and chrome trim. Starting your road trip with a clean car means you have more visibility and less chance of baking contaminants into your paint job, creating lasting damage.
5. Road Trip Emergency Kit
When preparing for your next road trip, reviewing the items in your car emergency kit is a good idea. Here’s a short list of items to keep with you in case of an emergency.
- Cell phone and car charger
- First-aid kit (include specific medications for all travelers)
- Blanket or large towel
- Drinking water and snacks for all travelers (including pets)
- Large flashlight with extra batteries
- Paper towels or pre-moistened wipes
- A basic set of tools, duct tape, and road flares or reflectors
- Ice scraper or snow brush
- Jumper cables or jump pack
- Traction aid (sand, salt or non-clumping cat litter)
- Tarp, raincoat, and gloves
- Vehicle owner’s manual
Full-Service Car Maintenance & Repairs: Ann Arbor, MI
At Ron’s Garage, we perform routine maintenance and repair all vehicle makes and models. Our qualified service technicians have served Ann Arbor and surrounding communities since 1982.
Schedule A Pre Road Trip Service
We would love to hear from you! Call us at (734) 961-4701 or visit our website to schedule your next Oil Change or Car maintenance service.