Smart Tips to Prepare Your Car for Long Trips

Cars have become an important part of people’s lives, whether to commute every day to work, drive the kids to school, visit relatives at the other end of the city or plan some weekend getaway. And if you are one of those who understand the importance of owning the car, you would try to keep it in great shape with regular servicing and maintenance.

Of course, you cannot beat the benefits of a professional check-up, but there are a few things you can do to keep your vehicle running smoothly and ever-ready for long journeys. Here are some tips that you should follow:

Before you plan your trip….

• Send your car for scheduled maintenance. This is important to ensure that any major issues or damages to your car parts are addressed well ahead of time and take it on the journey with an assurance that it will not trouble you in any way.
• Inspect the tires. Low pressure in the tires can easily cause extra heat build-up further leading to a blowout when driving at high speeds. That is why it is important to double-check if your vehicle tires are inflated to the proper pressure or whether the tread on them is deep enough to prevent aquaplaning.
• Check the air filter. In case, there is a blockage in the filter, it will directly impact the fuel economy. So, if your current air filter has been in the vehicle beyond 10,000 miles and you haven’t changed it even once, then you should probably do that now.
• Examine the car batteries. Your old and corroded car batteries can be a huge spoilsport on your long trips. Usually, they have a life period of 3-5 years and after that, they can die anytime. Hence, you should always carry out a visual check and lookout for a replacement battery option for better performance.

On the day of your trip….

• Wash and vacuum your car. Setting on your journey in a dirty car is a big no-no. Thus, give it a good cleaning and scrubbing. Not only it will smell and feel good while traveling in it, but will also run better.
• Look over the tire pressure once again. Generally, the vehicles have two ratings – one for light loads and one for heavy loads and high speeds. So, set the tire pressure depending upon your requirements.
• Fill the gas and oil tank. You should always have a full level of motor oil and gas tank before you start your trip to avoid stranding in the middle of the journey and face the inconvenience.
• Pack and load carefully. You may want to carry a number of suitcases when you set off for a long journey, but heavy and bulky items can at times cause unwanted stress on the vehicle and affect its pick up speed. Remember that cars don’t have an unlimited carrying capacity, therefore never ever overload it.