So, you’ve been sitting in your office and daydreaming about a fun road trip with your college friends for weeks. But even though you have been ready to hit the road, your car isn’t. Choosing a destination, planning various activities and arranging the entire trip can be overwhelming but doable if you have your checklist in place.
After all, if you want to enjoy the trip, you want to make sure that your vehicle is good to go and that there are no unfortunate mishaps along the way. Apart from general maintenance, you must check your fluids and have an emergency kit handy. It is particularly good to check your tires and use trusted brands like Fuel Wheels that are designed to perform on any terrain. If you have not already made a checklist, take a look at some of the things you should keep in mind before going on a road trip.
Check and replace fluids
Keeping a check on your vehicle’s fluids is a crucial step toward ensuring you have a road trip without any hitches. Even though motor oil acts as the lifeline of an engine, modern cars nowadays use many specialized fluids that are essential for the vehicle’s longevity.
Checking the brake fluid is important for the performance of your car. If you feel that your brake pedal is spongy, it may have accumulated air in the brake lines and this needs to be serviced. Sometimes, the brake fluid may also get contaminated and will need to be replaced.
Transmission fluid is important to the vehicle and can affect its performance. Sometimes the old fluid can collect debris, which will bring down the performance of your car rapidly. One must check the fluid frequently and change it as outlined in the manual of the car.
The reservoir for the power steering fluid is located right under the hood and needs to be checked often. The fluid can become contaminated, hampering the vehicle and possibly causing damage to the steering. Hence, checking if the power steering fluid needs a change is an important step before heading out on your road trip.
Maintain the vehicle’s tires
Since tires are the only part that is in direct contact with the road, it is one of the most important elements of the vehicle and extra care needs to be taken to maintain them. Branded wheels like Fuel Wheels are made of top-notch material and can survive harsh driving conditions; these off road wheels are reliable and great for long road trips.
Things to consider while maintaining your tires:
A vehicle has a variety of drive-wheel configurations and the wheels that get power are prone to wear and tear as opposed to non-drive wheels. A loose steering can also cause damage to the front tires, which can be highly dangerous while driving. Hence rotating tires side-to-side or front-to-back will encourage even wear and tear, making the car safer to drive.
You can check for the specific air pressure needed for your car in your manual and this check must be done every time your vehicle has been driven; ideally, it should be checked every 1000 miles. Keeping an air pressure gauge in your glove compartment is a good idea to keep a check on the air pressure.
If you are planning to go off-roading on your road trip, attaching off road rims to your fuel wheels will offer your vehicle greater strength to manoeuvre on uneven surfaces.
General Maintenance
Vehicle maintenance must be performed regularly and is crucial before going on a road trip. You must check for the following:
The car’s headlight and brake lights are the only sources of light that help the driver see the road. They have several bulbs within and may need to be checked occasionally. In case they are found faulty, they would need to be replaced. The parts are quite easy to replace and can be found at any automobile store.
There are two kinds of air filters in a car- the engine air filter and the cabin air filter. The engine filter provides clean air to the engine while the cabin air filter provides clean air to the passengers sitting in the car. These filters are important for the proper functioning of the car as well as for the passengers to breathe debris-free air and hence need to be checked and changed accordingly.
Emergency items and essential documents
When you’re on a long road trip, staying ready for any emergency is always a good idea. A car emergency kit contains a tire inflator, jumper cables, reflective vest, tire pressure gauge etc and can be very handy in crisis situations. Also, don’t forget to put in that spare tire in case of a tire blowout. You must also have a first aid kit at your disposal for any unforeseen mishaps or accidents. Along with emergency items, make sure you carry the car’s essential documents like the manual or the car’s insurance, in case you need them.
Everyone can drive, but maintaining a car is tricky and it is something you have to do to increase the endurance of your car. Checking the fluids, tires, air filters and lighting are important. Once you have checked all these items on your list, it’s time to head out and hit the road. But before you embark on your journey, visiting your auto repair shop and getting your vehicle checked for any abnormalities is highly recommended.
