A Girls Guide to Cars

Cars. On Your Terms.

  • About
    • Become a Contributor!
    • Contributors
    • Our Privacy Policy and How to Advertise on the Best Car Site for Women
  • Subscribe
  • Work With Us
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Navigation
  • Luxury
  • Style
    • Automotive Design
    • Personal Style
  • Technology
    • Apps
    • Connected Cars
    • Green Tech
    • In Car Entertainment
    • Safety Innovations
    • Spotify Playlists
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Road Trip!
    • Travel Tips
  • Car Buying
    • Costco’s Car Buying Program
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Recalls
    • Safety
    • Events
    • Buying a Car
    • Finance
    • Maintenance
    • Parts and Gear
    • Canada
  • News & Opinion
    • What Drives Her
    • Her Stories
    • Editorial
    • Ask Us Anything
    • Twitter Parties

Do These 9 Car Maintenance Tasks Before Hitting The Road for Vacation Season

July 9, 2018 by Regina Sober Leave a Comment

Check your headlights, high and low beams, before heading out on a trip. Photo: Scotty Reiss

When you go on vacation, you don’t want to worry about having car problems.

You want to get there and enjoy your destination. Whether you are taking a long trip for several days or a short day trip, you want to ensure your car is going to get you there and back. There are car maintenance basics that you can take care of yourself, or easily ask a professional, that’ll keep your car in good condition for travel.

Here are the essential items you will want to check out to get your car in great shape before heading out on a road trip.

Further Reading: 7 Strange Noises That May Diagnose Car Problems – And When to See a Mechanic

Whether it's a day trip or longer, there are areas of your vehicle you should be taking a look at to keep your trip on track. Check out this road trip tips

Too little or to much air pressure can affect the fuel economy. Photo: Regina Sober

Do These 9 Things Before Hitting The Road

1. Get an Oil change – Make sure your next oil change will not be needed while on your trip. If you’re not ready for an oil change, make sure your oil is at the correct level and check the color. Darker is dirty and may indicate you are ready for an oil change a bit early.

2. Check the wipers – do they look worn? When you clean the windshield, do they clean properly or leave streaks? They may need to be replaced or cleaned with a little rubbing alcohol to help extend their life.

3. Tire pressure & condition – Check the tire pressure to make sure they are at the right pressure. A look at the sticker on the side of the driver’s door will tell you the proper PSI for your tires.  The wrong air pressure affects the ride and your gas mileage, and also, the life of the tires. Check the tires for good tire tread and damage to the side walls as well.

4. Clean the interior – Vacuum the interior of the car and remove any trash and unnecessary items during your trip. This may sound obvious but often, we can be conscientious about the front seats and forget that there’s dirt from soccer cleats in the cargo area or spilled snacks that have crept under the floor mats in the back seat.

Whether it's a day trip or longer, there are areas of your vehicle you should be taking a look at to keep your trip on track. Check out this road trip tips

Having the car and windshield clean makes visibility better when driving. Photo: Regina Sober

Further Reading: Check out these tips to keep your vehicle clean

5. Wash the interior windows – This is especially important for the windshield.  Wash the windshield twice. It seems to have a film after the first time and needs extra attention for those times you drive into the sun and get glare.

6. Check fluids -Make sure all the fluids (oil, power steering, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid & antifreeze) are full. Ask that this is checked when you get your oil changed.

Whether it's a day trip or longer, there are areas of your vehicle you should be taking a look at to keep your trip on track. Check out this road trip tips

Check under the hood to ensure your belts and fluids are in good working order.
Photo: Regina Sober

Further Reading: 7 Things to Know About Tires Before Hitting the Road

7. Hoses & belts & cables – Check the hoses and belts. Do they have cracks? Are the cables secured to the battery? It can be hard to see or locate all the belts and hoses, but you can always ask your local garage to take a look.

8. Check the lights – Did you know that dim headlights are top safety hazard? Check to see that your headlights, both low and high beams, are working properly and you can see people or objects at a distance of 150 feet or more. Test the brake lights to make sure they light up when the brake pedal is pressed. If you are hauling a trailer, make sure the trailer lights are connected and working.

9. Check A/C – Is the air conditioning blowing cold air? You may need to have the A/C serviced. In the cooler months, you’ll want the heat to be working, so this is a good time to check them both.

Once everything is checked off the list you are ready to hit the road. Go, explore, and enjoy the ride.

Whether it's a day trip or a cross-country trek, be sure to check these 9 road trip tips off your to-do list before hitting the open road.

  • Bio
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Latest Posts
Regina Sober

Regina Sober

Owner/Editor at Eat Travel Life
Regina makes excuses just to get in her van and drive. One of her happy places is driving on an open road with a tank of gas and great music to see what’s out there. She enjoys going off the beaten path, roadside attractions, boutique hotels and discovering good food along her travels. She also shares her adventures on her site, Eat Travel Life.
Regina Sober

@EatTravelLife

Regina Sober

Regina Sober

Regina Sober

Regina Sober

Regina Sober

Latest posts by Regina Sober (see all)

  • USED: 2019 Dodge Durango SRT Review: The Powerful, Fun to Drive SUV that the Entire Family Will Love - February 3, 2022
  • I Wanted These VW Vans As Soon As I Saw Them On Instagram - December 6, 2020
  • On the Road: 9 Ways to Choose the Best Lane on the Highway - May 5, 2019

Filed Under: Road Trip, Travel Tips Tagged With: car travel, family travel, road trips, travel tips

« You Need to Hear This: A Concert Quality Car Stereo, From Acura and Grammy Winner Elliot Scheiner
To All The Cars I’ve Loved Before – Why I Drive A Kia Forte »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Reviews Header
How to prepare for, and combat, car sickness.

Prevent Car Sickness From Ruining Your Summer Road Trip: 4 Simple Tips

Need an Oil Change? New Tires? 4 Awesome Car Maintenance Apps to Keep your Car Running Smooth

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Child Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress