Preparing Your Car for Spring Break Vacation
With winter ending, many families will be heading on spring break vacations. You know your route, you’ve booked hotels, bought snacks, and have a checklist of what you need to pack. Something many people forget before their road trip is preventive maintenance of their vehicle. If you’re planning a road trip, ensuring your vehicle is ready to get you to your destination safely is important. Use this checklist to ensure your vehicle is ready for your spring break road trip!
1. Have your oil changed
Regular oil changes help keep your engine running smoother and longer. Clean, fresh oil ensures your engine is properly lubricated and keeps your vehicle running efficiently. An oil change can also prevent potential breakdowns, which can be costly and put a major damper on your vacation. Remember to replace your oil filter, too.
2. Replace your engine and cabin air filters
Your engine air filter is crucial to ensuring that your engine receives clean air. A clean engine air filter improves fuel efficiency and ensures optimal engine performance, which are important for a long road trip. If your engine air filter is clogged, it can restrict airflow, leading to reduced performance and more fuel consumption.
The cabin air filter traps dust, pollen, and other contaminants, keeping the air inside your vehicle clean and comfortable. Replacing the filter before your trip will help keep the air fresh, passengers comfortable, and the inside of the vehicle smelling good. A clogged filter can cause unpleasant odors, foggy windows, and increased allergy symptoms.
3. Make sure your front and rear wiper blades are working correctly
Wiper blade rubber squeegees can deteriorate over time, so inspect both the front and rear wiper blades for cracks, tears, or major wear. Then, test the functionality of your wipers to make sure that they don’t leave streaks, skip, or make noises. If you notice any of these issues, it’s time to replace your wiper blades.
4. Have your battery tested
A battery test provides a comprehensive overview of your battery’s health and can be the key to identifying potential problems. If you catch a failing battery early, you can avoid a costly and annoying breakdown later. Many auto parts stores offer free and quick battery testing services.
5. Check your tires for wear and proper inflation
Inspect all four of your tires and your spare tire, too. Make sure that they are all aired up to the proper pressure, and inflate them if needed. You should do this when your car hasn’t been used, and your tires have had time to cool down. You can find the proper pressure for your tires on the sticker on your door jamb or listed in the owner’s manual. You should also look for cuts, gouges, or bulges on the sidewalls.
6. Make sure to check and top off all vehicle fluids (e.g. coolant, power steering, brake)
Check that your engine oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant are at the correct levels. These fluids are essential, so if they are low or empty, they need to be topped off or replaced to ensure your vehicle operates safely. If you’re making the replacements yourself, be sure to use the correct fluids to meet your vehicle's specifications.
7. Replace any lights that are not working
Test all your lights, including the headlights, high beams, brake lights, turn signals, reverse lights, and interior lights, to ensure they work properly. If you notice any that are not working properly, replace them before you head out.
Nobody wants to spend their vacation in the repair shop, and tasks like changing your oil, filters, fluids, and wiper blades, along with checking your tires, lights, and battery, will help make sure that you don’t. A little preparation can ensure that you make it to your destination safely, on time, and in a good mood.
Preparing Your Car for Spring Break Vacation
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