All posts tagged auto trip

Road Trip: How To Prepare Your Car For The Long Miles

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/02/08 in On the Road with Comments Off on Road Trip: How To Prepare Your Car For The Long Miles

While a road trip to see a baseball game or visit family may be a good time for you, it may not be as fun for your car. Therefore, you must take steps to make sure that it can handle the journey. Let’s look at a few ways to prepare your vehicle before a long road trip.

Rotate Your Tires

Your tires will be able to handle the road better when they are regularly rotated. This enables all four tires to wear evenly and last for the entirety of their useful life. If you are going on a long trip, you can get better gas mileage when your tires grip the road better.

Get Your Oil Changed

Ideally, you will get your oil changed every 5,000 miles or so. If it has been almost 5,000 miles since your last oil change, you should do it before a trip to avoid any unexpected engine issues.

Wash the Car

Dirt, grime and other residue can eat away at the car’s exterior, which could make it vulnerable to water or sun damage. Washing your car before a trip and possibly once during your trip reduces the odds that rust can form.

Have Your Car Inspected

A vehicle inspection will reveal any minor issues that the car may have prior to going on a long journey. If nothing is wrong with your vehicle, you can hit the road with confidence knowing that you and your family will reach your destination safely.

Put Together an Emergency Kit

If you are ever stranded during your trip, you will want to be able to stay in good condition until help can arrive. This means that you should have a cell phone, portable cooking units and food that will not perish. You may also want to include blankets to keep warm and books and other activities to stay occupied.

Purchase a Remote Services Package

For cars that are equipped to receive them, a remote services package can come in handy. Your vehicle may be able to call police if it is has been in an accident or keep track of its location via GPS if it is ever stolen.

Road trips are meant to be fun adventures that you will remember forever. Therefore, make it a priority to get your car ready so it can handle as many miles as you need to put on it. It’s also important to stay alert on the road to prevent drowsy driving or accidents, which can not only damage your car, it can cause injury to you. If you are injured on the road, be sure to speak with a car accident attorney in Las Vegas.

Road Trip Disasters: 5 Common Car Problems And How To Avoid Them

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/08 in On the Road with Comments Off on Road Trip Disasters: 5 Common Car Problems And How To Avoid Them

Road trips are a lot of fun, but they can wind up stressful and costly if the vehicle you’re taking isn’t up to snuff. Make sure to have your car inspected for these five common issues before you embark on your journey, or you may find your trip cut short.  Road trips are known for fun plot twists along the way, but a broken down car often makes things get a bit more melodramatic than anyone wants!

1. Coolant Leaks

If you ever notice drips under your car, get them checked out quickly. Lack of coolant can cause a vehicle to overheat astonishingly quickly. Without sufficient coolant, hot engine components burn oil, grind together, and can even fuse. The last thing you need is to be the car on the side of the highway, popping the hood and coughing through the smoke.

2. Flat Tires

A lot of things can go wrong with your tires before you notice, and unfortunately, when you do notice it’s usually because they’re beyond repair. Small nails can embed themselves in the tread, leaking air for weeks before you notice. Underinflated tires cause worse gas mileage. Bald tires reduce traction and make driving dangerous. Schedule a consultation or get tips from professionals like those at mcgeetire.com to ensure the only parts of your car that touch the road are road-worthy enough for a long trip.

3. Battery Failure

Car batteries are only rated to last around three or four years, but many people let them go for much longer without replacement. Any number of things can go wrong with a battery, and it’s better to replace it early than to go to get an early start for your day and find it dead. While you’re at it, check and clean the corrosion around the terminals to ensure proper conductivity.

4. Loose or Missing Gas Cap

A gas cap doesn’t seem that essential, but you’ll be surprised at how much it can affect your gas mileage. Whether you left it on the trunk after a fill, or it simply doesn’t fit snugly any more, it’s time to get a new one. Thankfully, a replacement gas cap is only a few dollars at any auto parts store, so you should have no trouble fixing this problem.

5. Faltering Spark Plugs

Every driver has likely heard of a spark plug before, but few people know where to find one or what happens when they fail. Misfiring spark plugs can cascade into dozens of different ailments for a car—from faltering engines to broken catalytic converters.

Once you’ve thoroughly checked out these features of your car, (and thrown in an emergency kit, just in case) you can hit the road a little more assured that you’ll have a memorable road trip—but for good reasons. 

About Author: Rianne Hunter is a wife, mother of three, and lover of all things travel and transportation. She often writes about cars, fuel economy, and tires. Regarding tires in Tampa FL or Seattle WA (wherever you may be) she always recommends checking them before leaving on prolonged road trips.