Is Your Car Ready for Your Summer Road Trip?

Summer is the perfect time to hit the road with family and friends. A breakdown is the last thing you want to experience on your summer adventure, so getting your car road-trip ready before you go is an essential part of planning. Reduce the risk of needing a tow in the middle of your travels by checking off these car maintenance tasks before you go.

Check Your Oil

Low oil levels or dirty oil is the last thing you want to bring your road trip. Check your oil level, and if it’s low, top it up or change it. If you’re close to being due for an oil change—or overdue—be sure to get it changed before you go. Skipping an oil change can do serious, costly damage to your engine. As a bonus, when you get your oil changed, your mechanic will check and top off other fluid levels in your car, so you don’t get caught out without washer fluid or coolant.

Inspect Your Tires

Getting a flat on an unfamiliar road will put a damper on your road trip, so do a visual inspection of your tires before you start traveling. Check the tread depth of your tires using the penny test. If you put a penny in your tires with the head upside down and can see the top of Lincoln’s hat, your tread is too shallow and your tires need to be replaced. You should also check your tire pressure before you go and while you’re on the road. If you’re overdue for an alignment and rotation, schedule an appointment with your mechanic.

Test Your Battery

Car batteries always seem to be working fine, even when they are on their way out. Prevent a dead battery surprise by having yours tested before you go. Many gas stations and auto repair shops will test your battery’s output for free, so you can hit the road with confidence.

 

Despite your best efforts to prepare, breakdowns can happen unexpectedly. If your road trip takes a detour because of a car problem, call Barnett’s Towing to get your car to the repair shop fast. You can call our towing company in Arizona 24-hours a day by dialing (800) 722-2303.