How to Prep Your Car for a Summer Road Trip

May 11, 2024

The goal of our Gearhead Guru Guide series is to make sure you become a knowledgeable driver and vehicle owner! We want to ensure that you drive safely and are keeping on top of your vehicle’s regular maintenance protocol.

In this edition, we’re sharing our tips and service pointers to help you get road warrior ready for summer vacation and road trip season! Before you hit the road, make sure you dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s, because nothing is worse than being stranded far from home and missing out on all the festivities. Learn what to check for before you embark on your adventures with these tips on today’s blog.

Restock your emergency car kit.

High mileage trips with long stretches of driving may lead to some unexpected hiccups. Make sure that you’re prepared for emergencies as best you’re able! Stock your vehicle’s emergency kit with LED warning lights or flares, reflective triangles, jumper cables, a tire repair kit, rechargeable flashlight or hand-crank flashlight, notepad with pen and pencil, spare blankets, a poncho, a change of clothing, a well-stocked first aid kit, portable air compressor, portable battery charger, a basic tool kit and scissors, a bungee cord and rope, a fire extinguisher. Make sure to also carry a printed list of emergency contacts and stash that in your glovebox. Consider also acquiring a road atlas or road map of the locations you’re traveling to at the county, state, and regional levels.

Check your driver’s license, registration, and insurance are all up to date.

Nothing is worse than being caught in the lurch only to realize you’ve accidentally forgotten to renew your license or a glitch in the system didn’t process your insurance payment! Before you hit the road, check your glovebox to make sure your car insurance and vehicle registration are up to date. Get those renewed or reinstated before you hit the road. Make sure you have an updated driver’s license as well, especially if you’ll be taking any flights at any portion of your road trip!

Check Tire Air Pressure and Rotate Tires. Replace any tires with worn treads.

Check the tread depth for signs of wear or uneven tread; replace or patch any damaged tires. Check the tire pressure before you depart on your next adventure, and especially with any 10 degree temperature change outside. Inflate them to the recommended PSI from the manufacturer’s guidelines. Make sure you bring your car in for a wheel alignment check and have the tires rotated to ensure even wear. Remember to also check your vehicle’s spare tire or donut for signs of wear and replace as needed.

Top off all of the vehicle fluids

It’s imperative that during the summer months you especially keep an eye on your Coolant and motor oil levels to prevent overheating the engine. An increase in summer travel along with high-heat can mean these fluids are depleted quicker than average, and the last thing you want is to be stranded on the highway with a seized engine. Have your mechanic also inspect your transmission fluid, brake fluid, and wiper fluid as well!

Check all of the belts and hoses. Pop open the hood and take a look inside and ensure that all of the belts, hoses, and connections are in tip-top shape. Save yourself a lot of money and aggravation by ensuring all belts and hoses are replaced before they cause your vehicle to stall or your engine seizes.

Change Oil and filter

Each vehicle make/model will differ in mileage requirements for oil changes, but most are between 3,000 and 6,000 miles between an oil change service. It will ensure your vehicle runs more efficiently in hot weather, reducing the chance of a seized engine or fuel inefficiency.

Check and test all vehicle lights. Long drives may mean you’re on the road in the waning sunlight of evening or cover of night. It’s imperative that you have proper visibility with headlights, tail lights, high-beams, and brake lights. Make sure to do a thorough inspection of your turn signals and hazards as well.

Clean and/or replace air filter

Summer heat means running the AC frequently, and that can lead to a need to replace your air filter in just one or two months as opposed to the usual 3. Make sure you’re regularly checking the filter and cleaning it as needed, or replacing it earlier if you’ve been doing a lot of driving this summer. It will ensure that your AC runs properly and can consistently cool your vehicle.

Check those spark plugs! You should generally change them every 30,000 to 90,000 miles depending on your vehicle. Check the manufacturer’s website or manual for specific timing requirements. Defective spark plugs can cause serious engine damage if not maintained properly. If they cannot generate an adequate spark, your engine will lose power and efficiency, or worse it will cease to run. If you notice your car is idling rough, you’re having trouble starting your vehicle, or you have an engine misfire, it’s high time to bring your car in for a spark plug change. Additionally, your car may have difficulty accelerating and maintaining that speed, leading to poor fuel economy.