Summer’s just around the corner, and with the weather getting warmer and the kids out from school it’s the perfect time to plan that summer road trip with the family!
Are you thinking about a trip to the ocean maybe?
Or possibly camping in the Cascades?
Whatever your summer plans, we want to make sure you get there safely. Before you embark on your adventures this summer make sure your car can get you there. Here’s our top 5 road trip checklist items to get checked on the car to avoid getting stranded.
Essential Things to Check Before Your Road Trip
Tire pressure
Before you hit the road, make sure to check the tire pressure and tread on all four tires. You can invest in a tire pressure gauge to check this at home yourself, or have your technicians at Beetlesmith’s check it for you!
Optimum tire pressure is typically somewhere between 30 and 35 psi (pounds per square inch), but this varies depending on the tire and vehicle.
Having properly filled tires increases traction, user experience (how bumpy the ride is), and can even affect fuel economy.
We recommend not waiting until a big trip to check your tires. Tire pressure should be checked regularly (monthly).
Similarly, your tire tread helps increase traction. Having unevenly worn tires or low tire pressure can potentially mess with your suspension and cause more expensive problems in the long-run.
Inspect Wipers
Even though it’s summer, weather can change in an instance here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s important to check your wiper blades to make sure they’re up to snuff in case of inclement weather.
An expiring wiper blade is easily identifiable by the loud scraping sounds it makes on your windshield when used to combat rain or to clean the glass.
Change Your Oil
Before you go you should also take a look at your oil. If that sticker in the top left corner of your windshield says you’re overdue for an oil change or will be soon, don’t push it. Pushing an oil change can cause other issues that lead to expense breaks in the future. You can DIY your oil change, or come into Beetlesmith’s so we can take care of it for you!
Check your fluids
While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to check on your other fluids too. Wiper fluid, coolants, and other fluids should be checked and topped off while you get your oil changed! You don’t want your car to overheat in the middle of nowhere.
Check Lights
If you have any lights on on your dash you should get those checked before embarking on your road trip. If something is seriously wrong it is much better to fix it at home than on the road.
For more tips and car-related information to help you out on your road trip check out our other blogs here!
