Summer is here and it’s a great
time for traveling. Even though pricing
for gas has risen slightly, most consumers can’t ignore the lure of an open
road and clear blue skies. The AAA explains that 31.7 million Americans planned
to travel during the summer. Before
hitting the open road, there are a few precautions you can take to ensure a
safe trip. Extreme heat and long drives
can put some wear on your vehicle.
Follow these tips to have an awesome summer road trip.
1. Check Your Tires - Use the penny trick to see if you still
have enough tread on your tires. Stick a penny in the tread, and if Lincoln's
head disappears, you're good [source: CBS News]. Our dealership can also check
your tires for proper alignment and balance.
2. Change Oil and oil filter - To check your oil, let your car run for
a few minutes, then park it on a level surface and shut off the engine. Open
the hood and locate the oil dipstick.
Check the dipstick for the level of oil and how it looks.
3. Check Hoses and Belts – these key components keep your engine
cool. Come into the dealership and we
can check this out for you in a jiffy.
4. Change the Air Filter – you should change your air filter every
12,000 miles. If you drive on a lot of
dirt roads, then your air filter might clog faster than normal. If it’s filthy, change it.
5. Replace Your Windshield Wipers – Summertime is known for storms. Make sure your wipers are new, provide great
quality and allow you to see the road clearly.
6. Check Your Brakes – Here are some signs your brakes need to
be checked: Your brake pedal becomes very soft and mushy, your brake pedal is
very hard and resistant, your brake pedal rests too low or too high, indication
or warning lights on the dashboard, loud and constant scraping and grinding
sounds coming from the brakes.
For more tips, visit our blog!
Summer is almost here and it’s a great
time for traveling. Here are THE top maintenance tips for road trip fun
