Before heading out on your summer fun road trip, it is so important to make sure your car is running smoothly so you don’t have any troubles on the way to your destination. The experts here at Schmit Bros can help! We recommend checking and making sure the following areas of the car to have a road trip go smoothly:
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-Cooling Systems - Summer temperatures can get hot (and even hotter depending on where you’re going), so you want to make sure your car engine that will be going nonstop for several hours at high speeds is in the best shape possible. Make sure you have the proper type of engine coolant on hand, just in case there is an issue. It should be mixed at a 50/50 coolant-and-water combo, filled to the correct level especially for your vehicle.
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-Battery – Sometimes you don’t know that there is trouble with your battery until it goes dead. Your battery is used to not only start your car, but to run your air conditioning, radio, GPS, etc. The longer your road trip is, the more you're going to depend on the battery. Keep in mind that batteries, depending on brand, average four to five years. Be sure to test the battery before leaving home and make sure you have a set of jumper cables in your car. It not only can help you, but you never know who else you may encounter that might need a jump.
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-Tires – For every day driving and wear and tear, it’s important to monitor your tires and tire pressures to make sure they’re at the right level. Also, keep an eye on tire tread and make sure that the tires and wheels are properly aligned and balanced. The air in tires expands when they get hotter, so when embarking on a long trip, make sure they are not over-inflated.
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-Suspension system – We load up the car during road trips with family, luggage, and personal items. The additional weight can cause a strain on the suspension system; and that includes the springs, shock absorbers, and struts. Worn down suspension components can reduce the stability of the vehicle and reduce the driver control. It can also change the accelerate wear on different suspension components.
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-Air filter – A car’s air filter should be changed each year or every 15,000 miles. This way, this gives the vehicle a good supply of clean air and will prevent poor fuel economy and performance. The best time to have the filter checked and/or replaced is during your routine oil change appointments.
Your vehicle should be safe as you cruise to your destination, because other than your bags, you’re more than likely carrying other precious cargo...your family and friends. Now would be a good time to visit us here at Schmit Bros to make sure your vehicle is in top condition and ready to hit the road on the way to your summer vacation spot.