The Ultimate Automotive Maintenance Checklist for Road Trips

Road Trip Safety List

Okay, you’re ready to look over your automobile with a fine-tooth comb, but where do you start? Your road trip checklist should focus on 3 main sections: Fluids, Wheels and Tires, and Maintenance. While not an extensive list, if you extensively examine these locations your chances of a nonstop journey get better.

Fluids

• Motor Oil – As we mentioned above, you’ll need to ensure that the oil has been changed recently.
• Transmission Fluid – Be sure to consult your owner’s manual to see how often it should be changed. If it’s overdue, you’ll need to change it out.
• Radiator fluid – Make sure that your antifreeze is full for optimum performance and inspect your owner’s manual to see if it ought to be changed.
• Brake Fluid – Being able to brake efficiently can mean the difference between an accident or avoiding one. If you are unclear, have it examined
• Wiper Fluid – If you’re likely to be putting in some seat time you’re most likely to hit some bugs or various other roadway debris. Make sure your wiper fluid container is topped off to get the crud off. Wiper fluid is useless without excellent wipers, so change your wipers while you’re at it.

Tire Check

• Tire Tread – Make sure there are no bald spots and that you have lots of tire tread left. Double-check for any type of punctures that need to be repaired. If they can not be repaired, change them.
• Air Pressure – Make certain that your tires are aired up to the right pressure and that they all have the same pressure in each tire.
• Rotation – Ensure that your tires do not need to be rotated. Tires that aren’t balanced/rotated appropriately can wear unevenly and have an annoying vibration.
• Spare Tire – Whatever you look at on your main tires, do it for your spare also.

General Maintenance Items

• Light Bulbs – Burned out headlights and taillights can be a safety threat, so see to it they work correctly. While you are at it, check your turn signal lights and parking lights. You might want to also upgrade to LED bulbs for brighter light and reduced power consumption
• Air Filter – If you resemble most of us, your air filter should’ve changed years ago. It’s simple to do, isn’t really pricey, and can help with better gas mileage.
• Belts and Hoses – If you aren’t a mechanic, this might be a little daunting however it can really be rather simple. First thing is to look for cracks in the hoses, after that squeeze the hoses to see if they seem fragile. Hoses need to feel really rubbery, if they feel fragile or have fractures you should change them. Try to find leaks on your hoses, specifically where they link to other components. Finally, checks the belts to ensure they aren’t loosely affixed or have missing notches. A broken belt and/or hose can swiftly ruin your trip and your engine.
• Battery – Look to ensure the battery terminals are not worn away and that the +/- connections are tight. If your automobile starts slowly you might need to replace your battery.
• Brakes – Being able to stop your car properly is key in preventing accidents. Changing your brake fluid, changing the brake pads, and getting new brake rotors might be necessary to have a safe vehicle for your journey.

Take It for a Test Drive

You understand your car better than anybody. Take it out for a fast spin to see if something feels off. This isn’t for fun so shut off the radio and concentrate. Does your car pull to one side under heavy braking? Does your Air Conditioner blow cold air? If something feels a little off, you should absolutely have a specialist take a look at it.

Schedule Vehicle’s Road Trip Maintenance Today

Schedule your car road trip maintenance service at Mercedes-Benz of Boerne. We are your source for all service needs in the San Antonio, TX area. Schedule an appointment by phone, in-person, or online today. Our certified technicians are ready to serve you!