The great American road trip is a summer staple. Whether you are driving up to Zion National Park or making the long haul to the California coast, the last thing you want is for your vacation to be derailed by a preventable breakdown. The extreme heat of summer driving puts incredible stress on a vehicle’s cooling system, tires, and battery.
Before you load up the trunk and hit the highway, use this pre-trip inspection checklist to ensure your vehicle is ready for the journey.
The DIY Checks You Can Do at Home
You don’t need to be a master mechanic to check the basic health of your car. Take 15 minutes in your driveway to look over these critical components.
1. Tires: Pressure and Tread
The combination of hot asphalt, high speeds, and a fully loaded car is a recipe for a tire blowout.
- Check the pressure: Use a gauge to check the tire pressure when the tires are cold (before you’ve driven). Inflate them to the exact PSI listed on the sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb—not the maximum pressure printed on the tire sidewall.
- Check the tread: Use the “penny test.” Insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head pointing down. If you can see the top of his head, your tires are bald and unsafe for highway speeds. Don’t forget to check the spare tire!
2. Windshield Wipers and Fluid
Summer driving means dealing with baked-on bugs, dust storms, and sudden thunderstorms. If your wipers leave streaks or squeak across the glass, replace them. Top off the windshield washer reservoir with a fluid that contains bug remover.
3. Check the Fluids
With the engine cool, pop the hood and check the dipsticks for the engine oil and transmission fluid. Ensure the coolant reservoir (the translucent plastic tank near the radiator) is filled to the “Max” line. Never open the radiator cap when the engine is hot.
When to See the Professionals
While DIY checks are great for catching obvious problems, they don’t give you the full picture. If you are embarking on a trip longer than a few hundred miles, we strongly recommend scheduling a multi-point inspection at a certified service center.
A professional technician can put the car on a lift and inspect the things you can’t see in your driveway, including:
- Brake Pad Wear: Checking how much friction material is left on your pads and inspecting the rotors for warping.
- Battery Health: Heat destroys batteries faster than the cold. A mechanic can test the voltage to ensure your battery won’t die the first time you stop for gas.
- Suspension and Belts: Inspect rubber belts, hoses, and suspension components for dry rot and cracking caused by the desert climate.
Key Takeaways
- Tires are Priority #1: Heat expands the air inside tires. Ensure they are properly inflated and have enough tread to handle hot pavement.
- Fluids Keep You Moving: Top off your oil, coolant, and wiper fluid to keep the engine from overheating and your visibility clear.
- Get a Professional Sign-Off: For peace of mind, let the certified technicians at one of our many dealership service centers perform a comprehensive multi-point inspection before you leave town.
