Whenever you're planning a road trip, you must cover all of your bases. You've probably spent hours looking into the perfect location, then more time looking for the right hotel and then choosing the dates, but did you think about the car that will be taking you on the trip? Here, you'll find a few things to make sure to check on your car prior to heading off on your adventure.

Fluid Check

Not only do you have to make sure that all of the fluids are full, but you must also make sure that the fluids are in good enough condition to protect the components of the car while you travel. If you're close to needing an oil change, do it before you go. How long has it been since you've had the transmission fluid checked? Once the fluid becomes discolored, it's time to have it changed. Don't forget the power steering, brake, and windshield washer fluid.

Brake Check

The pads on the brakes should have lots of material left, and you shouldn't feel any shimmying whenever you apply the brakes.

To check the pads, you'll have to jack up the car, remove the wheels and take a good look at the brakes. If the pads are worn or you see gouges in the rotors or pads, you'll need some brake work before you head off on your trip.

Tires

So many people make the mistake of thinking they can get a few more miles out of their tires. Whenever you're heading out on a long road trip, the last thing you want is to have tires on your car that don't have tread on them. You never know what type of weather you're going to run into while you're driving, and if the treads are worn down, you could easily lose control on wet or icy roads or suffer a blowout.

Check the air pressure in each tire and fill them to the maximum listed on the tire.

If you're not confident in your ability to look your car over and determine if it's ready for your trip, talk with your local mechanic for assistance. He or she will be happy to give your car a good once-over and make suggestions and/or repairs that are needed to ensure that you make it safely to your destination and back home again without issue. Spend as much time preparing your car for the trip as you did planning it.

For more information, contact a company like Platinum Plus Auto Repair.

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