The Ultimate Road Trip Car Maintenance Checklist

Road Trip Safety Checklist

Okay, you’re prepared to give your vehicle with a fine-tooth comb, but where do you begin? Your road trip checklist should focus on the 3 major areas: Fluids, Wheels and Tires, and Maintenance. While not an extensive list, if you completely check these areas your possibility of an undisturbed journey increases.

Fluids

• Engine Oil – As we stated above, you’ll need to see to it that the oil has been recently changed.
• Transmission Fluid – Be sure to consult your owner’s manual to see the intervals at which to have it changed. If it’s overdue, you’ll want 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 effectively can be the difference between an accident or avoiding one. If you are uncertain, have it checked
• Windshield Fluid – If you’re going to be putting in some seat time you’re going to hit some insects or other roadway debris. Make certain your wiper fluid container is full to get the gunk off. Wiper fluid is ineffective without excellent wipers, so change your wipers while you’re at it.

Tires & Treads

• Tread – Ensure there are no bald spots and that you have lots of tire tread left. Double-check for any cuts that need to be dealt with. If they can not be repaired, replace them.
• Air Pressure – Make sure that your tires are aired up to the proper pressure and that they all have equal pressure in each tire.
• Rotation – Make sure that your tires don’t need to be rotated. Tires that aren’t balanced/rotated correctly can wear unevenly and have a bothersome vibration.
• Spare Tire – Whatever you look at on your main tires, do it for your spare too.

General Service Items

• Light Bulbs – Burned out headlamps and taillights can be a safety risk, so ensure they work correctly. While you are at it, inspect your turn signal lights and parking lights. You might want to also upgrade to LED bulbs for brighter light and lower power usage
• Air Filter – If you resemble a lot of us, your air filter needed replacing years ago. It’s easy to do, isn’t really pricey, and can assist with better gas mileage.
• Belts and Hoses – If you aren’t a mechanic, this may be a little intimidating however it can really be quite straightforward. First thing is to try to find fractures in the hoses, after that press the hoses to see if they feel brittle. Hoses must feel rubbery, if they feel really breakable or have cracks you must replace them. Try to find leaks on your hoses, especially where they connect to other components. Ultimately, checks the belts to make sure they aren’t loosely connected or have missing notches. A damaged belt and/or hose can rapidly destroy your road trip and your engine.
• Battery – Check to make sure the battery terminals are not worn away and that the +/- terminals are tight. If your automobile starts slowly you might require a new battery.
• Brakes – Having the ability to stop your car effectively is key in staying clear of crashes. Flushing your brake fluid, changing the brake pads, and getting brand-new brake rotors might be required to have a risk-free vehicle for your road trip

Test Drive Your Car Before the Road Trip

You understand your vehicle better than anyone. Take it out for a quick drive to see if something feels off. This isn’t for fun so switch off the radio and concentrate. Does your automobile draw to one side under heavy braking? Does your Air Conditioning blow cold? If something feels a little off, you should absolutely have a specialist take a look into it.

Schedule Road Trip Maintenance Today

Schedule your car road trip maintenance service at Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills. We are your trusted source for all your vehicle maintenance needs in the Los Angeles, CA area. Book an appointment online, in-person, or by phone today. Our factory-trained experts are on hand to serve you!