Summer Fun on the Open Road: Prepare Your Vehicle for Summer Road Trips with Tips

ATLANTA--The summer season is filled with many fun activities - trips to the neighborhood pool, picnics and amusement park visits – but one summertime favorite is packing up the car and hitting the open road. Before heading out, Kit Johnson, NAPA’s 2007 Technician of the Year from East Helena, Montana, offers important maintenance tips to help prepare your vehicle for the destinations ahead.

“Hitting the pavement and seeing the country from your car is one of America’s most time-honored traditions,” Johnson says. “Unfortunately, some people end up on the side of the road because they forget to do simple preparations before the trip to keep their vehicle up and running.”

Johnson recommends having your cooling system inspected, flushed and filled before a long trip. Also, check belts and hoses for deterioration and top off all your car fluids including antifreeze, engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids and windshield washer solvent.

With gas prices skyrocketing, Johnson provides some helpful tips to get the best gas efficiency out of your vehicle while driving long distances. He recommends:

• Being mindful of any suspicious leaks that may be coming from the car, especially gas or oil leaks. He says “even the smallest leak can turn into a large hole in the wallet if not caught and fixed.”
• Keeping the load as light as possible when traveling. It’s tempting to pack up every “what if” item, but if you don’t need it, leave it. Johnson says an extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by one to two percent in most cars.

Johnson says drivers should check to make sure that the air conditioning is working adequately, the car battery is operating properly to ensure a running car and braking isn’t producing grinding noises or vibrations. He recommends a pre-trip, front-to-back inspection by a trusted technician to offer that peace of mind while driving. He also notes that preparing your car for a summer road trip starts long before any vacation plans are made.

“Drivers should read their owner’s manual and keep up with regular service checks,” Johnson says. “It’s important to maintain your vehicle throughout the year so that your vehicle is ready for those long summer drives.”

Consumers can learn more about an appropriate preventive maintenance program for all their vehicles by contacting their local NAPA AutoCare Center or calling 800-LET-NAPA.