It is that time of year for a road trip. Whether it is you and your friends or the whole family, there are some things to consider before driving off into the sunset. With a small time and pre-road trip preparation, you can save yourself some potential problems and huge bucks.

To start, take your car in for some all-over maintenance. Things to have checked include:

1. Wiper Blades – Inspect the condition of the blade material (it should be soft and pliable) for cracks or separation from the blade retainer.

2. Lights – Check the turn signals, headlights and brake lights, making sure they operate properly. It is a excellent thought to have the headlights checked for proper alignment in order to have optimum lighting and to prevent the “blinding” of oncoming drivers.

3. Tires – Check tires for excessive or uneven wear and tire pressure. It’s vital to check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. The recommended tire pressure provided by the vehicle and tire manufacturers are designed to compensate for the increase in tire pressure caused by the rise in temperature of the tire when it is rolling down the highway.

4. Fluid Levels – Lift the hood and check the engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, radiator coolant, and windshield washer fluid levels. Top off if necessary.

5. Belts & Hoses – Check hoses for proper fit, leaks, brittleness, loose clamps, and softness in the elbow areas. As for the belts, check for alignment, glazing, adjustment, and tearing and cracking. Replace if necessary.

6. Air Conditioning – Test the A/C system to see that it is working and cooling the vehicle down in a reasonable time. Also, inspect the refrigerant lines for evidence of leaks. Remember, on most late-model vehicles, the defroster system utilizes the air conditioning for more efficient defrosting and defogging.

7. Battery Connections – Check / clean battery posts and cable terminals for corrosive buildup. White fuzz that surrounds the cable terminal ends at the battery posts can easily identify a corrosive condition. Cleaning or removal of the white fuzz requires the removal of the cable terminals after washing them down with a baking soda and water solution. The best cleaning results can then be achieved by using a battery post and cable terminal-cleaning tool. Performing this small maintenance activity will ensure optimum performance from the vehicle’s electrical system.

8. Fluid Leaks – Examine the ground where you park your vehicle for leaks. Any fluid residue found should be examined for the type of fluid (gas, engine or transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, radiator coolant, windshield washer fluid), and the leak repaired immediately to avoid any problems.

9. Exhaust Leaks – Listen / look for leaks from the exhaust system, and if something seems marginal, have the system checked by a professional mechanic / muffler shop prior to leaving for your trip. The life you save may be your own, as the gases escaping from the system are very deadly.

10. Brakes – Test-drive the vehicle for brake response and feel. Listen for noises (high-pitched squeal, grinding or clunking). Look for fluid leaks from flexible brake hoses and steel brake lines. If you feel your mechanical expertise is limited in this area, I would recommend you have a professional look at your brakes to advise you on the condition of the brake friction material, drums, rotors, and the hydraulic system. It is vital that the vehicle always be prepared to stop regardless of the driving conditions.

Once your car is in top shape, make sure you have a basic emergency kit on board. The kit’s contents could be dependent on where you are going. If you are heading off to the desert in the summer you will want extra water. Going north where there is snow, take blankets and snow chains. But when it comes to the basics, your emergency kit should include:

1. Assortment of Combination Wrenches, Screwdrivers, and Pliers

2. Flashlight / Spare Batteries for Flashlight

3. Roadside Flares / Battery Operated Roadside Marker Lights (If you don’t like playing with fire)

4. First Aid Kit

5. Battery Jumper Cables

6. Blanket, Food, and Something to Drink (In case you’re stuck for awhile)

7. Cell phone charger

Last, once everything is in order, the most vital thing to prepare for on your road-trip is the right music. Maybe it won’t keep you safe, but it sure will make everything much more enjoyable.

It doesn’t matter if you have your own car, lease a vehicle or borrow mom’s ancient minivan, driving in winter’s snow and ice is not something you want to do unprepared. Here are some helpful hints to get you ready for the road once cold weather sets in. Overall Inspection of the Vehicle You’ll want to do an overall inspection of the automobile. Listed here are twelve things you can check to ensure safe and better driving this winter season. 1. ) Windshield – Every windshield (front and back) suffers from what engineers call “thermal shock” – that freezing and then thawing of the glass brought on by colder temperatures and then sudden warmer sun or defrosters. Even the smallest ding or crack in the glass can become a large problem under thermal shock. Repairing a small knick can cost as small as $50, but replacing an entire shield can cost hundreds, not to mention disabling your vehicle for a much longer period of time than a simple repair. 2. ) Tires – Everyone knows that bald, or even worn tires aren’t much excellent on snow and ice. Not everyone thinks to check the alignment of their tires, though. Poorly aligned or balanced tires can be as perilous as poorly treaded ones. Tires need proper inflation, as well, to get optimum grip while driving on wintry roads. The pressure in your tires drops 1 pound for every 10° F drop in temperature. Check the pressure regularly throughout the winter, especially when the temperature fluctuates significantly. Make sure your spare is in excellent order, too, as flat tires can occur anytime of the year. 3. ) Hoses and belts – The rubber in the hoses and belts under the hood can suffer from the cold. They should be thoroughly checked for cracks, bulges and splits. Again, this is a simple thing to repair or replace prior to having a problem, but costly to fix afterward. 4. ) Fluids – Any “car guy” will tell that keeping your fluids at the proper level is one of the simplest, cheapest and best ways to keep your car in tiptop shape, regardless of the weather. Of course, there’s the oil, transmission fluid, anti-freeze and brake fluid to worry about. Don’t forget, though, to check your radiator and battery fluids, too. And make sure you engine coolant is diluted with water to prevent freezing. Last but possibly most vital to driver safety is the windshield washer fluid. There’s nothing more perilous than being spattered by slush and road muck by a passing vehicle and not having enough washer fluid to clear your windshield. 5. ) Wipers – Worn windshield wipers can cause perilous situations year round, but especially so in the winter, when visibility can be poor to start with due to snow or sleet. Make sure your blades clear their entire path completely. If not, get them replaced. It’ll be well worth the small cost in money and time. 6. ) Battery and Cables – Those cold mornings can be murder on older, worn batteries. They usually last only 3 to 4 years under the best of conditions, anyway. If yours is older than that, or you’re not sure of the age, either have a mechanic check it or simply replace it. Have the cables and fittings checked, too, for corrosion. Make sure every start is a excellent start. 7. ) Spark plugs – Terrible plugs are no excellent for your vehicle, or your gas budget, any time of the year. Not only do they waste fuel but they also increase emissions, which isn’t excellent for the environment, either. Do everyone a favor and replace them. 8. ) Brakes – Driving with poor brakes is perilous enough, without the added dangers of snow, ice and slippery roads. Brakes that pull to one side can really cause skidding. If your car needs brake work, get it tended to before the cold weather hits. If you can’t, it may be best to consider taking the bus. 9. ) Lights – If other drivers can’t see you, that’s a terrible thing. And if you can’t see where you are going, that’s even worse. Malfunctioning headlights or taillights are another item that’s perilous year round, but doubly so in the winter. Remember when clearing the car of snow and ice before starting on your trip to clear your lights, too, for maximum visibility. 10. ) Gas tank – A fuller tank reduces the risk of condensation forming. Condensation can cause gas line freezing. You can reduce the risk even further by adding gasoline antifreeze periodically throughout the winter when you fill up. A fuller tank also ensures your safety and going power should you get stuck in a traffic jam and have to choose between keeping the car running for heat, or turning it off to not use your last few drops of gas in the tank. 11. ) Oil and filters – Sluggish, dirty oil can make your engine start slower, warm up slower and perform at less-than-optimum in the winter months. An oil change is another quick and inexpensive maintenance task that can be performed by just about anyone. Many of the other checks suggested in this article can be performed by your local grease monkey along with an oil change. While you’re at it, check your oil filter, air filter and transmission filter, too. Overall performance can be affected if one or more of these needs replaced. 12. ) Exhaust system – Since winter’s cold weather necessitates driving with the windows rolled up tight, a carbon monoxide leak in your muffler or exhaust pipe system can be deadly. A quick check for escaping exhaust will tell you if the system needs repair. Keeping your car in excellent running order through the cold months of winter can be simple and simple. Not only will you get there and back simpler, but you’ll be more confident that your vehicle is performing at its best. Don’t let poor maintenance keep you from arriving safely and securly every time.

Like any piece of machinery, a car needs an extra amount of maintenance and protection during seasons where the temperature spikes or falls drastically. On such occasions, regularly checking your car for hurt and necessary replacements such as car seat covers, windshields, engine oil status, and car floor mats, not only lengthens the service life of your car, but also maintains comfort and cleanliness. Winter / Extreme ColdDriving through blizzards, iced roads, and cold air is way different than driving through the bliss of a summer breeze. While safe driving is imperative all year long, driving during winter requires a lot of precaution and necessary steps to ensure optimum car control, safety and comfort. Speaking of comfort, changing the interior of a car to suit the cold weather is a must. Ditching those ancient sets of cotton jeep seat covers and switching to sheepskin car seat covers is one of the best ways to keep warm inside a car while a snowstorm is brewing outside. A fantastic addition to provide some warmth inside a vehicle is a car warmer to complement those thick sheepskin jeep seat covers. Apart from generating heat to the car’s interior, car warmers also prevent vehicles from icing up and becoming brittle. Placing thick car floor mats can also help insulate your car and make warmth. Replacing regular tires with winter tires is also a excellent option to maintain maneuverability of the vehicle whendriving on snow and ice-covered roads. Winter tires offer better grip and road traction because special treads enable the snow to slide off as the tire rolls. To keep the car engine in tip-top shape throughout the winter, make sure that you place an antifreeze solution in your radiator every day to keep your engine from frosting. A 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze solution at full level every single day will keep your engine running and protected from the biting cold. Keeping a daily track of the engine oil and other motor fluids, such as steering and brake fluids, is also a must to ensure the optimum performance of the car and your safety as well. You must also stock on windshield washer fluid in conjunction to replacing the wiper blades as you need to keep the windshield clean when driving out. Battery state must also be checked frequently because extreme cold strips the battery of its charge. Washing and waxing the car on a regular basis not only gives the car a boost in terms of looks during the winter, but also protects the body, the chassis, and the tires from salt corrosion. Extreme HeatWhen driving though extremely hot regions, such as deserts, or areas affected by heat waves, it is best that you prep your vehicle and yourself for the significant rise in temperature. Unchecked vehicles cruising through a heat wave may end up with blown tires or melted rubber accessories under the hood. Hoses, engine belts, and tires are made of rubber. Under extreme heat, they can easily cause a total breakdown of your vehicle. Checking the pressure of your tires not only prevents them from blowing up, but allows you to see if they need to be replaced. Worn-out tires are very vulnerable of blowing up under tremendous heat. Aside from tires, checking the engine for clogged air filters, corroded battery posts and the coolant level of your car before heading out to the road or desert trail is pretty much an imperative. You can leave air-conditioning out in the equation, as it is the one that provides interior cooling. Checking the status of the air-conditioning system’s refrigerant is one way to keep the cooling system running smooth.

Watch as a seasoned professional helps the DIYer prepare to use a pressure washer in this free online video about home maintenance.

Expert: CR Willey
Contact: www. discraft. com
Bio: CR Willey has b. . .