There’s no better way to soak in the summer sunshine than heading for a long road trip. But in between packing up your bags and hitting the road, there lies a very important, unmissable step. It is to give your car a thorough maintenance check to make sure it’s ready for the long journey ahead. Keeping your car in a good condition will not only ensure your safety on the road but will also save you a considerable amount of money. Here are a few maintenance tips to make your road trip safer and more economical.
Keep Checking the Tires
Keeping an eye on the condition of your car’s tires is a must to make the car road-trip-ready. Particularly check the inflation pressure of the tires regularly. Properly inflated tires can save a great deal of gas cost, almost nine cents per gallon. It’s necessary to check the tire inflation pressure once a month in cold conditions and to adjust accordingly. The cold condition means the time before the car has been driven one mile and a minimum of three hours after it has been stopped.
Make Sure of Proper Wheel Alignment
Proper wheel alignment is another big factor in driving a car safely. It contributes to even greater fuel efficiency on a road trip. If the wheel and your vehicle are properly aligned, you can save as much as fifteen cents per gallon of gas cost.
Keep the Air Filters Clean
A clean air filter is important for the health of both you and your car. Air filters prevent the outside impurities from entering the vehicle, minimizing the health risk for you and the damaging risk for the internal engine components of your car. So, clean or replace the clogged air filters before hitting the highway for a summer road trip. Also, a clean filter saves nearly thirty-one cents per gallon.