6 Things to Do Before Heading Out For a Long Road Trip | Auto Repair in Southlake, TX

There will always come a time in your life when you decide to go on a road trip with your family or friends. Road trips are much more fun than traveling through an airplane. This is because you have to sit in a cramped-up seat in an airplane and have to wait in long queues before boarding the plane. In road-trips, you have the freedom to stop wherever you want while on the road, which makes this a pretty fun and convenient experience.

If you are going on a really long road trip, then you need to make sure that your car is in perfect condition. Get it checked by taking it to the best auto repair facility in Southlake, TX before you set off to your journey.

Your car should be in trustworthy condition for a road trip. However, minor problems can occur at any time. You need to make sure you are fully prepared to deal with them. Pack-up all the essential tools for the car and also for yourself just in case an emergency situation happens.

Here are 6 things you need to do before leaving for the long trip:

1. TOP UP ALL FLUIDS

The number one priority for you before leaving for the road trip should be to check all the essential fluids of the car. The most important fluid in the car is the engine oil. The engine oil is the main lubricant that makes sure all the moving parts inside the engine function smoothly. A worn out engine oil cannot only hinder the performance of the car, but it can also cause some irreversible damage. You can check the oil quality yourself by removing the dipstick and taking some of the oil between your fingers. Rub the oil between your fingers. If you feel small chunks in it, then it means you need to change it immediately. Take your car to the best auto repair in Southlake, TX to get your oil changed immediately.

Another important fluid in your car is the radiator coolant. This coolant makes sure that the engine doesn’t overheat by keeping it cool as you drive. If coolant level is low, then it can single handedly ruin your road trip. Make sure to top the coolant off as well during your visit to the auto repair workshop in Southlake, TX.

Other fluids such as brake fluid, steering fluid, and windscreen water sprinkler should also be full in order to avoid inconvenience.

2. FULLY FUNCTIONAL LIGHTS

Functional headlights and taillights are extremely important during a road-trip. If you are going for a cross country road-trip, then it is highly likely that you also drive at the night. Most part of the highway is not lit, which can be extremely dangerous to drive at night without proper functioning headlights. You need to make sure both the high and low beams are working perfectly before setting out for the trip. If there is a problem, then you need to get it fixed immediately by taking your car to the best auto repair in Southlake, TX.

Taillights are also equally important for driving at night. These rear lights indicate your presence to the vehicles approaching from behind at high speeds. Other lights such as indicators, hazards, and reverse lights should all be working perfectly.

3. WINDSCREEN WIPERS

It is really important that your windscreen wipers are working properly. You will be going through a lot of different areas during the road-trip, which means that weather will be unpredictable. So in case it rains, you will be able to safely drive through it.

It’s pretty easy to check the functionality of you windscreen wipers. Just pour or spray some water on the windscreen and turn on the wipers. If it is wiped absolutely clean, then you are good to go. If it makes the vision worse, then you need to replace your wipers by taking the car for auto repair in Southlake, TX.

4. WHEELS AND TIRES

Wheels and tires are two of the most important parts of your car. They are the only connection between the car and the road it drives on. A good set of tires will not only improve the ride quality, but it will also keep you safe on the road.

Tires wear after a few years of use. It is really important to get your tires changed after doing between 25,000 to 50,000 miles (depending on the manufacturer or quality of the tires). To check the quality of your tires, you can do a penny test. Grab a penny and place it upside down on the deepest tread on your tire, and focus on the Lincoln’s head. If Lincoln’s hair is visible then it means you need to get your tires changed immediately by taking your car for auto repair in Southlake, TX. If the hair part is sunken in the tread, then you are good to go for your road-trip.

5. SOLID BRAKES

Brakes can be the major difference between a life threatening accident and a near miss. It is really important to get your brakes checked before leaving for the road-trip. Make sure the brake pads aren’t worn out and the brake discs are smooth. Another thing to check is the brake fluid. It is quite often that the brake fluid gets contaminated with air bubbles. This can cause inefficiency during the braking. Get your brakes repaired or replaced by taking the care for auto repair in Southlake, TX, if required.

6. PREPARE EMERGENCY KITS

Another important thing to do before leaving for the long road-trip is to prepare emergency kits. Prepare two emergency kits, one for the car and one for the people. For yourself, simply prepare a first aid kit for emergency. For the car, you need things like wrenches, extra fuses, jumper cables, tire changing kit, flashlight, and many other emergency tools.

If you are looking for the best auto repair in Southlake, TX, then the best place to contact is Import Car Center. We specialize in repair and all kinds of services for import cars. Schedule your service today and visit us accordingly. We will be happy to serve you.