How do you prepare your auto for a road trip?

[JHZR2]

I like to check tire pressures and oil. Look over some other fluid levels. I think the more important question is what is the right tool kit to bring based upon trip length and scenarios potentially encountered. That might include hand tools, meters, lights, inflators, etc.

It’s impractical to bring a ton of spare parts and fluid. Need to think about what could practically happen and how you might remediate. A gallon of distilled water is maybe a good option - get a rock or pinhole leak and start to see rising temps, might want to check and top up. A belt could snap, I guess. But that begs the question of why didn’t one change an old belt before leaving on a trip?

Other reality is that there are enough businesses close to most any major roads, and also enough infrastructure in most places that people travel that one can find some level of support with a smartphone pretty quick and easy nearby.

 

[Gimpy1]

I do this when I drive from DFW to St charles IL. I leave at 4 am so the day prior: Fill gas tank, add 1 bottle of Regane. Check oil and fluids. If I'm driving up there in the winter, I'll swap out the washer fluid to the 0 degree stuff. I use 0w40 castrol so no issues there. Coolant is a 50/50 mix. Check tires for proper inflation this incl the spare. No big prep stuff just making sure the car and the driver are ready for substantially colder weather.

 

[mightymousetech]

If your car is maintained properly, should not have to do anything special before a road trip. I will give the tire pressure a quick check though, and clean the windshield.

 

[Kurtatron]

I just drove 1300 miles last weekend. I did nothing my but air up the tires. 2001 Honda Civic. I do however carry a set of sockets and tools to change a tire.

 

[Wylie6G72]

Tire pressure & condition check, including spare. If it's close to oil change time, do it early. All fluids, wiper blades & bulbs checked. Cleaned inside & out.
In the case of our last vacation to Galveston in the Canyon, I put in a new battery, as it was OEM and 4.5 years old. Sometimes, it has to be about what's worth not getting stranded over.

 

[Shel_B]

In the case of our last vacation to Galveston in the Canyon, I put in a new battery, as it was OEM and 4.5 years old. Sometimes, it has to be about what's worth not getting stranded over.

Indeed ... I replaced the battery before my last long trip, but it was 11 years old and I was heading into some remote areas. Made no sense not to replace it.

 

[Wylie6G72]

Indeed ... I replaced the battery before my last long trip, but it was 11 years old and I was heading into some remote areas. Made no sense not to replace it.

Yep. It's a pretty long drive to civilization from the beach house we rent. An even longer walk.

 

[CharBaby]

Isn’t it great that vehicles are so reliable today that we can just hop in, start up the engine and drive across the country by just topping off the tank and grabbing some coffee? With just a little bit of basic maintenance, we’re motoring off and running for hours & hours at a time, day after day. I remember when thing were different.

 

[javacontour]

I'm not big on checking the fluids on the cars. If it isn't on the ground when I drive away, where else would it be? I can't remember the last time I ever had to top anything off on any of the cars.

It could be going out through the combustion chamber. A leaking head gasket can allow coolant into the cylinders and out the tail pipe.

Leaking is not the only way a vehicle loses fluids.

Even leaks don't always hit the ground. They could hit the exhaust manifold and get turned into vapor.

Looking for leaks is not sufficient. It's more than what most do, but it doesn't tell you the state of the fluids in the vehicle.

 

[BigGeo]

Lots of good suggestions. My list would also include a 12v air compressor and tire plug repair kit.

 

[Snagglefoot]

By the way, I don’t use the puny factory wrench for lug nuts. I carry a 36 inch 1/2 inch breaker bar and the correct socket for the lug nuts.

 

[Wylie6G72]

It could be going out through the combustion chamber. A leaking head gasket can allow coolant into the cylinders and out the tail pipe.

Leaking is not the only way a vehicle loses fluids.

Even leaks don't always hit the ground. They could hit the exhaust manifold and get turned into vapor.

Looking for leaks is not sufficient. It's more than what most do, but it doesn't tell you the state of the fluids in the vehicle.

Indeed. My ex had a '96 Explorer that had a tiny coolant leak from a hose at the back of the engine, near one of the valve covers, that had apparently been seeping for an eternity. One day, the water pump cavitated and it overheated on a frontage road. There was never a drip on the driveway. I didn't get involved in the maintenance of that vehicle back then, so the empty reservoir went unnoticed. Totally preventable with weekend checkups, but unfortunately, some folks think a hood release handle is strictly ornamental.

I fear that my sister's 2015 Highlander is going to start burning oil as it ages, with her 10,000 mile oil changes and 0W-20. We had a long talk about it when I was in Charlotte in July, and I hope she isn't lying when she says she's checking it every weekend now. 2 minutes out of your life is worth not sitting on the shoulder of a crammed highway waiting for a tow truck.

 

[supton]

2 minutes out of your life is worth not sitting on the shoulder of a crammed highway waiting for a tow truck.

2 minutes is the cheap part. The engine replacement cost would get me where it hurts the most!

 

[ChrisMU]

Last summer, I drove my recently acquired 1985 GMC conversion van from central Texas to southeast Wisconsin and back, and I plan on doing the same this year. Before the trip, it got new spark plugs/wires, a new fuel pump, and a carburetor rebuild. I checked the fluids, and despite the typical bad SBC valve seals, it used very little oil. I run a gallon of Rotella T4 15w40 and a quart of Mobil 1 5 or 10 w30 High Mileage. I brought along my jumpstart/air compressor pack and extra rags. The tires were 8 years old and looked good, so I figured they would hold up for another year or two. I was wrong about the tires. One tire shredded on the 894 bypass in Milwaukee. I put the spare on, and while doing so, I noticed a minor leak at the differential cover, so that’s my next project. The next day, I got a set of new white wall tires in the highest load range I could find. Also, while in my parents driveway, I noticed a coolant leak. The area where the upper hose attaches to the radiator had cracked… so I had that replaced locally. I’m guessing it cracked in Wisconsin, while taking a rough railroad crossing too fast on highway KR.

 

[PandaBear]

tire up to pressure, full tank of gas, all fluid not below the low line, clean the interior of trash, clean the exterior of bird poop, that's about it.

 

[edyvw]

Always ready. Only thing I add is gallon of back up washer fluid
If it is 3-4,000 mile road trip, maybe oil change and all filters if time for change is coming while on a trip.

 

[kebabaluba]

I check all fluids and air in the tyres. I also check when i next service is due, change the oil if i won`t make the trip without violating service intervall.

 

[Zee09]

I find it easiest to just buy a new car for the trip

 

[4WD]

I find it easiest to just buy a new car for the trip

Yeah - but how many times did you change hotel reservations during that thread ?

 

[Zee09]

Yeah - but how many times did you change hotel reservations during that thread ?

I changed more cars than hotels..lol