There is no doubt that summer is the best time to get your family or friends in the car and take a road trip. But without a bit of planning, things could go seriously wrong. Like all things, the best way to avoid disaster is with a bit of planning and some key tips to follow, lest you end up stuck on the side of the road waiting for help to arrive while your friends in another car enjoy their time at the beach.

Planning for a Problem-Free Roadtrip

Bill Rigdon knows a thing or two about helping motorists get to where they need to be safely and successfully and has prepared a few tips below which every adventurer can follow to ensure a successful road trip.

How Are Your Tires?

It doesn’t matter if your vehicle has never or will never see any off-road adventure, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to check the condition of your tires. It only takes a blowout to see you on the side of the road waiting for help. The best way to check the condition of your tires is with the simple penny test and a visual inspection.

• Look for any bald spots in your tread.
• Any small cuts or chunks taken out of your tire.
• Any foreign objects lodged in your tire.
• The overall condition of your tread.

If you can see any of the above or any other issues with your tires, now is the best time to have the tire repaired or replaced. Otherwise, these small issues could cause trouble for you along your journey.

Tire Pressure

Once you are confident that your tires are in good condition give some time to check their pressure. Why is this important? If your tires are under inflated then it’s going to lead to nothing more than excessive gas usage and poor handling. Instead, get your tires to the correct pressure and enjoy the safety of handling and benefits of improved fuel efficiency.

How Are Your Fluids?

Remember when your parents used to tell you to keep your fluid levels in check when you first started to drive? Now is the time to remember those lessons - because, in this instance, your parents were giving you good advice. The best place to start is with these fluids:

• Engine Oil/Engine Lubricant
• Brake Fluid
• Transmission Fluid
• Coolant
• Wiper Fluid

If your vehicle has any other fluids which it utilizes, be sure to add these to the list. While it can seem basic, low fluids are one of the most common reasons for a motorist to get stuck in the middle of their trip. Click here to buy Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil to keep your engine in good check. If you need some help ensuring this is the right product for your engine, give the professionals at Bill Rigdon a call at (503) 329-9004. Trust their expert advice to keep your vehicle on the road for longer. If you prefer, the online store has more information about the range of AMSOIL products available.

Stop

That doesn’t mean to stop reading! Instead, be sure that your vehicle can stop. We are sure that you can guess why this is important during your regular drive, but it can be even more important during a road trip because you will be driving at high speed and need to apply the brakes pretty hard if you come across trouble. The easiest way to make sure that your brakes are in the right shape is to look at them! Take your car into the light, kneel down, and take a look at your brake pads. If you can see a pin showing through your brake pads, they look like they have seen better days, or you can see any film or coating on them before your road trip is the right time to give them a look at.

Car Electrics

Most drivers take their car’s electrics for granted. After all, you never really see their workings and they rarely often fail. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t fail. If one of your headlamps isn’t as bright as the other, if a brake light isn’t working, or even if one of your gauges on the dashboard has stopped working, don’t take it for granted. Each of these items can cause serious problems during a road trip. For example, if one of your headlamps stops working during the night portion of your drive then you need to pull over and waiting for a nearby friend to get a new lamp, bring it to you, and then install it. This can all take hours (or even overnight if the stores are closed), putting a big dent in your adventure plans.

Vehicle Maintenance Starts with a Synthetic Oil Change in Clackamas, OR

In addition to the above important tips, keeping your engine health in check is the best way to avoid problems on the road. To learn more about the benefits of a synthetic oil change and how this quick and easy piece of maintenance can keep your engine on the road for longer, speak with an expert at Bill Rigdon by calling (503) 329-9004. With a range of high-quality AMSOIL products to choose from, you can trust in the advice of Bill Rigdon to keep your engine health in check.