With the summer upon us, many motorists are looking to enjoy the sun by taking a road trip. Below is a great article with tips which can help ensure your road trip is a stress-free one.

It’s easy to see that summer is the most favored season and time of the year. Not just because the sun is out and the weather is lovely, but also because students are on break and parents take a vacation to spend time with their family, planning all sorts of adventures such as a road trip. If this sounds like you then Bill Rigdon AMSOIL Dealer has prepared a post to share with some great tips to help make your road trip an enjoyable and stress-free one.

A Basic Plan

Hollywood would have you believe that a fun road trip starts with a group of people simply jumping into the car, listening to 30 seconds of a song, and then arriving at their destination. However, in reality, things don’t always go so smoothly. For this reason, a small amount of basic planning is a great way to start, such as:

• What is the destination?
• Does everybody know the route?
• Which alternate routes can you take if there are problems on the road?
• Create a drivers schedule so that each driver knows when they need to be ready.
• Who is in charge of drinks and snacks?

Basic planning steps like this can go a long way to keeping your road trip stress-free and enjoyable.

Check Your Fluids

Speaking of drinks and snacks, just as you and your passengers need fuel as you drive, so too does your car, only it needs more than simply gas. A day or two before you leave, make some time to check your fluid levels and their condition, including:

• Engine Oil/Engine Lubricant
• Coolant and water level
• Transmission Fluid
• Power Steering Fluid
• Water and soap for your wipers

If any of these levels are low or you can see that the fluid is no longer able to do its job, flush it out and replace it with fresh fluid, instead of simply topping it up and hoping for the best. Click here to buy Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil and help your engine keeps its cool this summer with a synthetic oil change. To place an order or if you would like help finding the right product for your engine needs, speak with a friendly professional at Bill Rigdon AMSOIL Dealer today by calling (503) 329-9004 or check out the online store.

On to Your Tires

Tires look tough, that’s no surprise. However, this can often lead motorists to think that their tires are impenetrable, despite the rigorous conditions they are put through every day. For this reason, it’s important to spend a bit of time checking the condition of your tires before a long drive. Bring your car into the sunlight and check for the following:

• Are there bald spots on your tires were there isn’t any tread left?
• Can you see items lodged in your tire tread?
• Are there any punctures, such as a nail which is still stuck inside your tire?
• Identify any cracks or stretch along the rubber of your tire which could lead to a blowout.

If any of these issues are present, be sure to have the problem rectified before you drive and prevent problems from occurring. While it can be easy to think that your tires are fine because you have been driving on them, there is a big difference between running errands and extended driving along the freeway.

Electrics

Just because you can’t see any of the wiring doesn’t mean that the electrics in your car can’t experience issues. Instead, before you drive, have somebody sit in the driver’s seat to operate the controls, and tour your vehicle to ensure the electrics are working, including:

• Tail Lights
• Brake Lights
• Headlamps
• Indicators
• Reverse Lights
• Dash Lights

The last thing you want is to get stuck on the ride of the road at night waiting for help to arrive, simply because a headlamp or tail light bulb blew and it wasn’t safe to drive anymore.

Synthetic Oil Change in Portland, OR

The above tips are great for preparing for a road trip, however, you can’t go past regular maintenance like a regular synthetic oil change when it comes to keeping your car in good shape. To learn more about how a synthetic oil change can improve your engine performance, speak with a friendly expert at Bill Rigdon AMSOIL Dealer by calling (503) 329-9004.