Now that the summer weather is finally here it’s the perfect time for families and friends to take a road trip. This post has some tips which can help you to prepare.

It should come as no surprise that the most popular time and season of the year is summer. Of course, it isn’t just because the weather is clear and the sun is shining down warmth, but also students are on break from school and parents take a vacation from work to spend time with their family. And of course, one of the best ways for a family to spend time together is a road trip. If you will be taking your family or a group of friends on a road trip this summer,  below are some great tips from Tarheel Synthetics which can help you to prevent a stress-filled journey.

A Very Basic Plan

Despite how it looks in the movies, a road trip takes a little more than piling into a car, singing along to a song for around 30 seconds, before magically arriving at your destination feeling refreshed and ready for adventure. Instead, it takes a little more planning, such as:

• Where are you going?
• How will you get there?
• What other routes can you take if there are problems with your primary route?
• Create a schedule for driving shifts so that each driver can prepare
• Is anybody bringing snacks and drinks?

Just these planning tips is enough to ensure that you have sufficient structure to help your road trip along while also allowing lots of flexibility during your adventure.

Feed Your Engine

Just like you and your family or friends will want to enjoy snacks along the way, your engine also needs its own sustenance, however, it doesn’t come in the form of soda and candy. Instead, your engine relies on the range of oils and fluids you put in. Without these, your adventure would end very quickly. With this in mind, take some time a few days beforehand and check your fluids, starting with these:

• Engine lubricant/Engine oil
• Brake fluid
• Transmission fluid
• Power Steering fluid
• And yes, even washer fluid and water for your wipers

If you can see that either of these levels or the quality of the fluid or oil is low, instead of simply topping up and hoping for the best, flush out the old fluid and replace it with fresh product, keeping the remainder in the bottle safely stowed in the trunk. Click here to buy Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil and keep your engine performing at its best during long drives with a synthetic oil change in Sanford. If you are new to the idea of a synthetic oil change and would like to learn more or want to place an order, speak with a friendly expert at Tarheel Synthetics by calling (910) 964-5995 or check out the online store.

Time for Your Tires

Just because your tires are tough looking doesn’t mean that they are impervious to damage or harm. In fact, if you were to think about the types of road conditions your tires carry you over, it’s actually a surprise that you haven’t experienced problems earlier. While tires are strong, before you leave, check their condition to prevent a flat or a tire blowout:

• Are there bald spots on the tires/areas without tread?
• Can you see debris lodged in the tread?
• Is there a puncture, such as a nail stuck in the tire?
• Look for any cracks around the tire which could lead to a blowout

If you identify any of these problems or you can see another issue with your tire, be sure to have it repaired or replaced before driving on it again.

Electrics

It doesn’t matter if your car was made yesterday or 10 years ago, it relies on a range of electrics to both keep the car operational and to keep it safe. And just because you can’t see the wiring and cables doesn’t mean that they aren’t there, and it certainly doesn’t mean that they can’t become damaged. Ask a friend or family member to sit in the driver's seat to operate the controls and look around your vehicle to ensure the electrics are working correctly, in particular:

• Be sure your headlamps are working and are both bright
• Ensure your brake and tail lights are bright and working effectively
• Reverse lights are just as important
• Check that each of your vehicle’s indicators is working correctly
• Are the lights on the dash operational?

If you are also towing a trailer then it’s important to perform the same safety check. Even if you aren’t driving at night, the lights on your vehicle help other drivers to see your intentions and headlamps are required even for evening driving, which means that if a headlamp blows while you are on the road, you need to pull over and wait for help to arrive with a replacement.

Improve Your Engine Performance with a Synthetic Oil Change in Sanford

Along with these great tips, basic engine maintenance such as a regular synthetic oil change can go a long way to improving the health and performance of your vehicle. To find out more or to place an order, speak with a professional at Tarheel Synthetics by calling (910) 964-5995.