Is Your Car Road Trip Ready?
Road trips can be a fantastic way to explore new places and create lasting memories with friends and family. Of course, you want those memories to be happy ones -- not ones of being stranded due to a preventable mechanical failure. That's why we can't stress enough the importance of having your vehicle inspected by professional technicians prior to setting out on your adventure.
To provide some preliminary information before you schedule a road trip inspection at our Ford dealer in Chazy, we're created this comprehensive road trip checklist and FAQ. If this page doesn't answer all your questions, just give us a call -- we're happy to help.
Road Trip Auto Maintenance FAQs
Can my car handle a road trip?
Determining if your car is road trip-ready depends on its overall condition. Ensuring that your Ford truck or SUV has been thoroughly inspected and serviced before driving off can prevent unexpected troubles on the road.
Are road trips bad for your car?
No -- in fact, highway driving represents some of the easiest miles your car will ever incur. With the engine humming along at a steady speed, the transmission hardly shifting and plenty of air rushing through the grille and radiator, your car is often at its happiest when cruising down the interstate.
How do you know if your car can drive long distances?
Scheduling Ford service or a specialized car inspection before a road trip is an excellent way to learn if your car is ready for long-distance driving. Additionally, consulting our car maintenance checklist for road trips can help ensure a smooth journey.
What should be on my car checklist before a long trip?
Here are the 5 most important vehicle checks before driving off on your adventure:
- Engine oil and filter: The engine oil is responsible for lubricating and protecting the engine components, so it's crucial to adhere to the recommended oil change intervals for your engine. Before a long trip, it's wise to change the oil and filter, especially if you're coming up on your next oil change interval.
- Braking system: Brake pads wear out over time, so they should be inspected and replaced if necessary. Additionally, ensure the brake fluid is at the proper level and change it if needed. Our Ford service team can also conduct thorough inspections of the brake rotors, brake lines and other system components before you head off on your trip.
- Cooling system: Coolant is what keeps your engine from overheating, and it's critical in the summer, when sweltering days can combine with traffic jams to create a worst-case scenario for your car's cooling system. To ensure your engine doesn't overheat, we'll inspect coolant levels and the quality of the fluid. If anything looks off, we can change the fluid or fully flush the cooling system.
- Tires: Tires are one of the biggest safety factors on a road trip. Why? Because at steady high-speed highway driving, tires are subject to immense stresses related to heat, weight and speed.
Think about it: tires must support two tons of metal going at high speeds across hot asphalt for hours. If it's an older, damaged, or improperly inflated tire, the chances of a blowout increase with sustained speed, which is why we'll check for all these factors at our Ford service center.
- Emergency roadside kit: It's always wise to pack an emergency kit that includes a tire gauge, flashlight, jumper cables, flares, a first aid kit and a basic set of tools.