Nothing can ruin a road trip quicker than having your Chevrolet break down miles from home with no help in sight. Before departing, you should ensure your vehicle is in optimal condition and road trip ready. Let’s look at the top car maintenance tips that will prime your Chevy for smooth travels and prevent untimely roadside emergencies.
1. Check and Top Up Fluids
Before your extended drive, check your engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and coolant levels and top up as needed. If your Chevy’s oil service is due, change the oil to make sure it lubricates and cools the engine components properly. Check whether the other fluids are due for a flush and get it done. Starting the trip with fresh fluids will prevent mechanical issues during the long drive.
2. Inflate and Rotate the Tires
No road trip prep is complete without proper tire care. Start by checking the tire pressure and inflating to the recommended PSI in your Chevy’s owner’s manual. Driving on underinflated tires causes wear and tear and makes blowouts more likely.
Inspect the tires for uneven tread wear or severe damage, and replace the sets if they are too worn out. With all tires properly inflated and in great condition, you will have better handling and braking and a reduced risk of flat tires.
3. Inspect Suspension Components
Your Chevy’s suspension bears the brunt of potholes, bumps, and cargo loads. Inspect the shocks, struts, ball joints, tie rods, and other suspension components. Check for any leaking fluid or loose parts and replace excessively worn components that could fail during the trip.
4. Check Belts, Hoses, and Drivetrain Components
Inspect all belts and hoses under the hood for any glaring cracks, fraying, or leaks. Replace damaged ones to prevent engine overheating, loss of power, and other serious performance issues. Remember to lubricate key drivetrain parts like the CV joints and driveshaft. If your CV joints are worn out, replace them to prevent the loud clicking during turns.
5. Inspect All Lights
Functional lights will keep you visible to other road users at night and increase your safety. So inspect the headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights and replace any burned-out bulbs. Clean the headlights to increase visibility at night, and make sure the high and low beams work properly. Don’t forget to also check the license plate lights.
6. Resolve Illuminated Dashboard Lights
Don’t ignore lingering dashboard warning lights before your trip. Even minor issues can escalate into major problems while you’re on the road. Pay attention to the check engine light, engine temperature warning, charging system or battery indicator, and service reminder indicator.
Preventing car trouble during a road trip requires diligent preparation. Call Hank Graff Chevrolet today and schedule comprehensive maintenance to prepare your Chevy for the long drive ahead.
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