Summer Road Trip Prep

Ah, the summer road trip: an American tradition that's evolved from horse and buggy to Model T, from station wagon to today's SUV. Artistic interpretations of these traveling adventures are as varied as the Joads in "The Grapes of Wrath" and the Griswolds in "National Lampoon's Las Vegas Vacation." Piling the whole clan into the family car and setting out to discover America is as much a part of summer as lemonade and suntan lotion. Gas prices are horribly high, but so is air fare, which still makes traveling by car feasible fun.


If your ideal is a free-and-easy journey where the only surprise is a pleasant side trip, then that well-worn adage about "an ounce of prevention" should be your mantra. You have two choices: take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic for a thorough going-over, or do the job yourself. If you opt to do the vehicle check yourself, start at least a week in advance of the trip in case something turns up that needs repair. A good starting point is with your car's owner's manual, a useful reference for everything from fluids to tire pressure. The following is a checklist for vehicles that have been maintained regularly. If you know that some systems, such as the brakes or air conditioning, need extra attention, this is also the time to have it done.

Oil Check
In addition to making sure your oil level is up to par and clean, the viscosity rating is also important. If you live in a cold weather area and haven't changed your oil, this may be the time to do it, switching to a higher SAE rating. Most oil comes in variable viscosity, SAE 5-30 or 10-50 etc. The higher the SAE number, the thicker the oil and the slower that oil flows—something that's important in hot weather driving. Too low a viscosity rating in hot weather (defined as 90.25 or above), the oil flies through the system without doing the job of pulling heat off the engine. A good choice for summer trips is 10-50 or 20-50, but that will depend on your engine type and the manufacturer's recommendations. If your summer trip involves towing or mountain driving (even if you don't anticipate temperatures in the hot range), the load on your engine will generate its own heat, so opt for the higher SAE rating suggested by the vehicle manufacturer.

Cooling System
Ironically, the best anti-freeze is also the best coolant. The key here is to check out the system and make sure the fluid can withstand the rigors of your trip. Check for signs of leaking along the reservoir seams at the sides of the radiator and the core's coolant tubes at the top and bottom of the unit. Hose off the radiator to remove any debris and insects. If you can't remember the last time the system was flushed, that's a good indication it needs flushing to remove scale and rust from the core tubes, water pump and water jackets on the engine block and heads. Refill with a good quality coolant, following directions on the container for the proper dilution with water. Check the water pump for leaks; check radiator hoses, replacing those that show cracking, bulging or softened rubber. You might also want to replace the thermostat, as older ones can end up sticking shut.

Other Fluids
Remember to check all other fluid levels. This includes transmission fluid and windshield wiper fluid, even if you have your vehicle serviced regularly.