10 Essentials: The Pre-Road-Trip Car Maintenance Checklist

Memorial Day weekend’s coming up, and we hope you’re just as thrilled as us for the opportunity to go on a road trip. (LA to Cayucos for this writer! Where are you headed?)

First things first—you’ll want to make sure your ride is good to go before you hit the road. Check out our pre-road-trip car maintenance guide so you’re fully prepped for the long haul:

1. Jobs in the Queue
Rule of thumb for anything you need to fix—take care of it right away. But if there are any vehicle maintenance and repair jobs you’ve been holding off until the very last minute (like that oil change or TPMS light you’ve left on a little too long, or those rear brakes the Honda service guy told you could wait another month max when all the other repairs you had done maxed out your budget last month), you’ll want to handle those before you drive off on your weekend getaway.

2. Oil, Fluids and Filters
Motor oil, fluids and filters are vital for keeping your engine and the rest of your vehicle’s most critical components lubricated and running clean and cool. If you need to change your oil, do it. And, as with every oil change, make sure you change your oil filter, too. Check all your other fluids and filters (including your coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, air filter, cabin air filter, etc.) and take care of those as needed.

3. Battery
Experiencing slow starts due to a weak battery or corroded battery terminals? This can happen if you don’t use your car for extended periods of time, or if you’ve had your battery for 3-5 years or more. In any case, you’ll want to test your battery and change it as needed before taking any long trips.

4. Tires
Don’t let a flat tire ruin your vacation mood. Check your tire pressure and tire tread depth, and add air or change your tires if you need to. What’s a good tire pressure, anyway? For most makes and models, it’s somewhere between 30-35 psi, but it really depends on your application. You can find your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure on the sticker inside your driver’s side door or your owner’s manual.

5. Brakes
Make sure your brake discs and pads are in good, road-trip-ready shape. If your brakes have been squealing or they’ve been less responsive, you definitely want to get them checked right away.

6. Lights
If you’ll be driving through the night, it’s especially important to make sure all your lights are working properly. Have a friend check the front and rear of your vehicle as you test your headlights, fog lights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, hazards, etc.

7. Emergency Equipment
Double-check that you have everything you’d need in the event of an emergency, including your spare tire and jack, jump starter and cables, gas can, flashlight, tool kit, recovery kit, etc.

8. Car Wash and Cabin Clean-Up
When you’re cruising down the scenic route, the last thing you want to do is spoil the view with dirty windows. Wash your car and keep your windshield and windows clear so you can drive in style and drink in the views. You’ll also want to clean out your interior so you and your passengers can enjoy a comfy ride.

9. Final Check
Before you head out, do one last bumper-to-bumper check and make sure everything’s functioning properly.

10. Gas
Last but definitely not least—don’t forget to fill ‘er up, especially if you’ll be driving through a long stretch with no gas stations in sight.

Follow these steps and make this trip one of your most memorable Memorial Day vacations for only the right reasons—you know, not as the time your car breaks down and you get stuck on the side of the road for three hours.

Safe and happy travels!

Get Road Trip Car Maintenance Essentials Online

There are a lot of car maintenance tasks you need to conduct whenever you’re going on a long ride, including checking your vehicle’s oil and battery. If you need an oil change or a replacement battery, look no further than CarParts.com.

CarParts.com offers a wide array of engine oils, tires, and batteries from the leading aftermarket brands. Start shopping by entering your vehicle’s year, make, model, and engine in our vehicle selector and to see only compatible parts and consumables. You won’t have to wait long to receive your order, as our strategically located warehouses let us deliver your order in as fast as two business days.

Don’t let old oil or batteries linger. Regularly replace these parts to prevent your vehicle from running into issues. Shop for motor oil and batteries at CarParts.com today.