How to prepare your vehicle for cross-country road trips

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 27, 2010 -- John and Helen Taylor, the famous Aussie couple who broke the Guinness World Record in 2006 for fuel efficiency successfully circled the globe using only 24 tanks of gasoline while averaging an amazing 52.3 mpg.

Similarly, there has been a trend of cross-country road trips among the young and old. Call it challenge or madness; more people know how to have a great sense of thrill and adventure.

Are you planning to go on a cross-country road trip yourself?

Before you to take part in that daring quest, while increasing your “cool factor” enormously, you will need to follow these essential tips:

At least three weeks before you go:

1. Plan Your Journey. Plan your route, keeping in mind rush hour situations where possible. Check the map before leaving or make sure the portable GPS navigator (if you have one) works so you can be more fluid on your trip. Avoid getting lost and unnecessary stops as it burns a lot of fuel.

2. Have your car checked for repairs/maintenance.

3. Tune in your engine. This will improve fuel economy on your vehicle by about 4%.

4. Check vehicle fluids. Coolant – flush the cooling system and replace coolant. Oil – use the recommended motor oil to improve fuel efficiency. Break fluid – Make sure the fluid reaches the full line of the master cylinder.

5. Look for any leaks.

6. Check the battery. Clean the top surface with a rag or fresh water before you remove the vent caps. The fluid level should be just below the bottom of the vent hole, level with the filler ring, for each cell.

7. Check the belts. Replace belt if it is cracked or can be easily pushed more than 1 inch.

8. Check the AC and heater. Check if all heater fans turn on. If moist air is coming from the vents with antifreeze smell, while the windows become foggy when the heater is turned on, there may be a leak. If your vehicle has rear air-conditioning unit, test it as well.

9. Check the tires. Are they inflated enough? Tires with pressure too low can cause heat buildup which leads to a blowout at high speeds. To check the tire pressure, use a tire gauge. The tires may become low as the temperature drops because air contracts with cold. It is also best to make sure you have a spare tire that has been fully-inflated with the appropriate tools needed. Don’t risk driving without the jack, tire wrench and lock-nut adapter (if your vehicle has wheel locks); you never know what could happen.

10. Check the glove box / glove compartment. Make sure you have your owner’s manual and vehicle registration. If your manual is missing, search the internet for automakers with pdf manuals in their sites. If you are travelling in the US and have a roadside assistance program such as AAA, make sure to bring the card (or your member number) along.

At least 5 days before you go, you must do the following checks:

1. Recheck for any scheduled maintenance.
2. Recheck the tires.
3. Wash and clean your vehicle. Get rid of useless equipment; you don’t need to bring the whole

cross-country road trips     essential tips     how to s