Wellness check for your car

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Preparing an automobile for holiday road travel should essentially include checking the oil, tire pressure, belts and hoses, and fluid levels, but professional mechanics and roadside services say that’s the bare essentials.

“If planning to travel by automobile you may have waited too late to prepare your car for a road trip,” said Rusty McKee of Rusty’s Garage. McKee suggests getting major repairs done no less than two weeks before your trip. “This will allow time for parts to arrive and the work to be completed. Always get a second opinion prior to having any major repair work done, and ask friends for a referral.”

With July 4th landing on a Thursday, AAA Travel projects a 0.8 percent decrease in automobile travelers this year, but an estimated 40.8 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more during the Independence Day holiday period; still above the 13-year average of 38.9 million.

AAA suggests the following measures just before embarking on your trip:

- Check the coolant. It’s best to have it changed when the hot weather sets in.

- Change the air filter, and check belts and hoses.

- Check the tires; not only the tire pressure, but the depth of the tire tread. And check the spare tire.

- Get the oil changed.

At Milstead Automotive’s car care clinics, it’s stressed that oil is the lifeblood of an automobile. Frequent oil changes, every 6,000 miles, then more frequently as the car ages and converting to high-mileage oil.

AAA also emphasizes the importance of having an automotive roadside assistance service. Although long-range mileage is typically easier on an engine, long road trips can tax an automobile typically used for just short commutes. There are more serious hazards than a flat tire or a broken hose on a road trip. According to Auto.com, there were 187,500 automobile fires in 2011, resulting in 270 deaths; considerably lower than the 1980s thru mid-1990s, when auto fires averaged over 400,000 a year and between 530-770 deaths, spiking in 1988 with a loss of life at 800.

“Any number of things can happen on a road trip,” said McKee, “and they’re all bad.” Any reputable automotive repair service offers a multi-point inspection. Think of it as a wellness checkup for your car and get one annually, especially prior to a road trip.