Road Trip Ready

The Philippines is a beautiful country. There is so much to see, from tropical beaches, to scenic fields, to majestic mountains and more. And a summer road trip is the best way to see it all.

Before you get in the car and go, however, it's always best to make sure your car is performing at its best. There are few things more frustrating than a vacation ruined by car problems. As an added bonus, following these tips can save you money, too.

Here are a few tips to keep your road trip smooth and trouble free.

1. Check your tires for tread and tire pressure. Making sure your tires have sufficient tread thickness is possibly the most important check you can do. Worn out tires negatively affect grip, handling, and braking. They also are more prone to punctures and tire blowouts. In additoin, properly inflated tires perform better than under or overinflated tires, giving you more grip and safer driving, especially when it's raining. Maintaining proper tire pressures also save gas, extend the lifespan of the tires, and prevent tire blowouts. Don't forget to check you spare tire, too!

   
   

   

   
   

2. Check your brake discs, brake pads and brake fluid. Brakes are the most important active safety feature in your car. The most important checks are brake disc surface flatness, which prevents brake vibrations and improves braking performance. Brake pad wear is also important. Thankfully his is easy to check - most cars make a high pitched squeal when the brake pads are worn, while some high-end cars will have a warning light displayed on the insturment cluster. Brake fluid is an often forgotten check - old brake fluid has a low boiling point, which can lead to a deep and unresponsive brake pedal. This is especially important for trips up and down mountainous areas, where heavy braking is needed.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Check and clean your wiper blades and check your windshield wiper fluid. Even in the summer, it is possible to get caught in an sudden downpour. Wiper blades should be soft and flexible, with out tears. Cleaning the wiper blades help extend their life and prevent rips on the rubber blade and scratches on the windshield. Using proper windshield wiper fluid also improves the wiper performance helps extend the wiper blade life.

   
   

   

   
   

4. Clean your headlight lens and check all the bulbs. In some areas in the province, lighting on the road is not great. Start with cleaning the headlight lenses to make sure your bulbs can properly illuminate the road. Some car washs and detailers offer headlight restoration for cloudy or yellowing headlight lenses. For even better visibility, upgrade to higher output bulbs, and avoid using bulbs with headlight temps above 5000K, which are worse for visibility. Some people resort to using their high beams, but that is dangerous and can cause accidents.

   
   

   

   
   

5. Check all your fluid levels. Engine oil is the first thing to check, both for fluid level and condition. Low engine oil levels lead to engine wear in the long term, and contribute to higher engine temps and greater fuel consumption in the short term. Coolant levels should also be checked, to prevent engine overheating.

   
   

   

   
   

6. Keep some simple tools in your car. Even the most prepared traveler can come across some problems, so it's always best to have a few simple tools in your car to help you in case of emergency. Our recommendations: flashlight, tire pressure gauge, a jack (bottle jacks and scissor jacks are the most compact, while floor jacks are the strudiest), tire iron, wheel lock key (if applicable), tow hook, jump start cable, and a one liter bottle of distilled water (for radiator coolant or windshield washer topups).

Of course, proper scheduled maintenance is the best way to ensure your car is safe, reliable, and fuel efficient. But doing these extra checks before a road trip give you that peace of mind so that you can focus on enjoying your drive. AutoPerformance is your trusted source for the the best maintenance parts from the best brands - Brembo, Total, Elf, Bosch, PIAA and Bilstein - for your car. Contact us to find a dealer near you, or buy now at the AutoPerformance Official Store in Lazada.