Prepare For Your Summer Road Trip With Essential Tips And Tricks
With the school year ending, and Canada Day quickly approaching, it’s time to take advantage of the beautiful summer weather and take a road trip! For your upcoming travel ahead, it’s important that your vehicle is prepared to ensure that you and your family can reach your destination safely. Below are some tips to help make your trip as smooth and cost-efficient as possible. While embarking on your trip, be sure to follow COVID protocols to protect yourself and those around you. When traveling, we recommend that drivers check for and respect local travel restrictions currently in place.
1. Get an Oil Change Before Your Road Trip – Before going on a road trip, it’s important to get an oil change. Prior to visiting your mechanic for an oil change, be sure to use our motor oil selector to find which type and viscosity grade is right for your vehicle. Don’t forget to ask your mechanic if it’s appropriate to use an SAE 0W motor oil for added fuel economy benefits and the opportunity to use one of our Pennzoil Carbon Neutral motor oils. Not only do Pennzoil Platinum motor oils provide your engine with performance and protection, but you can also receive $50 in hotel savings with your purchase between April 1, 2021 – September 30, 2021. Full details can be found at Pennzoil.com/Rewards.
Summer Road Trip
2. Prior to Your Departure, Inspect All of Your Tires – Summer heat can cause your tires to expand. If there is too much pressure in your tires they can blow out. Too low of a pressure can lead to improper traction and decreased fuel efficiency. To avoid this from happening, be sure to check the tread and pressure in your tires thoroughly before traveling. Most modern vehicles have tire pressure monitoring systems, but if you prefer to check manually, let your mechanic know and they will inspect them for you to ensure that they are at the correct pressure. Most modern vehicles are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), but you can also utilize a tire pressure gauge to manually check your tire’s pressure. You can locate the recommended PSI for your particular vehicle/tire within the vehicle’s owners manual or on a sticker typically found on door jam of the driver's side door.
Summer Road Trip
3. Check Your Battery – Winter weather is known as a leading cause for dead batteries. In reality, hot weather can be just as tough on your battery. Summer heat can speed up the chemical reaction inside a battery, causing the battery to be overcharged. An important tip for keeping your battery operating efficiently is to keep terminals and connections clean of buildup. Make sure the battery is strapped down tightly and that all connections are secure. If you think that your battery is being overcharged, take it to a service shop where they can conduct a quick battery inspection.
Summer Road Trip
4. Stock Your Vehicle With an Emergency Roadside Kit – Before leaving for your road trip, put together a kit to bring in your vehicle for any needs that could potentially arise. When traveling a long distance, it’s always a good idea to have a checklist of items to bring with you in case of an emergency. Below is a list of items to consider including in your kit:
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Jumper cables
- Jack and ground mat for changing a tire
- Flares and/or reflective triangles
- Extra windshield washer fluid
- Cell phone charger
- Water and snacks
- Face masks
- Hand sanitizer
- Disinfecting wipes
Summer Road Trip
5. Set Your Soundtrack – Before you leave, find the perfect playlist for your road trip that will get everyone in a great mood. A playlist can make or break your road trip. Take requests from everyone who you will be traveling with to ensure that all passengers will be satisfied. With good tunes and good vibes ready to go, your road trip is bound to be memorable. To get started, consider listening to this playlist curated by Shell Gas Stations as you navigate your way to your destination!
Summer Road Trip
Most importantly, enjoy yourself! Road trips are a great opportunity to spend time with people you care about and what better time to do that than in the summer weather. Keep these tips in mind and have a safe trip to your dream destination!