(BPT) - Fall is a popular time to hit the road, and it's not hard to see why. The cooler air, changing leaves, festivals, cabin weekends and camping trips make the open road especially inviting. But before you map a scenic route, pack a cooler and queue up the playlist, make sure to give your car a little seasonal TLC.
The summer heat and winter chill can be hard on a vehicle. That's why fall is an ideal time to give your car attention, so you can hit the road this fall with confidence and be ready for the winter that follows. To help you get started, NAPA offers its top seven car maintenance tasks to do before your autumn adventure so you can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the ride.
Carefully inspect your tires
As the parts of your car that make contact with the road, your tires should be the first things you inspect. Check the tire pressure. Cooler weather can lower tire pressure, impacting your handling, fuel economy and tread wear. Check your owner's manual or the driver's door jamb label and inflate your tires to the listed pressure.
Now inspect the tread depth. If your tread is getting low (at or below 4/32 inches), it's time to consider replacing them before you have to drive over wet leaves and chilly pavements.
Pro tip: Don't forget to check your spare tire! Check for any cracks and make sure it is also properly inflated.
See Better, Drive Safer by checking your lights
As the days get shorter and daylight fades earlier, working taillights and signal lights matter more than ever. Start your car and have a friend walk around the vehicle to ensure the headlights, brake lights, hazards, turn signals, fog lights, reverse lights and interior lights are in working order. NAPA Headlights, Lamps and LED Bulbs – NAPA Auto Parts (napaonline.com)
Pro tip: If one headlight is out, replace both. This ensures that you have even brightness.
Change your oil and filter
An oil change before a longer fall trip helps keep the engine clean, lubricated and ready for changing temperatures, boosting fuel efficiency and avoiding costly repairs down the road. NAPA Oil: Synthetic Engine Oil & Conventional Oil – NAPA Auto Parts
While you're at it, replace the oil filter, too. A clean filter helps capture contaminants that would otherwise circulate through fresh oil and damage your car. If you change the oil but keep the same old filter, you're contaminating your fresh oil with debris.
When replacing your oil filter, choose a filter built for real-world driving. For example, NAPA Platinum Filters are designed to help protect modern engines and deliver consistent oil flow and engine protection. When used with full synthetic oil, NAPA Platinum Oil Filters are the most efficient, longest-lasting filter in NAPA's lineup, so you can set out on your fall travels with confidence.
Check your battery before the cold arrives
Don't wait for the first cold morning to find out your battery has given up the ghost. Check the terminals for corrosion, make sure cables are clean and tight, and consider a battery test if the battery is older (3-5 years) or slow to start. Doing so can prevent an unpleasant surprise in the driveway or a hotel parking lot.
Listen to your brakes
Make sure your brakes can handle the demands of winding back roads, start-and-stop seasonal event traffic and screeching halts for deer and other woodland creatures. If you hear your brakes squeal, see a warning light come on or notice heavy brake dust, it may be time to get new brake pads.
Pro tip: If you are rotating tires, it is a smart time to have the brakes inspected, too.
Replace your wiper blades to keep a clear view
Can't remember the last time you replaced your wiper blades? Then it's time to switch them out. Blades that streak or leave a haze aren't ready to take on a rainy highway or an unexpected flurry of snow later in the year. Check your owner's manual to find the correct size blades for your front and rear wipers.
Pro tip: Grab a jug of winter-grade washer fluid. You'll be thankful when the temperatures inevitably drop.
Fall road trips should be about making memories, not waiting for roadside assistance. Before you hit the road this fall, set aside a weekend afternoon and perform these essential car care tasks. If something needs a closer look, ask an expert at a local NAPA Auto Parts store or NAPA Auto Care location. To learn more, visit NAPAOnline.com.
