Roadtrips can be great fun, or great headaches, depending on how prepared you are.  Which is very easy to do and after all my years in the industry, from both sides as a service provider and customer, there are some basic tips that will ensure a great summer of fun in your vehicle with family and friends.

Here are some simple upgrades that won’t impact your wallet very much, but will impact your summer fun without a doubt.

For our truck owners, something simple to add to your bed if you haven’t already is a cover. This not only will improve gas mileage, but it will protect whatever gear you’re throwing in the back for trips you’re going on from the sun and wind.

And anyone that has a vehicle that will be towing (trailers, campers, etc.) might want to look into getting a Magnaflow installed for extra power and one of our back-up camera systems for safety.

Then, for basic pleasure and enjoyment (for the parents in the audience, you know this is really for you even though your kids think it’s for them) for the long road trips, getting any one of our in-car video systems is a GREAT idea.

As far as maintenance needs, here is a basic checklist for you. This doesn’t just apply to pre-roadtrip readiness, but really for the season. There are more than this, depending on your vehicle, but these are some of the most important given our harsh desert climate.

1)   Tire pressure 

Read your owner’s manual to find the correct pressure for your tires. This not only improves gas mileage and ensures your tires will last longer (both saving you money), but improperly inflated tires can lead to blow-outs. This includes if you’ve OVER-inflated your tires. Especially in the summer, when the hotter temperatures can cause the air in your tire to expand.

Just make sure you’re checking the tire pressure when they’re cold (either early morning before you’ve driven, or a couple hours past sun down).

**Don’t forget to check your spare tire! The last thing you need to have happen is get a flat, out in the middle of nowhere, and your spare doesn't have enough air!

2)   Engine Oil 

Check your owner’s manual to see what grade you need, but your vehicle needs a thicker grade the warmer it is, as a general guideline.

3)   Belts and hoses 

This is particularly important in our climate, where belts, hoses, and all other rubber components crack and wear-out much quicker here.

4)   Wipers and wiper fluid 

It’s easy to neglect those out here, where it rains so infrequently sometimes. But it still does rain here (let’s not forget the massive floods of recent years), and you don’t want to get stuck needing good wipers that are making full contact with your windshield. Or, when it’s just drizzling and there’s dust, you want to be able to fully clear your windshield while driving. These are very easy to check and generally don’t require any tools to change.

5)   Car battery 

There is almost no warning for a battery dying. And the hot weather puts additional strain on your battery, of course. If you don’t know how old your battery is, go ahead and replace it. They tend to only last 2 years here in El Paso. And make sure you have jumper cables in your trunk, even with a new battery.

6)   Emergency Kit 

A few easy things to put in your trunk, just for an emergency:

Flashlight, flares, first aid kit, gloves, paper towels, packaged food and a few bottles of water, a simple tool kit (that includes screw drivers and a wrench and a pair of vise-grips), a blanket and an extra set of clothes including a jacket.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend and a great summer with your vehicle! See you back here soon for more updates and info on how to get the most out of your car. And feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you have.  

This is going to be a forum where I’ll be discussing my tips and tricks of the auto industry trade. I’m gonna try to keep things relevant, current and generally interesting. Feel free to post your questions or comments, and I’ll be glad to respond. Together we’ll make your vehicle experience a better one.

To start things off, I wanted to post an article I think we can all appreciate around tax season. It’s on saving money. Gas money, specifically. These are some simple tips that can really make a difference. And these days, any extra money I can save I’m glad for.  The article is from http://www.ehow.com but the information came from one of my more trusted vehicle buying resources, http://www.edmunds.com.

10 Ways to Save Gas

By Emily Patterson, eHow Contributor

The best way to save money on gas is to carpool. However, there are many other ways to save on gas. In addition to saving money, when you change habits to save on gas, you increase the resale value of your car, because most of the ways to save on gas either reduce mileage or improve performance of your vehicle.

1.      Regular Oil Changes

o                                                        Get your oil changed every 3,000 miles or more frequently. Make sure the garage where you have your oil changed uses the type of oil that is recommended in the owner's manual of your car. Motor oil is a lubricant for the parts in the engine. Fresh oil increases gas mileage by reducing friction in the motor.

2.    Alignment

o                                                        Potholes, snowy conditions, drag and pull from rain and puddles can cause the front end of your car to become out of alignment. When the car is out of alignment, there is more friction on the tires. When you have your oil changed, ask your mechanic to check the alignment. Improper alignment also leads to uneven wear on the tires. Your tires will last a lot longer by maintaining proper front-end alignment.

3.    Tire Inflation

o                                                        Purchase a tire pressure gauge and check the inflation of your tires. The proper pressure for your tires will be printed on the side wall of the tires. Under- or overinflated tires require more power to turn due to additional friction. Maintaining proper tire inflation also decreases wear on the tires, so you will need new tires less often.

4.    Combine Trips

o                                                        Do errands in one trip. Use a grocery list to make sure you get everything you need at one time instead of running to the store a few times a week. Plan stops at the grocery store on the way home from work or when returning from scheduled activities that are close to the store.

5.    Driving Habits

o                                                        Accelerate slowly from a stop such as a red light or stop sign. Plan ahead for hills so that you have a higher speed before inclines and take your foot off the gas for declines. Reduce the amount of time your foot puts pressure on the gas pedal.

6.    Lowest Price Gas Station

o                                                        Watch gas prices at all of the gas stations you pass regularly. You will notice that when gas prices increase, one station in your area will usually be the last one to increase their prices. In addition, some gas stations offer a few cents off per gallon for a cash price as compared to a credit price.

7.    Short Engine Warmups

o                                                        Reduce the time spent warming the engine or idling. During most of the year, a 20- to 30-second warmup is all that his required to lubricate the engine. However, during colder winter months a longer warmup is necessary.

8.    Route Planning

o                                                        Plan the route to your destination based on the number of stops, turns, hills and distance. The shortest distance is usually the one with the best gas mileage. However, if a route is only a few miles longer without traffic lights and stop signs, it may give you better gas mileage. To find the route that uses the least amount of gas, change routes for one week and monitor your gas.

9.    Air Filters

o                                                        Replace the air filter in your car when you have the oil changed. You can do this simple task yourself and avoid a mechanic fee. Check the owner's manual for the air filter needed for your car. If you do not have the owner's manual, a salesperson at a local auto parts store will be able to tell you which air filter is needed by looking up the make, model and year of your car.

10.  Remove Excess Weight

o                                                        Remove all unnecessary weight from the car. On the inside, remove any extra items in the car from the passenger area and trunk. On the outside, remove luggage or other types of utility racks that are not in use. In addition to saving gas by reducing weight, removing exterior racks will reduce wind drag, which decreases gas mileage.