Finally, it’s that time of year when we can plan for long weekends, and road trips around the Thompson-Okanagan. We live in one of the most beautiful areas in Canada, given our highway views stretching along rivers, lakes and agricultural lands. One of the best ways to stay safe on the road is to prepare your vehicle for a road trip, and always pack an emergency kit. Three of the most important things you can do for an enjoyable road trip is to check your tires, and make sure your vehicle maintenance is up to date.
Get an oil change if you’re due for one. Check the owner’s manual to learn the recommended mileage per oil change. What type of oil are you using? You may need seasonal oil changes because of fluctuations in temperature. The “W” on the packaging means Winter, not weight, as most people think. Multi-grade oils are formulated to stay close to optimum viscosity over a range of temperatures for year-round use. Keeping your oil changes up to date is important, because even though it may seem like a small thing, running clean motor oil is vital to the life of your engine, and left unchecked, can cause early engine wear.
Change the filters: Replacing the filters regularly keeps the engine running at peak performance and keeps the air inside your vehicle free of noxious fumes and dust. There are four main filters in your car – cabin filters, oil filters, fuel filters and air filters. Most antibacterial cabin filters neutralize the air of 99% of germs, bacteria and mould spores. All cabin filters reduce or eliminate odour, and increase the efficiency of your AC. Cleaning vent surfaces with an antibacterial spray is helpful to reduce the risk of airborne contaminants like pollen and fine dust. It’s very important to keep your oil filter clean, because it removes contaminants from motor and transmission oil for continuous optimum engine performance.
Contact Us
If you’re going out on the road and need to prepare, call us to book an appointment with our technicians. We specialize in keeping vehicles safe on the road for Kamloops drivers.
For more information, see our Auto Services page.
Before heading out on the road, you may want to read: Fuel Economy – How to Save Money on Gas