Summer car care: getting your vehicle ready for the road

EVERY time Vassor-Johnson, a Philadelphia-based film/video producer, drives between Los Angeles and Philadelphia she makes sure, before getting on the road, that her car will survive the journey.

Vassor-Johnson took the 3,000-mile trip three times in three years in compact cars that were 10 to 15 years old. She usually stops in to see a mechanic before the trip to get the tire pressure checked and to change the oil, oil filters and air filters. If needed, she gets a tune-up, new belts installed and the brake pads changed.

"When you drive cross country, it pays to do this before you leave," she says. She occasionally has her tires, oil, antifreeze and wiper fluid levels checked again when she stops at service stations along the way. She gets the oil changed again when she reaches her destination.

The newlywed says it's also a good idea to belong to a motor club and to travel with a cell phone in case of emergencies on the road.

Automotive professionals agree that Vassor-Johnson's trip precautions are a good idea.

Cleveland Johnson (no relation), owner of an automotive and auto body shop on the South Side of Chicago, says drivers shoed also have their cooling systems flushed and a thermostat installed if they haven't done so in the past two years or up to 50,000 miles, according to what the car's owner's manual calls for. "If they don't do this, the ear could overheat," Johnson says. "The thermostat triggers everything."

Johnson doesn't recommend mixing water with antifreeze, although some mechanics say to use a 50-50 mixture. "The car gets a little hotter with water in the cooling system, but if you want the cooling system to run normally, you should use all antifreeze," he says.

J.T. Berkley, who's worked on cars for 30 years and is a product development engineer for Ford Motor Co. in Livonia, Mich., says that even if the coolant looks green, it should be changed within two years. Rust inhibitors break down over time and are needed to protect the engine.

Hoses connecting the radiator to the engine need to be checked as well. If they feel spongy, it's time to change them.

The grade of motor oil needs to be changed in the summer to 10W40 from 10W30, which is used in the winter, Johnson says. Heavier oil doesn't break down and makes the motor run cooler. However, the grade of 5W30 can be used all year and saves gas, Berkley adds.

Antifreeze, hoses and oil help the car run properly, and so does the car's electronic system. If the car needs a tune-up, it can run hot and perform badly, Johnson says.

The car's belts should be checked routinely even though some belts last up to 70,000 miles. Manufacturers recommend changing them around 50,000 miles or every two years, Johnson says. Berkley recommends having belts checked before the start of summer to see if they are cracked or glazed.. "If belts are making noise, that's a sign to have them changed," he says. "A broken belt can damage the water pump and affect the power steering." It could cost $300 to have a timing belt changed during scheduled maintenance or $3,000 if the valves are bent and the belt breaks because it stayed on too long, Berkley says.

Tires keep everything on the road. Drivers should use all-terrain tires, which can be used year-round, Berkley says. "Snow tires get removed after winter because they are made for lower temperatures," he says. "The rubber can break down and blow out in summer weather." But any type of tire wears unevenly when it isn't aligned properly. This is an especially dangerous problem if the car is already pulling to one side and the driver's attention is affected by fatigue. The vehicle can drift into the next lane or off the roadway, Berkley says.

Tire wear and pressure should be checked before and during a trip. Having the proper amount of air can save up to 10 percent of gas with the added weight of passengers and luggage. Low air pressure makes the car take longer to stop and can cause a blowout.

Brake fluid is also needed to slow down or stop properly. Experts say it should be changed every couple of years. It works best when it's the color of honey or beer. If it's a copper color or reddish brown, then it has taken in moisture that can go down to the wheel cylinder. If it's not changed, corrosion goes into the brakes. Corrosion in the brakes will make them lock and affect the driver's ability to steer properly, he says.

Keep the windshield wiper fluid container under the hood, filled and an extra bottle in the trunk. Good windshield wipers will keep the window free of streaks and won't scrape the glass. Drivers who live in a dry climate should check their wipers regularly because they could have gotten hard and dry-rotted from sitting in the sun. If the wipers look old or worn, change them before leaving home because it can be difficult to get the right size wipers for your car on the road.

Drivers should also check headlights and taillights to make sure they are bright enough to help the driver see and be seen.