Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer driving season. This season, AAA estimates it will come to the rescue of 7.9 million stranded motorists nationally, including about 115,000 within the Ohio Auto Club’s 38-county territory.
“Millions of travelers are expected to take road trips during the summer months. Unfortunately, many of them will end up stranded,” said Bill Linsenmayer, AAA Ohio Auto Club’s director of Automotive Services. “We aim to get these drivers back on the go, but encourage motorists to perform a few simple tasks before leaving home, to help improve the safety of their road trip and even save a little money.”
Inspect Tires
Roughly 1.1 million drivers nationally and about 11,000 drivers locally will call AAA with tire issues this summer. A simple tire inspection can help avoid many of these problems.
Properly inflated tires can improve fuel economy by up to 3 percent, which is as much as 12 cents per gallon, according to the Department of Energy. Yet, 85 percent of drivers do not know how to properly inflate their tires. Motorists should fill tires to the level indicated in the vehicle owner’s manual or on the driver’s side door jamb.
Worn tires are more likely to suffer punctures and other problems. To check tread depth, insert a penny into a tire groove with Lincoln’s head upside down. The tread should cover part of Lincoln’s head. Also look for signs of uneven wear or abnormal bulges on tires.
It’s important to also make sure the spare is in good condition and ready for use in case it’s needed. This is something many motorists overlook.
Check and Clean Car Battery
Summer heat is tough on car batteries. AAA estimates it will assist nearly 1.6 million motorists nationally and 80,000 locally with dead batteries during the summer driving season – replacing nearly 500,000 batteries on the roadside (7,500 locally).
Summer heat breaks down car batteries internally and accelerates the rate of corrosion on the battery terminals. Both can lead to insufficient electrical power and leave a motorist stranded. To avoid this, motorists should make sure their battery cables are securely attached to the terminals and remove any signs of corrosion with a wire brush.
Most car batteries have a three- to five-year service life, depending on the local climate and vehicle usage patterns. If a battery is nearing the end of its lifecycle, motorists should have it tested prior to taking a road trip.
Check Lubricants
During spring 2012 vehicle maintenance inspections, technicians checked 669 vehicles at 11 events, and found more problems with lubricants (washer fluid, engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, anti-freeze and brake fluid), than any other deficiency. In fact, nearly 50 percent of vehicles checked had problems with lubricant levels and condition.
Before hitting the road this summer, it’s important that motorists refer to the maintenance schedule in their owner’s manual for the types of lubricants required for their specific vehicles. For example, different vehicles require different types of engine coolant. When checking fluids, motorists should wear safety glasses and gloves as a precaution.
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