8 tips to maintain your car after long trips

1. Clean from inside out:

After a long day on the road, cleaning your car is a necessary and timely step. “The bugs that stick to your car after a trip are not only unsightly, but some of them contain acids that can damage your car’s paint,” explains Mike Schultz, Vice President of Research & Development at Turtle Wax.

He recommends customers use a specialized car cleaning product to remove insects. You should also remove the floor mats and thoroughly clean the car's carpets and seats, then let them air out for several hours to prevent mold growth.

2. Check tires:

Long trips can wear out your tyres, reducing performance and safety, so check them thoroughly when you get home.

“Proper tire depth maximizes safety and performance,” said Fred Thomas, Vice President and General Manager of Goodyear Retail. “There are many ways to check depth, including the penny method. Simply insert a penny into the groove of your tire with the Lincoln head facing down. If you can see the entire Lincoln head, it’s time to replace your tire.”

3. Add stabilizer to the fuel tank:

After a long trip you will most likely not use your car much for a while especially if you live in a city and store your car elsewhere.

Adding a fuel stabilizer to your fuel tank can help keep your fuel stable and prevent corrosion. If your vehicle is not used for more than a month after a long trip, you should use a fuel stabilizer.

4. Add fluid:

“Fluids are like the blood of your car, and after a long trip they get depleted,” says Beth Gibson, an experienced travel expert with Avis Car Rental. “To ensure your car stays in good condition, always top up your windshield and transmission fluid.”

5. Oil change:

If your car hasn't had an oil change in a few months or a few hundred miles, we recommend changing the oil after a long trip.

Long trips can put more strain on your vehicle than usual, especially if your vehicle is towing a trailer or carrying more than normal luggage and passengers.

6. Replace the wiper blades:

Automotive experts recommend replacing your wiper blades twice a year, but after long trips you'll likely need to replace them sooner.

Wiper blades typically cost under $20 and you can install them yourself or have a shop do it.

7. Run diagnostic tests:

You can buy a good OBD-II scanner that can check all sorts of systems in your car for under $45, and using one can spot problems before they become major ones, saving you money on repairs. After a long trip, these scanners can check everything from filter quality to engine performance, and it can explain those issues.

8. Check the brakes:

“You’ve taken your car on a long road trip – now it’s time to pay attention to how it drives, now that you’re back on city streets with speed limits,” says Jenni Newman, editor-in-chief of Cars.com. “Does it make strange noises when you hit the brakes or is there a squealing noise coming from the wheels? Take it for a test drive to see what maintenance you need.”