Maintenance before a long trip
 

Happy Fourth to all.
I am going on a journey for the weekend and I beleive I will be taking my MB over the Lincoln.
The LS is a smooth ride, but the V8 sucks up gas beyond belief and it seems trivial to use that when I have a 5 cylinder turbo diesel highway cruiser resting in the garage. I'm excited, as it's been a while since I've had the courage to do a road trip in my 124.
I'll be leaving friday morning, going from Salem NH (first town over MA border,) to Augusta ME til Sunday. Sunday morning I will depart Augusta for Moultenborough NH, a town on Winnaupausaukee(sp.?), and I will be there til Wednesday.

My quesiton for you guys is what do you do before your road trips? Besides the obvious tire pressure, oil level checks etc, what else does everyone do before a long road trip?


Any input is greatly appreciated, thank you gentlemen. :)

Unless you are due for a specific maintenance job don't do anything out of the ordinary. I always have an extra set of belts and hoses w/ the spare tire. I have found out that a long trip is not a good time to test new parts.

NH to Mass to Maine and back to NH? Out west here we have trips to the grocery store and cleaners that are longer than that. You'll be fine.

Touche' my friend. :P

Sam:

I'm sure you meant what follows in your description above, but do give the belts and hose a look-over. Check the coolant level in the radiator and expansion tank.

Hopefully the coolant thermostat is new enough.

I live out west(sorta) and walk to the grocery store.

I think I would take my spare klima, ovp, and fuel relays off the shelf and throw them in the trunk.... along with my spare voltage regulator and serp belt. They don't take up much space nor weight. I'd also throw in my 3/8" wratchet set. The other basic tools are in the pouch

I try to start trips with fresh oil. But I am an oil nut.

I fall in deanyels camp. Every time I get in the car I drive a minimum of about 50 miles roundtrip. Often I go to the Dallas area to see relatives which is about a 300 mile roundtrip.

When I was travelling, I took several roundtrips a week that exceeded 700 miles or so.

If you are keeping the car maintained as you should, you shouldn't have to do anything except maybe check cold tire pressure and make sure that you have fuel.

If you want to get crazy about it, check fluids, take a look at the drive belt and hoses to make sure they are soft and not cracked and enjoy the trip.

Good luck,

Regarding tire inflation - do forget to check the tires cold. I often will fill 'em up higher than I think they need the night before and then bleed 'em down in the morning to where I like them.

Haasman

The only thing I ever worry about before a trip (or otherwise) is a broken serp belt, so I always carry a spare along with the tools to change it (counterholder and small 5mm allen tool to remove fan clutch).

Have a great 4th! :sun_smile