AutoVantage Offers Tips To Keep Your Road Trip From Grinding To A Halt

Seven Summer Driving Tips

NORWALK, Conn, July 26 -- As the summer driving season shifts into high gear and millions of Americans take to the road, AutoVantage offers seven summer driving tips to help keep your car trip from grinding to a halt and your automobile in top shape.

Despite high gas prices, the Travel Industry Association of America predicts that 86 percent of the 334 million trips Americans will take between June and August will be on the road. The Association estimates high gas prices will only add $20 to $30 to the average U.S. trip taken this summer. In addition, average gas prices are retreating from their early summertime highs.

"A service like AutoVantage can help you save money on preparing for a road trip," said AutoVantage Vice President Brad Eggleston. "AutoVantage can help you save with that ounce of prevention -- and perhaps deliver more than a pound of cure -- if you break down we will tow you." AutoVantage tips are:

  1. Check your tires:  start by checking your tire pressure and then peek
     in on your spare (consider using a full sized tire as your spare if you
     are going to be far from a service station this summer). Also check
     your tires. Replace them if you see worn tread or sidewall damage.  If
     you are unsure, place a penny -- Lincoln's head first -- in the tire
     tread. Consider buying new tires if the tread does not go past
     Lincoln's forehead.

  2. Go under the hood: check to see if your oil needs changing and that
     your belts and hoses are OK. If your car has been running hot, have a
     mechanic check your radiator and water pump. Be sure your transmission
     fluid is clean. Also see if cold air is still flowing from the air
     conditioner -- you don't want to embark on a hot summer drive without
     AC.

  3. Befriend your battery: Replace your car battery every 4 years, air
     conditioning systems, especially in traffic jams put a great strain on
     your battery/alternator systems. If in doubt, have it tested.

  4. Keep gas in your tank: Always keep you gas tank at least 1/4 full to
     keep from running out of gas in unexpected situations such as highway
     gridlock. Don't overfill your tank.

  5. Wear your seatbelts: it may or may not be the law in your state but
     there's no question you and your family will be better protected if you
     wear your seat belt this summer.

  6. Duplicate your key: Keep a duplicate car key in your home, in case of a
     lockout a family member can assist.

  7. Watch your gauges: keep an eye on those gauges monitoring your car's
     electrical system, oil pressure and engine temperature. If you see an
     electrical problem, try to get to a garage. If your oil pressure
     plummets get your car off the road ASAP and call a tow truck. If your
     engine temperature starts to climb, turn off the AC and then -- if you
     need to -- turn on the heater.

AutoVantage also offers car care savings from 5 to 20 percent off sales and regular rates at some 20,000 service locations, including participating AAMCO, Firestone, Jiffy Lube, Meineke, and American Car Care Center locations. Trip routing for maps and door-to-door driving directions across the U.S. is also included.

"One AutoVantage membership covers all of the drivers in your family," Eggleston added. We never charge extra for covering your spouse or children living in your household with our 24-hour nationwide emergency towing, roadside assistance, and lockout protection from our network of more than 10,000 emergency roadside assistance providers. We'll even send a locksmith if you are locked out of your home."