Summer Travel Tips to Use When Heading to the Shore

Planning on leaving Freehold in search of some cooler temperatures down the shore? Check out this summer travel tips from AutoTrader.com to help you on your journeys:

1. Keep Your Car Cool - The number one thing motorists should stay on top of in the summer months is their car's coolant or anti-freeze. Fluids like coolant, motor oil and windshield washer fluid are things a motorist can regularly check on their own, and since most modern cars have a closed system for coolant, checking or adding coolant is easy. Note that one should never open the radiator cap or coolant tank lid when the engine is hot. Furthermore, modern cars typically have these fluids clearly marked and often color coded to make it easier for motorists.
 
2. Keep Your Tires Properly Pressurized - As the temperature rises, the air in a car’s tires expands. Motorists should be sure to check the car’s tire pressure when the tires are at a normal temperature; before setting out on a family road trip. Furthermore, motorists should not use the maximum pressure listed on the tire itself, but rather refer to the recommended tire pressure in the owner's manual or what's printed on the car's door jamb or glove box door. Tires that are over or under inflated can generate excess heat and cause a blowout or change the vehicle's handling significantly; motorists need to check all four tires every few months and also keep tabs on the pressure in the spare tire.
 
3. Keep Your Car Running Fuel Efficiently - Since more people are likely to travel long distances by car in the summer, conserving fuel is important. Motorists should sure to keep up on the vehicle's periodic maintenance, including tire pressure, oil and filter change, air cleaner change and regular inspection or replacement of any fuel filters. Each of these things can cause your car to use more gas than it should if they're neglected. Furthermore, using a car's cruise control will also help get better fuel economy.
 
4. Keep Your Car Looking Good - The summer sun can cause physical, cosmetic damage to a car. Park cars in a garage or under an awning when possible (this will also keep the interior cooler) as the sun can cause car paint to fade. Purchase car wax with UV protection and regularly apply that wax to protect the car's paint. The same goes for the interior, purchasing a $10 sunshade that keeps sunlight from coming in the front windshield can also help reduce fading, drying and cracking of the car's interior.
 
5. Keep Yourself Cool - Finally, motorists should get their air-conditioning system checked before the weather turns scorching. Some cars have a cabin air filtration system; check the car's manual to see how often that needs to be changed. Air-conditioning systems are closed, therefore, if the car's A/C isn’t getting cooler, chances are there is a leak. While it's normal for cars to drip water when the air-conditioner