Can Your Car Handle the Open Road?

The end of the school year combined with  warm summer days heralds the arrival of that poignant family tradition – the road trip. Due to tough economic times and the rising cost of airline tickets, many more families are choosing to pack up the kids and hit the open road – but is your car ready go the distance?

Cole Mallory, Service Manager at My Mechanic Automotive, suggests following these few simple rules to make sure your car will be in tip-top shape.

• Have your brakes checked – your car has to be able to stop! My Mechanic offers a free brake inspection, and some lifetime part warranties.
• Check the tread depth on your tires. Insert a penny into the tread – Mallory says you should be able to “bury” Lincoln’s head. Once your tires reach 3/32” tread depth, there is no wet traction, which could lead to hydroplaning on rainy highways.
• Have your alignment checked. Another free service offered by My Mechanic, a vehicle that is improperly aligned can cause improper wear on your tires.
• Tire Pressure – this should be set to your vehicle’s factory specs, and NEVER by eyeballing the tire! Over inflated tires wear in the middle, and under inflated tires tend to have severe edge wear, which could cause blowouts. Check your spare tire as well so your don’t get caught by surprise on the side of the road!
• Have your oil changed and your fluid levels checked. Make sure there are no leaks!
• To get the most bang for your buck with fuel economy, change your air filter and make sure your car is properly maintained. “This is the best way to increase your miles per gallon,” advises My Mechanic owner Gene Burgess." Avoid those fuel additives found on the grocery store shelf; opt instead for a professional additive from your mechanic.
• Have your air conditioning system checked, and make sure it operates properly. No one wants to be stuck in a car for six hours dripping sweat. Have your vehicle’s cabin air filter changed, as well.

 My Mechanic Automotive is located on Highway 78 on the outskirts of Loganville. They are a full-service shop. 

Other mechanic shops in the area can be found in the Loganville-Grayson Places directory.