Summertime is fast approaching. There is something so magical about this season. With the ever-increasing daylight hours and the rising temperatures on the thermometer, I can’t help but think about all the things that make this season so memorable. Whether it’s having barbecues and sitting in the garden, enjoying those ice cream cones on the beach, or embracing road trip season with tops down and hair flying, summers are the perfect time to make your own little adventures.

I remember my first serious road trip. My childhood friend invited me to visit her grandparents’ house in Arizona during Spring Break. The drive was about 14 hours in total, from Boulder, Colorado to Scottsdale, Arizona. Her mom drove the entire way, because obviously we were too young. Although I didn’t drive, I still had such fond memories of that adventure. We had Harry Potter audio books on and we listened to The Prisoner of Azkaban for hours while snacking on Cheeze-Its and Twizzlers. The memory of watching the landscape change from Colorado’s mountains to the Saguaros of Arizona, all while discovering the Beetles and ABBA, is not an experience I’ll ever forget.

Fast forward to adulthood. I’ve had so many incredible road trip experiences. Once, I went to Cali, driving via Las Vegas. That was such a fun trip, driving through the hot, summer desert. Consequently, this was when I discovered my intense love for In-N-Out Burger.

Since moving to Europe, I’ve had the privilege to explore Spain with D, as well as take a few trips around the UK. Traveling by car allows you to experience places you’re traveling to in a different way. When you’re driving, you sometimes may have to take back roads, possibly get lost, or even stop at food joints that are off the beaten path, creating a unique adventure every time.

Some of my best summer memories have been made whilst driving in a car. Whether it includes hitting the road with friends, or pulling up to a Drive-In Cinema, summer is not complete without a vehicle to get you where you want to be going. If you’re looking for some inspiration for local road trips in the United Kingdom, here are a few.

Considering that the average British person spends about 3 years and 4 months of their lives in a car, I’m sure you’d rather be making memories in all of your destinations, rather than wasting those hours of your life waiting for a tow truck in the middle of nowhere. That’s why car maintenance is VERY important, especially in the hot summer months. Here are a few car maintenance tips, brought to you by Fife Autocentre, for ensuring your car is running smoothly, so you can focus on what’s important – hitting the ROAD.

Summer Car Maintenance Tips:

1. Make sure that your coolant is topped up:

Keeping your engine cool during those hot summer days is SO important. If you have ever put your hand on the hood (or ‘bonnet’) after driving for a long while, you will notice just how much heat driving gives off. The main job of the cooling system is to keep the engine from overheating by taking any heat generated and moving it to the air. This helps to keep the engine at a regular temperature. Having low levels of coolant can cause lots of problems as the car heats up, can make your car less efficient, and possibly break.

2. Get regular oil changes:

Car manuals say that you should change your oil every 7500 or so miles (or 12,070 km). Not changing your oil often enough can lead to it overheating. If you expect to be driving long distances, checking your dipstick regularly is important.

Some things you should look for: the level of the oil on your dipstick, and the colour/quality of the oil. It should be a brown/yellow colour, and free of any grime. If your levels are too low, or if the colour/texture is not right, it’s probably time for an oil change. If you have a question on oil changes or aren’t sure what’s right or wrong, you can also stop by and see an expert at places like Fife Autocentre.

3. Check your tyre pressure regularly:

The rapid changes in temperature, bumpy road conditions and weather can affect the quality and pressure of your tyres. Before setting off on any road journey, having that final glance-over to make sure your tyres are in a good condition before setting off can be the difference between an epic night out, or an epic disaster.

4. Check your brakes:

This is probably the most important safety feature you have in your car. Without properly working breaks, stopping in poor conditions (such as a rainstorm) can make the chances of you having an accident increase. Have them checked regularly, and if you notice anything feeling different to usual when you stop, go get your brakes checked out!

5. Replace your windshield wipers often:

I live in the UK, and I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve been caught in a massive downpour. Being on the road, and not having properly working windshield wipers can be very dangerous, and impede your sight.

6. Bring it to a shop before starting any long journeys (like Road Trips!):

Sometimes, you just need the experts to have a look, because the last thing you want to be on your journey is stranded. Visit Fife Autocentre for car servicing in Stirling. They can do a comprehensive check to make sure everything is running smoothly, and have you ready to hit the road in no time!

What car maintenance tips do you think are important? 

This is a sponsored post by Fife Autocentre.