I bought an '08 TL with ~30k miles on it about 4 years ago. It currently has 81k and I have a long trip coming up (>3200 miles in a comfortable 10 days)

Besides regular oil changes and some brake pad replacement in the back (due to ware) I have done NOTHING to it.

I'm wondering what members here would suggest that I have done to this car, to make sure it's up for the trip.

Thanks!!

 

tires look okay?
radiator fluid at fill line?

your car will make that trip with ease.

spare tire properly inflated?
jack and some tools? just in case.

 

Good time for everyone to check the spare ... they are notorious for loosing air ... should be up around 60 PSI will say on tire.

 

10 days for 3200 miles...heck with that, see if you can do it in 2! Just check fluid levels, wiper blades cuz it is spring, you'll hit some weather, tire pressure.

 

check your oil, brake fluid, windshield fluid, radiator, tranny fluid, tire pressure, spare tire, ( and tools for tire replacement. )

if you can wax the car do it.
That way bugs wont stick it upon your drive.

and put some rain-x on your windshield just in case you get heavy rain

 

top off all fluids, check spare, bring extra tools incase & a flash light, check tires and you should be all good!

 

even with wax, most bugs will still stick

 

Blinker fluid

 

extra washer fluid..had a bad experience with that on the highway

 

thank you! i keep hearing this from friends but i cant seem to find my blinker fluid reservoir. could you let me know where to look? people just laugh and no one tells me how to check the levels...

 

there just messing with u dawg

 

It's under the hood, just look for a fluid reservoir it's there

 

/rant You've had the car for four year and put 51,000 miles on it, but have only changed the engine oil and repaired the rear brakes? Did you ignore the MID when its maintenance reminders came up? What about flushing the ATF and brake fluid, rotating the tires, replacing the coolant, inspecting all the bits and pieces, etc? You have overdue maintenance. rant/

Having said that, I'd suggest that if you have wheel lock keys, find and try them before leaving.

 

went on 3 cross country roadtrips that were about 9,000 miles each. checked tire pressure, oil/filter changed, etc. before trip. safe travels.

 

Right. Actually, have flushed ATF and brake fluid. Tires were changed, coolant i havent touched - maybe i'll do that, thanks.

Wheel lock keys? like the special lug nuts? what do you mean?

 

LOL....now there's the best suggestion I've seen today.

 

Yeah the lugs with the pattern in them that you need your key to remove. I assume he is referring to if you needed to remove a wheel because of a flat somewhere during the trip.

 

 

:wink:

 

For some reason I find your username hilarious. How long has it been since you changed the ATF? If its been over like 20K miles I would do it again just as insurance, mine overheated on a long trip once and burned out some clutch packs. I put a trans cooler on after and it was ok

 

thanks! bene about ~9k so I should be okay. I'm now looking into changing the serpentine belt as well, as i've never touched it.

 

change your oil before you go unless you just did it within 1K miles. Other than that everything has been covered

 

Yes. A roadside is a bad place to start looking for lug nut keys. Weird, I answered this yesterday, but it didn't post

 

Well, last Wednesday I drove up to Rochester NY on business, I left at 4:30 and arrived up there at 10:30am, then left at 12pm and drove home. I checked all the fluids etc and was good to go. From North jersey I went up Rte 17 to Rte 81 up to Rte 90? Then into Rochester. My Valentine 1 was smoking from all the radar & laser, NYSP take their speed limits very seriously folks.

 

have never changed the serpentine belt on my 06 tsx-still it great shape with 167K miles.

 

The few times I've had bugs committ suicide on my hood I was able to wipe them off.

On the other hand, that bird that flew into my grill.........the wax didnt work