Driving for a long time, such as one does when driving hundreds of miles, is quite rough on a vehicle, but some preparation can save you from many travel woes, especially with older vehicles. The easy stuff should more than prepare a new car for the trip, but owners of older cars may want to consider the more complicated preparations as well.
- Change your oil! You may hit and pass the oil change mark while driving during your trip, but even if you won't, it's a good idea. Change your oil filter as well. If you're going to be running your engine for a long time, you will want that filter to be clean.
- Get spare containers of liquids your vehicle may consume. Some vehicles may be oil consumers, or have some sort of slow leak. If you carry these spare chemicals with you, you won't have to find a store that sells them in an area you aren't familiar with. Always be careful with containers vehicle fluids; they can produce fumes and other health hazards!
The Easy Stuff
- Upgrade your radiator. This probably isn't as necessary as other upgrades, unless you intend to travel somewhere with high temperatures. Additional cooling won't make the engine run cooler than the thermostat opening point, but it will make sure that when it does open, the coolant coming into the engine block will be properly cooled.
- Upgrade your current oil cooler or install one. For purposes similar to the radiator, but this will better for oil longevity as well. If you're adding an oil cooler where there wasn't one, you may need to add some oil and put in more with every oil change.
- Lighten your vehicle. Depending on the vehicle, there may be parts you don't need. Removing them may free up cargo space, or help you save some gas if you don't use the space for more stuff you otherwise wouldn't have had room for on your trip. Things you can remove include carpeting, interior trim, seats you won't be using, and soundproofing. Be aware, though, that some things being removed may reduce comfort and other qualities.
Somewhat Complicated Stuff
- Rebuild your engine (older cars only). There's no way to know if something in your engine is damaged unless you do this or drive until it breaks. On a trip, you'll want to avoid the latter, so if you're not sure, you may want to have this done, or do it yourself if you know what you're doing.
- Install a larger fuel tank. A larger fuel tank will allow you to drive longer distances without stopping, which may reduce the number of stops needed to reach your destination.