Family Vacation Preparation with Pennzoil #DropShopandOil

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DropShopAndOil #CollectiveBias

In our family, my husband traditionally takes care of all things car maintenance related. He takes time out of his busy schedule to wash the cars and make sure that we are keeping their monthly maintenance up to date, including oil changes. With two little ones at home, finding time (or energy) to venture into an automotive center lobby just does not seem like a morning of fun to me. When I told my husband that I would take the car to get the oil changed at Walmart in preparation for our upcoming trip to Florida in February, I had to pick his jaw up off the floor!

We then talked a bit about which motor oil would work best in our four-year-old vehicle and decided that Pennzoil’s Conventional Motor Oil would be perfect. A traditional oil base that is fortified with Active Cleaning Agents™, Pennzoil’s Conventional Motor Oil is designed to continuously prevent dirt and contaminants from creating performance-robbing build-up. It’s hard to believe, but I think within the next two or three oil changes we will be moving into the Pennzoil category of High Mileage Vehicle!

Back to my lack of car knowledge. In preparation for our trip out to Walmart, I called ahead to ensure that an appointment was not necessary and discovered that I could simply come in and drop my car off. With the convenience of the Automotive Care Center being connected to the Walmart Supercenter, I knew I could get some much needed shopping done while my car was having the oil changed. Pulling up to my local Supercenter, I found that the Automotive Care Center was located around the side and  was surprised to find that the facility looked just like a traditional automotive shop, complete with garage doors and lobby.

Don’t mind my car that also desperately needs a carwash in addition to the oil change! Thanks, winter!

Once I headed in, I quickly discovered that I was now inside of the actual Walmart store and loved that it was a seamless transition between the two, making it simple to check on my car’s progress while still shopping for what I needed.

I was impressed by the fact that you could easily see what products they were using and working with when I found Pennzoil on the shelves. Pennzoil products help clean out sludge lesser oils leave behind and is designed for complete protection, allowing you to drive an extra 550 miles per year! Did you know Pennzoil also offers a free warranty that covers 15 engine parts that may fail due to engine wear?

Once I had perused this section and dropped my car off for its oil change, I headed out to the rest of the store to check the items off my grocery list. Being able to have the flexibility to shop rather than sit around in a lobby was a huge plus for me and one that just might make me more likely to take the car in for regular oil changes myself! It’s also convenient that I’m able to shop for vacation necessities while also making sure that our car is ready for a cross-country trip! Once my shopping was finished, I headed back and picked up my car, pleasantly surprised to find that it was ready and we could be on our way!

In addition to making sure your car maintenance is up-to-date, here are some additional tips and tricks for making sure your family travel runs just as smoothly as your car.

1. Prepare a fun travel bag for the kids 

Fill with favorite snacks, surprise new little gifts for playing, coloring supplies, favorite books and perhaps a little bag of change for gas station stops. Long-distance driving will not seem quite as long when there are new fun things to try!

2. Plan Travel Games

Growing up, my mom always put together little travel games for us to participate in. Think Travel BINGO, a States’ Scavenger Hunt or the Great License Plate Search. Not only will you help pass the time, but you’ll get some much needed family bonding (and a little friendly competition in) during the process.

3. Get Ready to Dance!

We used our car’s Bluetooth to play their favorite new songs and prepare to jam! The right music can also help set the mood for nap time or sunshine dozing!

4. Be flexible!

Being flexible means that while it may take us longer to get somewhere, the kids (and we!) are much happier and content. With kids and travel, be prepared to be flexible! Know that plans may not always go as you wanted, but you can still have a fun time in the process!

What are your favorite tips and tricks for family travel? Do you run regular car maintenance in preparation for long trips?

My husband has recently talked about moving to changing our own oil. If that’s your preference, check out the current promotion front he free mobile savings app, Ibotta, that started on 1/21/15: $5 off one 5-quart bottle of Pennzoil Platinum with PurePlus Technology. Even better, Pennzoil is offering an amazing giveaway! Three lucky winners will each win a trip to one of the Richard Petty  Driving Experiences (each trip valued at $1,100): Pennzoil Richard Petty Driving School “Experience of a Lifetime” Giveaway! Experience climbing into a NASCAR car for an adrenaline-pumpking experience just like real NASCAR driving!

Pennzoil Richard Petty Driving School "Experience of a Lifetime" Giveaway